Review: 8448 Super Street Sensation - an iconic Technic super car
Posted by FlagsNZ,
8448 Super Street Sensation is one of my favourite Technic sets. I received this set as a gift in 2001 when my, then, six year old son was really into Slizers and Robo-riders. For me, it was a period of slightly-grey dark ages.
Looking at the comments posted over the last day regarding the teaser for the release of 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS, I thought I would post Part 1 of a two part review of this iconic Technic super car which is, in my opinion, the last super car produced by LEGO.
Box
The main image on the front of the box shows the convertible version of the Super Street Sensation on a test road in a wind tunnel. There is also a smaller image showing the alternate gull-wing-door version of the car.
On the inside of the lid there are several images showing how the gull-wings-doors and convertible roof operate. Smaller images show the chassis, which is the basis of the secondary models, the gear box and other engineering features.
This set is built in modular components. The parts are divided into eight parts-boxes.
These eight parts-boxes are held in place with a cardboard sheet with three clear plastic windows. The window to the left shows the first five boxes, the window in the middle shows the last three boxes. On the right is a window which holds the four swirl wheels and low profile tyres.
When the cardboard sheet and all eight boxes are in the correct place, a complete watermark of a swirl wheel and tyre can be seen.
This same watermark is visible on the eight boxes when the protective cardboard cover is removed.
Holding all the boxes and wheels in place is a yellow tray. While not as effective as a sorting tray found in earlier Technic sets, it is still useful as a place to deposit parts during each modular building stage.
The box itself seems more substantially built than the boxes found in today's larger flagship sets.
On the rear of the box are some concept drawings for four alternate models, all based on the common chassis.
There was a flyer included with the set that shows the two main models of 8448 Super Street Sensation, with images of the four concept cars.
The reverse of the flyer has images for Technic sets released in 1998; 8417 and 8428, and 1999 releases 8444, 8445, and 8446.
There is also adverts for Technic sub themes Competition, Cybermaster and Slizer.
Instructions
The instructions come in two bound books. Book 1 makes the chassis that the two main models and four concept models are all based upon. Book 1 is 98 pages long.
Inside the instructions shows how the first five parts-boxes are needed to build the chassis; these are the five boxes in the left window of the protective cover mentioned above.
There is a fold-out flap which has 1:1 scale diagrams for axles, beams and angled pin connectors.
Book 2 has complete instructions for the two variants of the main model. Book 2 is 209 pages long.
There is a flow chart showing the page numbers for the various building options. The options are colour coded:
- Yellow - Convertible
- Green - Wing Doors
- Red - Concept Car
- Blue - Racer
- Black - Hot Rod, and
- Orange - Buggy
Only the convertible and wing-door models have complete instructions: the other four models have partial instructions and some concept drawings. Above the four concept cars is a character using a light bulb to think about the necessary steps to complete these four builds.
The bottom corners of the pages are colour coded to correspond to the relevant stages of the building steps. This guides you to follow the appropriate steps to build one of the six models.
Finally, there are some purple pages that show how all the models can be motorised using 8735 Motor Set.
More on Book 2, modern Power Functions and the six models in Part 2 of this review.
Stickers
One of the lingering criticisms of this set, and LEGO sets in general released in the late 1990s, is that the stickers cracked and peeled. There was a News article entitled sticker horror posted two years ago that was primarily based on stickers available in the late 1990s to early 2000s.
The image below shows the stickers for one of my 8448 sets. Note how the white stickers seem to be worse for wear.
Below is an image for my original 8448 set. Again, it is the white stickers which have suffered more. On the left are some replacement stickers that I laser printed onto Avery glossy labels. I may write a tutorial on how to design and print your own custom stickers.
The 8448 Super Street Sensation and 8880 Super Car each have an innovative LEGO Technic logo.
These LT logos have a clever rotational symmetry. These logos have not been carried through to any other Technic set.
There is a tendency these days to produce Technic sets that have some licenced branding. In 1999, LEGO had only just started their first licenced partnership with the introduction of Star Wars branded sets.
In preparing for this review, I have sourced replica stickers from Stick-2-Quality, an eBay store based in Australia and run by Zacparis. These are high-quality die cut stickers. They are printed on gloss paper so they will not crack. The stickers are slightly thicker than the originals.
I purchased stickers for three sets; 8448, 8386 Ferrari F1 Racer and 8653 Enzo Ferrari 1:10. They all arrived on time and in a well-protected airmail envelope.
Zacparis offers discounted shipping for multiple purchases but you must login to eBay Australia to get this benefit.
The replica sticker sheet for 8448 Super Street Sensation also includes a bonus plaque sticker similar to a UCS plaque.
All the stickers for this set adhere to only one part. Gone are the STAMPs found in 8880 Super Car.
Parts
In my review of 42050 Drag Racer, I made a comment about the rainbow of colours that all the various axles come in 2016.
Here are the colours of axles in 1999. Apart from the two axles with end stops or the red 12M axles used in the bodywork, all the basic axles are one colour - black.
There is a similar limited colour palette for the pins: friction pins are black, frictionless pins are grey.
The red 2M friction pins with cross hole are used to connect various modular components during the build.
The build
Box 1 builds the chassis.
There is nothing remarkable about the chassis. It uses a combination of Technic 1x4 bricks and half beams for reinforcing.
Box 2 builds the rear axle, differential and suspension.
The double wishbone suspension is built out of Technic 5M half beams. There is a single soft-spring shock absorber for each wheel.
The rear axle module is attached to the chassis using eight red 2M friction pins with cross hole.
As this is a brick-built chassis, it uses 4M wide 24-16 tooth differential and 4L universal joints throughout. The differential has a recess for a driving ring on both sides so it could become a locking differential.
This set introduced the driving ring extension and continued to use the Technic 16 tooth gear with clutch with teeth for half bushes.
Box 3 makes the front axle, steering and suspension.
This set has two unique parts in the front steering: Technic steering arm 6.5 x 2 with towball Socket rounded, un-chamfered and Technic steering gear with 3 ball joints.
By page 61 the bulk of the front axle has been completed.
While Technic vehicles tend to be built with left hand steering, due to Denmark following European standards and driving on the right hand side of the road, it is relatively easy to modify your build to make the vehicle right hand steering, should you want to.
The swirl wheels and low profile tyres are also unique to this set. The tyres have 81.6 x 34 ZR printed on their walls: 81.6mm diameter and 34mm wide. ZR tyres are rated for speeds above 240 kph (150 mph).
The swirl wheels have zero offset meaning the distance from the centre of the wheel to the face of the bolting plate is zero.
The effect of all this geometry is that these wheels have a positive scrub radius of half a stud (4mm); the wheels pivot half a stud from the centre of the tyres. This gives 8448 Super Street Sensation the most accurate steering geometry of all Technic sets.
The steering system loses the Ackermann steering geometry seen in super cars since 8860 Car Chassis.
It is impossible to have the steering wheel centred when the road wheels are straight. The teeth of the 10M gear rack clash with the 8-tooth pinion: the steering wheel is 22½° misaligned.
The blue cross blocks will eventually anchor the modular engine.
Box 4 builds the gear box.
There are five forward gears and reverse. The shift plate is brick-built; a step down from the near perfect shift plate found in 8880 Super car. These replica stickers are from the sheet purchased from Stick-2-Quality.
The 12-tooth and 20-tooth double bevelled gears as well as the 20-tooth single bevelled gear (seen under the differential) were introduced in 1999.
These gears add to the traditional 8, 16 and 24 toothed gears and give Technic sets a better range of gear ratios.
This is a view from below. The driving ring extension separates the reverse gear from the other five ahead gears.
This is the lower layer of gears added to the chassis.
The gear box is locked into place with an 8M axle through the gear lever.
Box 5 builds the modular engine.
The engine ends are brick-built.
These are the original V8 stickers. I kept them for two reasons; firstly, they are still in very good condition, and secondly, I don't have any spare 1x8 black tiles.
See-through engine blocks have been seen in 23 sets since 1998. I prefer these parts over the opaque alternatives as it allows people to see the pistons in operation.
The engine is fully modular: it slides into the blue 5M half beams on the gear box and the blue cross blocks forward of the front axle.
The engine is locked in place using the two parts in the image above. For the first time since 1977, the super car's engine is located forward.
The completed model
This completes the build of the chassis. Both the primary models and four concept cars are built onto this chassis. The chassis is predominantly brick-built and very strong; brick-built chassis are significantly more rigid than modern Technic chassis.
One more thing
I would like to complete Part 1 of the review by adding one more feature.
Box 6 builds the two bucket seats and the dash-board.
The two white bucket seats are made of white Technic parts.
8448 Super Street Sensation's Great Great Grandfather, 853 Car Chassis, looks on proudly for the first time since 1977 at the 8448 Super Street Sensation chassis with two bucket seats.
Part 2
Part 2 of this review will look at the two primary models as well as the four concept cars.
It will also look at how modern power functions adds functionality to this set.
Part 2 will be published in a few weeks.
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24 comments on this article
Thanks for the review! Great to see all the images. I was definitely in a dark age and missed all the super cars of this era.
Unless I totally missed it there were plenty of links in the article but none for the actual set reviewed to the Brickset data base. I always find those convenient.
The last super car from Lego before the new 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS?! That's surprising cause to me 8070 from 2011 certainly also belongs to the Technic super car range and in terms of size and and number of pieces there's not a great deal of difference. To me Super Car status of 8070 is also confirmed by how often I see MOCs on internet featuring ways of constructing side panels and other parts inspired by 8070. Perhaps an idea for a another review after this one?!
Great review regarding 8448 nonetheless and looking forward to part 2!
when i bought 8448 in 2001 it was the model which ended my 9 yr dark age! still a very special set,just need to replace those dodgy stickers lol
^^ 8070 is a worthy Technic set but, for me, I believe that for Super Car status, there must be a drive train transmission. In 8070, the gear box powers the secondary functions such as doors, bonnet and the spoiler; it should be called a Technic Racer.
I will definitely consider reviewing this set but I plan on reviewing 8386 Ferrari F1 Racer and 8653 Enzo Ferrari 1:10 first.
I still own my 8448. At the time it was unlike any Technic model before it, and therefore was the ultimate christmas present.
Importantly, I think the model(s) have just the right amount of exterior detail so that you can still see all the workings inside the car.
As soon as 8448 hit the Dutch shop shelves in October 1999 I bought this set. Of all LEGO super cars 8880 and 8448 are my favourites. So, I am very glad that I have both.
The only downside is the quality of the stickers.
Picked this set up last year at a fleamarket for $13. Had no idea what it was, but it was a big set for a low cost so I grabbed it. no instructions and missing a few pieces, but a fantastic set nonetheless.
8070 counts for me as does 8466 4x4 Off-Roader from 2001 and 8297 Off-Roader from 2008. Transmission is not a defining factor in my mind. After all, if they ever make a Tesla-like EV there will be no transmission either. Just my opinion, but yes 8448 is a great set. I do miss the adjustable seats found in the first two auto chassis though.
Thanks for the review.
Would love to see the tutorial on printing replacement stickers at home.
Whether you deem 8070 to be a "true" technic super car by arbitrary standards is irrelevant. The official name of 8070 is "Super Car." If you're going to say that in your opinion it doesn't count then you should say why in the review.
Wow... how come I never noticed this set?
I hate not having been around for these things. :P
Wow you mentioned 'Cybermaster'... That most be one of the best LEGO Sets I've ever had. Didn't knew anyone of my friends that had it besides me... Awesome times...
The fog of nostalgia... this is a great set, but a tad simplistic compared to the Porsche. My personal favorite is 8480 Space Shuttle from the old era though, not a super car.
The 8448 Super Street Sensation was the set that brought me out of my dark ages.
The number plate, gearshift, air-conditioner, gauge and logo stickers are still intact with no damage. I cant find any of the "V8" stickers (black or red) so either the parts with the stickers have gone missing or (more likely) I didn't apply them at the time for some reason.
The wheels are my favorite Technic wheels of all time :)
I'm guessing that the people that love Technic sets like this love them for the mechanical features. I've never otherwise understood the appeal of the unfinished wire frame look of them - they remind me of technical blueprint designs. I suppose I can see how some people would be drawn to that, but it's not something I'd want sitting on my shelf.
Thanks for great review. First I didn't like the set but modular building and gull wing doors convinced me. Of course it has great functions additionally. And you are not the only one who considers this the last true supercar by LEGO Technic (until 42056 arrives).
^ That's why recent sets look more appealing in that aspect. I like building the interior very much as it's simply the essence of Technic. But I couldn't really understand poor exteriors. After all, if you want to see the guts in new Porsche, all you have to do is open the hood. So we can have both now.
@FlagsNZ: thanks for the explanation and definitely looking forward to your reviews of 8386 and 8653 too!
The sheer number of inspiration models in this set surprises me. I'm really not a big fan of the gappiness of this era of sets, nor of those old panels with the specialized ridges and grooves for tubing. I prefer the cleaner and more solid look of modern Technic sets.
However, I do understand why some old-school Technic builders prefer the days when you could see all the moving parts of Technic models so clearly. I just tend prefer the newer ones that feel more solid and "finished".
It's always yucky to see what all has happened to stickers from the late 90s and early naughts. I'm glad nothing like this has happened to most of my stickers, even the older ones from themes like Competition/Cyber Slam. Hopefully the fact that I've been buying sticker-heavy sets for so many years without problems means LEGO has improved their sticker materials since those days? But I also might just be lucky to live in a house with conditions that help preserve the life of stickers in my collection. In any case, it is a problem LEGO knows about and has been looking into, so if it hasn't already been firmly resolved it will be before too long.
Awesome tip about the stickers. Will definitely hit up Ebay Australia :)
I bought my 8448 second hand, no box nor manual, so glad to see this review!
Amazing set--got this one while in college and showed it off to the guys after Christmas that year. Closely rivals 8880 as Best Supercar Ever. I scanned and restored the stickers, too (if anyone wants to do it themselves, happy to send). Those late 90's stickers had big time issues.
@Aanchir I'm one of those that am only interested in the chassis. I wonder if anyone on eBay or Bricklink would pay like $100 just for the panels (since they appear to be unique)? That would make it much more affordable for me. Hmmm
It is surprising how sophisticated technical sets were back then. The packaging design for example is really involved with a premium quality to it. Though I think that it's OK that the new "flagship" technical set boxes are less material intensive if the aim is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging production.
I bought this set in 2000. It was the first set in 20 years. The last set I Bought was the 8860 car in 1980 when I was 14 years old. It was a very nice set with still a lot of the old studded beams.