Review: 75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione
Posted by CapnRex101,
Ferrari has formed a central component of the Speed Champions range during the last several years and the arrival of another Ferrari may not generally elicit much anticipation. However, the Ferrari F40 is probably one of the most popular sports cars ever created, inspiring the fantastic 10248 Ferrari F40 that appeared in 2015.
75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione has therefore generated remarkable excitement as this Speed Champions model looks absolutely brilliant. Its sleek profile has been replicated beautifully and I appreciate the option to swap between the standard Ferrari F40 and its more powerful Competizione counterpart.
Minifigure
Speed Champions sets always come with an appropriate driver for each car and this example is no exception. He wears a red crash helmet with a trans-clear visor and white racing overalls. These are relatively plain but look very stylish, featuring two red stripes and a Ferrari symbol on the front. In fact, the same design was printed on a tan torso in 75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage!
The head is decorated with some stubble and a confident expression. This element has only appeared twice previously, although an extremely similar design with a slightly different facial expression is more common. A black wrench accompanies this minifigure and can be used to expel the wheel inserts.
The Completed Model
Some vehicles are inherently suitable for LEGO based upon their design and I think the Ferrari F40 is among them. Its shape is comparatively simple and has been replicated effectively at this scale, much like 10248 Ferrari F40. The model measures 13cm in length so is significantly shorter than the majority of Speed Champions cars, although that is advantageous on this occasion as the original car is notable for its width.
Viewing the model in profile reveals certain shortcomings, including its considerable height and the short section of bodywork behind the rear wheels. These design features do not compare favourably with the source material but I believe the height can be excused as that must often be exaggerated to place a minifigure inside. The rearmost bodywork could definitely be extended though, perhaps by the width of two plates.
A black 2x6 plate with curved corners forms the air dam beneath the car, corresponding with a similar building technique that appears in 75886 Ferrari 488 GT3 Scuderia Corsa. This design looks fantastic and I like the rectilinear bodywork across the front of the vehicle. Stickers represent the radiator grilles beside the Ferrari branding and the car features twin air intakes on the bonnet in this configuration.
Several exposed studs are found in this area, potentially disappointing some Speed Champions fans. I appreciate a few studs though so their presence does not bother me. Removing the windscreen and the roof reveals space for a minifigure inside and the interior also includes a steering wheel and a light bluish grey headrest which looks fairly comfortable.
Black strips run along the sides of the original Ferrari F40 and they are present on this model as well, making clever use of some brackets. I like the textured air intakes and Ferrari symbols are printed on the side of 1x1 plates above the front wheel arches. Furthermore, the roof is notable as this 3x4 plate with four studs has not appeared in red before. There are no side windows which is unfortunate but the windscreen component is an accurate shape and the stickers behind the cockpit look superb.
However, my favourite aspect of this vehicle is undoubtedly the rear which looks absolutely magnificent from every angle! The tiered rear windscreen is faithful to the original vehicle and lines up nicely beside some stickers which feature matching designs. I am equally impressed with the trans-orange and trans-red tail lights as well as the exhaust pipes which are represented by a 1x2 rounded plate.
Moreover, you can also reconfigure the model to represent the standard Ferrari F40, without the racing accoutrements found on the Ferrari F40 Competizione. This design appears monochromatic alongside its modified counterpart but looks wonderful, especially around the bonnet which now includes smaller intakes and trans-black headlights rather than trans-clear ones. The silver wheel inserts look fantastic too.
The black 1x6 tile that forms the spoiler is replaced with a red element and the exhausts are adjusted as well, now lacking black diffusers. It would have been nice to see three separate exhaust pipes but I think that would be very challenging at this scale and you could imagine that the tubes underneath the 1x2 rounded plate are exhausts. In addition, the plates behind the tail lights feature dark red highlights in an effort to match the red bodywork.
Comparing 75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione with 10248 Ferrari F40 reveals impressive aspects of both models. The minifigure-scale design captures the Ferrari F40's distinctive shape and its colour scheme matches the source material exactly, even including that vital black stripe. However, the proportions of the windscreen are not perfect and the rear bodywork should probably be slightly extended.
Overall
I had high expectations for 75890 Ferrari F40 Competizione and this set does not disappoint. It looks spectacular when compared with the original racing car, capturing its shape and numerous authentic details with remarkable accuracy. Stickers are only used where necessary and I love the tiny Ferrari branding printed on the sides of two 1x1 plates.
Some minor modifications could improve certain areas of the model but this is still an excellent addition to the Speed Champions collection and I would certainly recommend it. In fact, this is probably my favourite Ferrari that has appeared in the Speed Champions theme and fits perfectly with 75889 Ferrari Ultimate Garage from last year.
I hope you have found this review informative. Let us know by liking this article and share your thoughts on the set in the comments below.
This set was provided for review by The LEGO Group but the review is an expression of my own opinions.
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17 comments on this article
I'm getting more and more excited for this next wave.
^ Same here, they look great. I don't care about cars IRL, but love the SC series. And I don't mind when proportions don't exactly match up to the the real thing or whatever because I view minifig scale sets as a sort of cartoonish version of the world anyway.
Wow! As someone who has never been into Speed Champions (I was only into the old Racers sets with fictitious, fantastical cars and bikes, including Drome Racers and Xalax), I'm finding myself really fond of this set. I don't know if it's the streamlined and solid appearance (i.e. almost no unsightly cutouts, antistuds, etc from a large number of wedge pieces sticking out every which way), the relatively simple building style (mostly studs up with only basic SNOT), the balance of studded and studless, or the very light use of sticker decals that's endeared me to it.
I think this would even fit right into a regular city street as a more "everyday" sports car for minifigs who didn't know better, for those who aren't into Speed Champions or don't have a motorsport layout — other Speed Champions cars look out of place IMO unless they're specifically running on a street circuit.
Maybe my least favorite of this theme. A few exposed studs is okay, but that is too many in my opinion.
As a Ferrari lover, I love this! This is definitely going on my must have list....especially since, once again, Santa failed to bring me a real one.
One of my favourite cars of all times... Thanks for a great review, Capn! Your 10248 model lacks the 2x2 plate under the back spoiler (apparently Huw made the same mistake in his 2015 review...)! :-)
The designers have done a good job of this. I have no interest in modern sports cars/racing cars whatsoever but if I had some spare cash I probably would buy this since as legosonic said it would fit in well in a normal city layout (I cant really think of any modern speed champions cars except this that dont look too racing or expensive sporty for a regular city)
But I'm still waiting for some old cars!!! The 1962 Ferrari was well done, I'd really like to see how Lego would pull off a 1950s Ferrari race car (the ones with the open nose and 'cigar' shape) and/or a 1930s one too.
Its not Ferrari but Speed Champions definitely needs a 1928 Bentley 4 and 1/2 litre. It is just as famous as the F40 and won at Le Mans (which apparently is very important for SC sets). Plus we have a few useful parts in dark green now and I'd also love to see a speed champions/minifig scale wheel insert like the one in the DB5 which would work perfectly for any 1900-late 1930s car. And like the F40 (much more so actually) it works perfectly fine as a regular old car rather then being race specific.
Still waiting for SC Lambos.
@brickchap
Not too expensive? An F40 today costs well over £1 000 000! The most 'everyday' car I can think of is the Mustang from 2016.
@speed champions fan I meant expensive looking as in mainly this lego version looks like a 1990s sports car that could just be driving around while a lot of the others need to be at a upmarket dealership or James Bond mansion.
This one is definite purchase for me to go with my F40 Creator Expert, 488 GT3 SC and the SC Ferrari Garage.
We should have more stand alone pre 2000 model iconic cars. Untill now I managed to get the Porsche 911 and Ford GT40. I wanted to get the Ferrari garage but I couldn't justify the excess luggage that comes with it. I'll try to replicate the Mini, since it comes with an useless and unattractive companion.
Perhaps not so beautiful as I expected, but I still have to buy it!!
IT IS THE CHEAPEST WAY TO HAVE A FERRARI F40!!
It has captured the look of an F40 but the proportions look silly. The hood is too long and the front wheels should be moved forward 1 stud.
Any chance to get a picture without the stickers? I think the rearview window might look weird without them.
Gotta love those tiny printed Ferrari logos. But why not print the logo on the front of the car too...
Wondering if the front can be shortened by one stud...
Marvelous. Well pleased...
And also just to say a big 'WELL DONE' for not only printing on the side of a 1x1 plate, but for printing IN DETAIL! on the side of a 1x1 PLATE!!! :o)
@Speed champions fan I have the 2016 Mustang, and BTW it looks better if you add a spoiler on the rear. I will be getting the Fastback variant soon as I like it as well.