Featured set of the day: All-Terrain Vehicle
Posted by Huw,
Michael B has written about a Classic Space set from 1981 for us today:
Whilst building the recently released 60225 Rover Testing Drive, it reminded me of the very first Lego set I ever owned, 6927 All-Terrain Vehicle.
I received this set one Christmas that we spent at my grandparents in the west midlands in 1982 when I was 5. I hadn’t experienced Lego before that I recall, and I was besotted with it. The transparent blue windscreens, the huge rocket engines that swing away to release the base module that had transparent yellow windows and a tilting roof. I was blown away and spent hours and hours playing with it.
I love the fact that the base module is raised off the ground by closing the engines and that you could fit a minifigure inside it to monitor all the various screens as he scanned the lunar skies with those big dishes with trans-green nodes.
The one thing though that really stands out in my memory is the 8x4 base plate which kept catching on the fibres of my grandmothers’ carpet, and I was repeatedly told off for pulling them out of the carpet.
Whilst on a recent video call to my parents I made a comment about them, and they both remember the set clearly, my father in particular, and he was chuffed to see that I still had it, though truth be told, it is made up of some replacement parts as some have gone missing over the years. You can quite clearly see the new blue parts in the base module as the original ones have discoloured over time. I had to find a replacement for the roof as that broke a long time ago.
I still have the original space minifigures that came with the set complete with the customary broken helmets and the white one has a bent neck holder on the gas tanks when I once stood on it. They are now secure in individual zip-lock bags.
There are some similarities between the two sets: the holed beams with 6 wheels, the large cockpit screens and I have the two of them displayed side by side along with 10266 NASA Apollo 11 Lunar Lander and 21309 NASA Apollo Saturn V, they are that important to me.
I’m looking forward to 31107 Space Rover and hope it will match my expectations, as the rest have.
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27 comments on this article
I had this set as a kid. I LOVED it. Along with the space station. I'd actually forgotten all about it until I saw this post -- thank you for the memories!
I love how it uses two giant rocket engines for propulsion. But ground clearance does counter the set name quite a bit. The only two faults I have are obvious airtank/seat back issue and the dish structure is a bit weak. Otherwise I absolutely love this set.
I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this set as a kid, it kept me entertained for hours on end. One of my all time favourite Lego sets....ever!!!
This too was one of my favorite sets as a kid. I too spent countless hours playing with it and the other space themed sets. Thanks for giving me goosebumps during a time that it is really needed.
This was my first big Classic Space set, and I’ve been meaning to submit a Featured Set report on it, so you beat me to it.
It was truly wonderful to my 10 year old self.
Like you say, those never-before seen MASSIVE trans blue pieces were amazing, and the lift function as the engines folded in was mesmerising.
Classic Space at its best.
Interesting that many people's fondest memories in this line of articles are of Classic Space sets (hint hint LEGO). I also think most parents should be proud that their children who still cherish a toy they bought them from 40 years ago. I mean how many kids can even remember many of the toys their parents bought them?
I'm not sure why Classic space has such a place in my heart. I think it was because LEGO did not really try to play off of any space themes for the late 70's early 80's. They came up with their own with many different vehicles that really foster a feeling of exploration and curiosity (along with a few space battles I'm sure).
By coincidence I bought this set on Bricklink yesterday. It's not one I ever owned and it's great to see it as a Featured Set.
To be honest, the City set reminds me much more of the movie The Martian.
I couldn’t help but smile when I saw this set - many Saturday mornings were spent playing with it before the whole family was up.
It’s still with me - packed away - will get it out one day! Thanks for the memory!
@magpie9 said:
"I love how it uses two giant rocket engines for propulsion. But ground clearance does counter the set name quite a bit. The only two faults I have are obvious airtank/seat back issue and the dish structure is a bit weak. Otherwise I absolutely love this set."
In fairness, it was also officially known as Mobile Tracking Station. That is what I knew it as until the age of the internet.
Like many others, I was fascinated by the carrier’s simple yet smooth lifting action as it lowered/raised the tracking station, powered by imaginary hydraulics. To this day, it remains one of LEGO’s most elegant designs.
I lost my original 6927 when I entered my Dark Ages in the ‘80s. My mother gave it, along with the rest of my collection, to a family that could not afford LEGO. But in 2014, I reconstructed it from parts I had plus others sourced on the secondary market. Some of the pieces were hard to find!
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/AmperZand/Fantasy/atv_a_full.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/AmperZand/Fantasy/atv_b_lab.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/AmperZand/Fantasy/atv_c_transporter.jpg
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/AmperZand/Fantasy/atv_d_minifigs.jpg
Loved this one. Very fond memories indeed. It was the last set I bought before entering my dark ages. I was entering secondary school and the ZX Spectrum was soon to take over my life instead.
Ah, good old All Terrain Vehicle. A land vehicle with boosters on the back for when you just have to get your space module somewhere in a hurry. Classic Space. Top stuff.
I had all the space stuff but this one was a standout for sure. So much playability. I’ve still got most of it and the instruction sheet, or my nephew has, lol. A stone cold classic.
Are there any other sets where the figure’s tanks are fitted front facing?
Wow, this set is epic! The set that got me into Lego. Also received it on Christmas of 82 (Still have it somewhere in a box). The hours that I played with this set, wow!
This was also one of the first in the Classic space theme to steer away from the grey brick schemes. For its time, it's packed with features and ingenuity is spot on, even with the use of not so many pieces. I love the inverted blue windscreen that hovers over the front of the vehicle. I only picked up 60225, only because it reminded me of my childhood All-Terrain Vehicle. 6927 Still blows it away.
Glad it's the featured set of the day (finally :) Great article also. A true Classic!
Although I do not have this particular set, I have several from the Classic Space time period. I recently assembled all of my sets for a trip back down memory lane, remembering when I received many of them and the hours I enjoyed playing with them. As I was reconstructing them I realized that although some of the brick colors may have faded with 40+ years of time, one thing stood out. I at least did not have to contend with bricks that had peeling stickers. Most if not all early Classic Space sets had no stickers but a lot printed pieces, which made everything much easier. And after all this time, those pieces have withstood the test of time too.
Not my first Classic Space set, but one of the first several. I found the box in my parent's "hidden" pile of Xmas gifts several days before the day, so I spent an agonizing week staring at the box before I finally got to crack it open. Lots of fond memories of this set, even though it's probably the worst "all-terrain vehicle" in the entire Classic Space line-up...impracticalities aside, the greebling on this set just looks so cool, with the ladders, printed bricks, tool holders, etc. And the fact that the white spaceman needs to wear his airtanks over the front of the torso in order to fit in the chair means that my white spaceman has a perfect gold moon insignia even after all these years...
I remember getting this for my birthday in 1982. It was a cold wet day, so perfect for staying inside and building LEGO. I am fairly certain this was my first LEGO set with and type of SNOT building, not including the brackets to hold the engines that are on loads of Classic Space sets. The two grey recessed 1x1 bricks with the transparent red circle 1x1 plates enable the Lab to lift up into the vehicle when the swivelled engines close behind it. Very nice bit of design.
Oh yes, count me as another lover of this set. Nice write up.
@namekuji said:
"Are there any other sets where the figure’s tanks are fitted front facing?"
I don't believe so, I'll have to look through the old catalogues and see.
My dad had this set and few others: 218 Firemen, 690 Shell Garage and 6940 Alien Moon Stalker.
I had this set, I loved the way you could set down the base!
I also loved this set as a kid! It had such great play value. I’m a little sad that some of my wheels broke over time, s as bad I think I stepped on the transparent plate and broke it. But man was it fantastic while it lived. I used to use the side antennas as parking breaks by pushing them down onto the tires.
I am more of a grey and blue Classic Space fan but this white model was one of my favourite in that colour scheme (never had it but the drooling took place nonetheless). Now, for your discoloured parts: on a very sunny day (make sure they call for a hot sunny day all day) put your Lego parts in a clear plastic bin filled with hydrogen peroxide - the parts must be completely submerged (be careful, some parts tend to float - maybe put another piece of clear plastic on top to ensure they are completely submerged and make sure there is enough room for all parts to receive the light - i.e. must be spread out evenly - not stacked. For better results you may also want to rotate them so they have light on all surfaces) then let then sit under direct sun for a few hours (usually I let mine 5-6 hours under direct sun (10:30 to 16:30 is usually the strongest light of the day). I move them around if needed due to shade). This is also valid for decorated parts. You'll be amazingly surprised at the results (keep one part aside just for comparison!). This works best for old grey, white and blue but all colour will benefit from this to some degree. Best! (this will also make your parts covid-19 free!)
It's great to see this one as a featured set. I, like many others, had this one in the 80s, too. I loved the fact that station could be lifted and locked into the vehicle. I didn't like that the driver was so exposed, though. I never liked having to reverse the air tank position to put the minfigure in the chair work station chair. I usually hung the air tank on the backside stud at the top of the ladder piece.
^ I also didn’t put the white spaceman’s tanks on backwards, preferring to find a convenient spot for them. I imagined the tracking station having an air supply and being hermetically sealed.
The surface-bound vehicles of early Classic Space sets were all open topped, likely inspired by the real lunar rover that was driven on the moon in the first few years of the ‘70s.
This was my first ever lego set and you shared it on my birthday, amazing nostalgia trip, thanks.