Review: 76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T
Posted by CapnRex101,
Speed Champions encompasses various brands and periods of automotive history, although the range already includes one 1970 Dodge Charger. Nevertheless, 76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T presents major improvements over its 2019 counterpart.
The increased scale is certainly important, while taking specific inspiration from Dominic Toretto's mighty car provides the basis for improved interior detail. Hopefully this model achieves popularity beyond 42111 Dom's Dodge Charger.
Summary
76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, 345 pieces.
£19.99 / $19.99 / €24.99 | 5.8p/5.8c/7.2c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Dom's famous 1970 Dodge Charger looks excellent, learning from earlier designs
- Improved bodywork shaping
- Fantastic interior detail
- Notably few stickers
- Minor, but perhaps unavoidable, inaccuracies
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
42111 Dom's Dodge Charger provides no opportunity for minifigures, belonging to the Technic theme, hence this exclusive LEGO portrayal of Dominic Toretto is appealing. The minifigure makes impressive use of the warm tan skin tone introduced earlier this year, although Dom's expression looks odd and I think something surlier would have been more appropriate for the character.
However, the sleeveless shirt looks perfect, recreating Dom's most common attire throughout the Fast & Furious franchise. Whereas the wrench accompanying James Bond seemed out of place in 76911 Aston Martin DB5, this accessory suits Dominic Toretto nicely, for either working on his car or taking revenge on his enemies!
Reference
Source - fastandfurious.fandom.com
The Completed Model
The classic 1970 Dodge Charger seems inherently appropriate for LEGO recreation, given its relatively blocky shape. This vehicle is therefore instantly recognisable here and features an accurate black colour scheme, although subtler curves are missing. However, the curvature towards the front would be nearly impossible to replicate, since those shapes would demand especially gentle curved slopes.
Fortunately, this model does capture the forward rake of Dom's car and looks outstanding when viewed from both flanks. The decorated wheel caps are brilliant and this vehicle fits seamlessly into the wider Speed Champions range, measuring 17cm in length. I dislike the bulky structure behind the rear wheels though, which deviates from the movies.
Comparisons have inevitably been drawn between the new Dodge Charger and similar Dodge models from earlier sets. The six-wide example in 75893 2018 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon and 1970 Dodge Charger R/T portrays the same car, while the 1970 Dodge Challenger shares obvious similarities with the new design. Their proportions and shaping are essentially identical, but necessary changes have been made, especially around the front.
I was pleased with the previous 1970 Dodge Charger, released only three years ago. However, comparing that design with this rendition demonstrates the many benefits of the enlarged size. Beyond vast improvements in detail, the transition between the bodywork and the windscreen looks more natural now than was possible before and the shape towards the back seems more accurate too.
A chrome silver band surrounds the radiator and headlights on the original car. Chrome parts are hardly used in modern LEGO sets, but this light bluish grey band appears effective and makes clever use of brackets to support the structure. Moreover, the dramatic supercharger displays extensive detail, as stacked 1x1 round plates with hollow studs provide texture along both sides.
1x1 quarter circle tiles create a similar effect on the bodywork, located behind the front wheels. The single door mirror appears equally accurate, matching Dom's vehicle from the movies, but my favourite details are undoubtedly the door handles. They are constructed using roller skates and the handles' tiny scale is remarkable.
The doors are not actually functional, but you can access the interior by removing the roof. I have also detached the windscreen in this photo, revealing the fire extinguisher and gearstick inside. The single seat corresponds with the movie too, while the complex roll cage comprises a suitable combination of 3L bars, again reflecting the original car.
Even though some curves are absent from the front, the roof and rear bodywork do replicate realistic curves. For instance, the 1x1 quarter circle tiles at each corner of the roof are superb and I like the smooth bodywork at the back too. However, even more realistic are the trans-red lights and printed elements underneath, faithfully recreating distinctive features of the original car. Only five stickers are actually present, including the number plate from The Fast and the Furious.
Overall
The enduring Fast & Furious franchise includes countless extraordinary cars, many of which would suit Speed Champions. However, the most prevalent such vehicle is definitely Dominic Toretto's Dodge Charger and 76912 Fast & Furious 1970 Dodge Charger R/T has proven very impressive, particularly for its incredible detail, inside and out!
While rarely associated with subtlety, the 1970 Dodge Charger R/T does include subtle curvature absent from this design. Nevertheless, given the limitations of LEGO parts, I think the designer has achieved great accuracy and improved upon existing Dodge models. The prices of £19.99, $19.99 or €24.99 reflect rises in Europe, relative to Speed Champions sets released earlier this year, but remain reasonable, in my opinion.
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49 comments on this article
So, Riddick sets when?
Surely that Fire Extinguisher is a NOS tank my man!
You should have also used Ghost Rider's muscle car from 76173 for a comparison.
I do hope this means we are getting another BttF Delorean and maybe even a white Cadillac hearse.
FAMILY
I don't know if it's just me but does the minifig look like he's wearing a binbag?
It reminds me of dressing up for Halloween years ago.
@bigandywatson said:
"Surely that Fire Extinguisher is a NOS tank my man! "
I have seen this mentioned a couple of times since the set was revealed, but it is certainly a fire extinguisher inside. I cannot recall any clear shots of the extinguisher from the movies, but every product representing the Charger, LEGO or otherwise, identifies the tank as a fire extinguisher.
It's family.
Oh, finally a good use for the ramp piece!
5 plate stacked sides look a bit odd, however I do think the fact it allows the door handle and other details is still nicer then a sticker (see the purple car)
Also a black car shows the lines between plates less then a light colored one would (in normal light situations)
@Pekingduckman said:
"You should have also used Ghost Rider's muscle car from 76173 for a comparison. "
I was hoping for it as well. I really like my Ghost Rider version in a 6-wide model but this 8-wide Furious model certainly looks better.
Canadian price has rocketed to $29.99. For $10 more you can get two Mercedes-Benz. Logic has definitely taken flight.
I would be interested in Hue’s opinion on this since he did the technic version review and was justifiably harsh back then.
@Jotahesse1 said:
"I do hope this means we are getting another BttF Delorean and maybe even a white Cadillac hearse. "
Or an '82 Trans Am, GMC Vandura, '76 Lotus Esprit, '68 Mustang GT, '73 GT Ford Falcon, '69 Mustang, '74 Dodge Monaco, '58 Plymouth Fury, '73 or '76 Ford Gran Torino, '85 Modena GT Spyder California, '66 Ford Thunderbird, '63 VW Beetle, '67 Austin Mini Cooper S...the list is endless for Movie/TV based Speed Champions :)
Boring and bland same as Bond
Will not buy. These will be the only 8 wide speed champions I don't plan on getting and have zero interest. Cars from movies will rarely excite me but may be appealing to fans of those movies...
Now that they are printing or building headlights, and doing repeats of models, can we get Paul's classic Supra in bright orange and green? Or maybe the Skyline finally?
Mixed feelings about this. It is an improvement over the previous set, but all that grey on the front looks rather crude. I wouldn't know how they could have solved this, I'd say the old one did it slightly better but wasn't perfect either. It does look pretty good from the rear, interior is nice and those door handles are just brilliant indeed.
Excellent review - thank you CapnRex!
I can't decide between this and the Bond car. Do you have a preference, having reviewed them both?
family
@WizardOfOss said:
"Mixed feelings about this. It is an improvement over the previous set, but all that grey on the front looks rather crude. I wouldn't know how they could have solved this, I'd say the old one did it slightly better but wasn't perfect either. It does look pretty good from the rear, interior is nice and those door handles are just brilliant indeed."
I feel the same way. They needed to make the grey at least silver if not chrome. Even in grey its too big a block of bley. They should have made it thinner (with snot or what have you). It looks like it's wearing clown lipstick.
That said, I'm undoubtedly getting this eventually to go with my purple one and ghostrider.
Your shots of the reference and comparison sets are perfect. A+ again, Cap'n!
@graymattr said:
" @Pekingduckman said:
"You should have also used Ghost Rider's muscle car from 76173 for a comparison. "
I was hoping for it as well. I really like my Ghost Rider version in a 6-wide model but this 8-wide Furious model certainly looks better. "
That car shoots hot fire!
A Dodge Charger whose doors don’t open? That’ll never catch on.
I’m not a fan of the F&F movies but the Charger is a favourite muscle car: however I would’t buy this set as I feel the vehicle is broadly unrecognisable- this is “a car” as drawn by me with three boxes aged 8. (Am in for the DB5 and Countach this year)
This is a great car, but I am surprised LEGO made this set at all.
I build my life a quarter brick at a time.
I wish the new batmobile was more this size. Seems so much larger in comparison
I do like what they (LEGO) is trying to do here. And I'll pick this up for myself and each of my sons. However, the biggest issue I see with it, and ANY of the Chargers, is that the 2nd Gen '68-'70 Charger body style have a notable 'coke bottle' shape/taper to the bodywork which is nigh-impossible to replicate in LEGO. And, IMHO, this is where the 6-wide did a better job mainly in the rear of the car. This latest version, when viewed from the side, is awkward/out of proportion from the C-pillar back when compared to the front of the car. LOVE the tail lights as they nailed that for sure.
I love the fact that both types of skates have been used as car door handles, roller skates here and ice skates in 10242.
So, would this be the first Vin Diesel minifig, or does Teen Groot (who he voiced) in 76102 count?
Why don't they use chrome pieces any more? Is it a durability issue or a pricing issue?
Because cars like this (and many Star Wars sets) would greatly benefit from chrome pieces.
@SinKiller_Nick said:
"Why don't they use chrome pieces any more? Is it a durability issue or a pricing issue?
Because cars like this (and many Star Wars sets) would greatly benefit from chrome pieces."
Chrome elements require a separate mould to standard parts because the element must be slightly smaller than normal to accommodate the chrome finish around the plastic.
Only one chrome element is currently in production. I will leave it to others to ponder which part that is...
LEGO certainly does not shy away from muscle cars. And I love it. Excellent review of a great set.
Speed Champions next year could be so incredibly awesome…I mean, I think it is already. I guess I mean awesomer.
Gray and Chrome are definitely not interchangeable. I hate to say it, because while I like the car, gray just makes it look bland compared to what a chrome engine and grill would look like! :(
@CapnRex101 said:
"
Only one chrome element is currently in production. I will leave it to others to ponder which part that is..."
The LOTR ring piece, right? That still pops up occasionally, and it's never been made in a color other than chrome gold so the different size molds are a non-issue.
@PicnicBasketSam said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"
Only one chrome element is currently in production. I will leave it to others to ponder which part that is..."
The LOTR ring piece, right? That still pops up occasionally, and it's never been made in a color other than chrome gold so the different size molds are a non-issue.
"
Yes, and the chromed pieces in the € 25 something Serious Play set.
I wonder why the grey isn't at least made into some metallic colour.
On another note: the red thing is definitely a nitrous oxide container for increasing the combustion rate inside the engine.
@shedjed said:
"Boring and bland same as Bond
Will not buy. These will be the only 8 wide speed champions I don't plan on getting and have zero interest. Cars from movies will rarely excite me but may be appealing to fans of those movies..."
You're exactly right there, I suppose. I've never followed Speed Champions closely, so I have no idea if the DB5 and the Charger are good models by the theme's standards, but having Bond merchandise at a low price freaked me out, and I thought the model looked like a good rendition of the movie vehicle, so I definitely want it. Absolutely nothing to do with being passionate about the cars.
@Wrecknbuild said:
" @PicnicBasketSam said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
"
Only one chrome element is currently in production. I will leave it to others to ponder which part that is..."
The LOTR ring piece, right? That still pops up occasionally, and it's never been made in a color other than chrome gold so the different size molds are a non-issue.
"
Yes, and the chromed pieces in the € 25 something Serious Play set.
I wonder why the grey isn't at least made into some metallic colour.
On another note: the red thing is definitely a nitrous oxide container for increasing the combustion rate inside the engine."
I can absolutely guarantee that the red tank is a fire extinguisher. The set designer, Chris Stamp, advised me of this himself.
@vizzitor said:
"I don't know if it's just me but does the minifig look like he's wearing a binbag?
It reminds me of dressing up for Halloween years ago."
It would have been better if they'd printed him wearing his mahoosive Cross necklace to add a bit of interest and distract from the binbagishness of the cut off shirt
NOS tanks are (typically) not Red. Red tanks are almost universally thought of as a fire extinguisher (at least in the US). NOS tanks can be many colors, but I think red is a bit rare.
As for Chrome, I think LEGO has addresses this frequently. I think first, its not cheap to chrome anything anymore. Second, every LEGO chrome piece I have seen either flakes off after a while or wants to (as I think Plastic is not something that holds chrome well though i think recent advances have allowed car makers to chrome parts, but how long does the chrome really last on those parts).
Generally I like this model and will be getting one soon and removing the blower to make a 'stock' Charger. I also really like that skate piece as a door handle and wish they would have used that as the door handle for the Aston instead of a giant sticker that it uses.
this set is about family.
22 studs, too small
Dom’s face looks like it could work for a Rock eyebrow raise meme and thus either Hobbes or Shaw (I forgot which one is which, okay?). I’m pleasantly surprised that they’re keeping these Speed Champions at the same price point as the ones without a film license and this one strikes me as a particularly great deal. If I was any more interested in Fast & the Furious or Ghost Rider I’d probably get this one immediately.
I don't know if anyone else feels the same way, but I wish they would produce a studless head piece to represent minifigs with no hair. The stud on top of bald figures always looks weird to me, like the just forgot to put a hat or hair on.
@Somnium said:
"FAMILY"
FAMILY
@TheIronBadger said:
"So, Riddick sets when?"
Please don't get my hopes up.
Would really love a Lego version of that dog thing from the third film though. Will be a good addition to my kennel.
It would look better one brick longer added in front of door handle, moved back whole part of car after
I will be picking both this set and the James Bond Aston Martin set up on Day 1. I think the value is great since they remain the same price as most other Speed Champions sets yet are licensed and have cool minifigures. I have no knowledge whatsoever of either franchise but I can see the value of both these sets going up (not planning to sell them but it would be cool to have something rare in my collection for once.)
I really like the design of the interior.
Also, to address the issue with light bley at the front of the car. As @CapnRex101 and others have mentioned, chrome elements are for the most part, no longer in production. Plus, it costs a lot for separate, and others have mentioned that the chrome coating flakes off plastic quite easily. I don't think lightsaber hilts from the Star Wars line are chromed anymore, but I have encountered a similar problem with the flaking because the silver coating eventually wears and shows some white/grey colouring of the original piece within.
I'm not liking the way the sides of the car are plate-on-plate-on-plate-on-plate...
It looks like it was 3D-printed with one of the very first primitive 3D printers.
They couldn't use a couple of blocks?
@Torrent_Studios said:
"I will be picking both this set and the James Bond Aston Martin set up on Day 1. I think the value is great since they remain the same price as most other Speed Champions sets yet are licensed and have cool minifigures. I have no knowledge whatsoever of either franchise but I can see the value of both these sets going up (not planning to sell them but it would be cool to have something rare in my collection for once.)
I really like the design of the interior.
Also, to address the issue with light bley at the front of the car. As @CapnRex101 and others have mentioned, chrome elements are for the most part, no longer in production. Plus, it costs a lot for separate, and others have mentioned that the chrome coating flakes off plastic quite easily. I don't think lightsaber hilts from the Star Wars line are chromed anymore, but I have encountered a similar problem with the flaking because the silver coating eventually wears and shows some white/grey colouring of the original piece within."
Yeah, but they could at least use drum-lacquered metalic silver. Also, the bley is way too thick. It's just supposed to be trim.
@dimc said:
"Now that they are printing or building headlights, and doing repeats of models, can we get Paul's classic Supra in bright orange and green? Or maybe the Skyline finally?"
I’d love to see those as large scale Creator models!
@ggj said:
"I’d love to see those as large scale Creator models!"
To be honest, my wallet would prefer they stay small!
Purchased this set yesterday, at me local Morrisons store. Got home and went to look for the building instructions on this site (prefer to use iPad for building instructions), only to discover the instructions not available cause this set is not yet released!