Random set of the day: Police Van
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 6681 Police Van, released during 1981. It's one of 15 Town sets produced that year. It contains 82 pieces and 1 minifig.
It's owned by 2,770 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you might find it for sale at BrickLink or eBay.
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38 comments on this article
Things appear to have gotten pretty serious in 1981 to bring in the van. No backup though, this man's a goner.
One word: Wholesome.
I think this was my brother's first set with a proper minifig. We each got one set with plank figs. I got police, and he got construction. When we got our first minifig sets, the themes were reversed.
This set was a little before my time (I was only a year old when it came out), but it still feels very familiar, as Lego didn't really change the way they did vehicles for a good few years. In fact, I'm pretty sure I could build this out of the pieces in my collection, except for the printed parts. Except for the policeman's head, obviously, but I don't think I have any of the other prints.
Too bad it’s not a Police Truck, that’d be really punk rock.
@MCLegoboy said: "No backup though, this man's a goner."
Well, he can always just throw those red traffic cones at people.
I still have this!
I bought it for my dad for Father’s Day…
Oooo, I think my father has this one!
@VintageDude London constable's calling to the underworld...
What a great set, much better than any of these silly modern ones. I really like those old shutter doors and it's really nice seeing the warning barriers.
Hinged roofs are superior to pull-off roofs. And I miss old grey.
This set was passed on to me from my cousin in early 90's along with iocnic 928, 8860 and a few others. I managed to build them all with some missing pieces here and there about a decade ago and they still grace my collection with their presence.
Ah, a 'Bread Wagon'...Police-Speak for a van:)
Don't know what this would be used for though: it's too small for prisoner transport, or S.W.A.T. operations...Lego police don't have weapons, so there goes heavy armaments...Maybe it IS a literal bread wagon...or doughnuts. :D
I remember this set. It was my first vehicle with these larger tires. Before this one all my minifigure era town sets had vehicles with the more common small tires. These tires became more common in the following years although most cars (especially smaller ones) still used the small tires.
He seems to have been called in to recover the Ark of the Covenant judging by the Staff of Ra he's wielding there
Just love waking up to a Random Set photo featuring that yellow Legoland banner. Never had this one, though browsing the instructions it looks rather cramped in the back with its 2-wide load bay, later models with panels rather than bricks were a bit better in that respect.
@TheOtherMike said:
"In fact, I'm pretty sure I could build this out of the pieces in my collection, except for the printed parts."
I still have this one from my childhood. The decorations (other than the minifig) were stickers by the way.
Walkie talkie, electric stop sign... Yes, this fella is definitely tooled up to catch ET.
With those shutters it looks more like a catering van. Perhaps as well as burgers and coffee, he's going to sell ice lollies like the one he's holding!
At least he can ride in it unlike poor old 6600
Always loved the way the roof opened so the policeman can get in and out, would be useful the next time I get into a mini. Those were the days when all a policeman needed was a baton with a red light, radio, some cones and a cheesy smile for crowd control. Interesting how they used the train 'step' piece for the grill, when the policeman really needs it for climbing in and out of the van as it is quite a drop. This is the only set of this version of the cone with closed stud that appears in red.
Why Lego no longer produces opening car doors and hinged roofs?
speed champions with locked door are silly... unless it's a Dodge Charger / General Lee
This is what Lego vehicles look like!
@CCC said:
" @pazza_inter said:
"Why Lego no longer produces opening car doors ... "
It does produce opening car doors. Quite a few 2022/23 sets have had them."
i was talking about SC... openinig doors appear last time in 2018!
Loved this set when I was a kid - ideal for your Lego town.
Only slight downside is the barrier and bollards only JUST fit in the back of the van, 'cos it's brick built and doesn't have any panels!
@VintageDude said:
" @WemWem said:
"Too bad it’s not a Police Truck, that’d be really punk rock."
For those not familiar with the song:
Police Truck is a song by Dead Kennedys,
I guess that I'm not the only one on Brickset that listens to Dead Kennedys and punk rock in general."
Okay, I'd like to throw in 6676 and the corresponding track by George Fenton & Ken Freeman. Age-wise almost matches this RSotD.
Speaking of: It's 1981 and with the new roofs, vehicles become more realistic.
Ahhh... I had this back in the day when I was a kid. Lovely stuff.
@Kynareth : If you bought it for your dad, why do YOU still have it?
I had this - 1981 was the start of my peak Lego era of total obsession; I was 8 and loved the larger wheels and the red cones; anything with new type parts was always interesting...
@TheOtherMike said:
" @Kynareth : If you bought it for your dad, why do YOU still have it?"
Strategic purchase…
@Kynareth said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Kynareth : If you bought it for your dad, why do YOU still have it?"
Strategic purchase…"
LAWL! Just like me everytime I gifted LEGO to my younger brother (he let's me take care his part of our collection =) )
@Bobsy:
Hey, it only took another 35 years for 71258 to show up. He probably retired with a full pension by that time.
@ambr:
The only vehicle I know of that ever had a flip-top roof like that was the old Good Humor ice cream trucks. Built on a Ford F-150 body, the driver sat in the only seat in the left side of the cab, and had to climb down steps on the right side to serve customers. Flipping the roof back allowed them to stand up from the driver’s seat rather than scooting awkwardly down a bench seat, or crouch-walking.
@pazza_inter said:
" @CCC said:
" @pazza_inter said:
"Why Lego no longer produces opening car doors ... "
It does produce opening car doors. Quite a few 2022/23 sets have had them."
i was talking about SC... openinig doors appear last time in 2018!"
76915 is releasing soon and has some doors!
Look at this the muscle of my lego police force. This was the car I sent to the serious situations in my Lego city. Rolling out from my police station set 8384. You als got a less muscle looking one in set 6684 a year later. in 1984.
And that is a shock of the 15 townsets produced that year I own 14. That was a good year for me.
LEGO updated this set in 1987 with a battery box, tinted windscreen, and new wheels. 6450
Some early 80's Lego nostalgia today! I received this set in my Easter basket and it was one of my first sets with the opening, hinge roof. Back then I thought it was the best thing going to add realism to any set. The police van matched well with my Police Headquarters at the time (588). It was a staple fixture in my Legoland town set up in my basement for many years. Like any set from the time period, the best part was the box art showing all of the different models that could be created with that one set. My set is safely tucked away in the original box with instructions.
I didn't know the double zipper went that far back.
@Bornin1980something said:
"I didn't know the double zipper went that far back. "
I mistook what you said and now I can't get the disturbing image of the police uniform's zipper going between the legs out of my mind.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"Oooo, I think my father has this one!"
Ouch I feel old.. I do not exactly remember getting this set, but playing with it.