Review: 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione
Posted by CapnRex101,
76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione maintains the enduring affiliation between Ferrari and Speed Champions, which started when this range was launched. Nevertheless, this design represents an appealing departure from existing Ferrari models.
The colourful berlinetta looks superb in official images, faithfully recreating the 812's elongated bonnet and improving upon the comparable 76901 Toyota GR Supra. Additionally, the brick-built details are more complex than I expected.
Summary
76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione, 261 pieces.
£19.99 / $24.99 / €24.99 | 7.7p/9.6c/9.6c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite some imperfections, the Ferrari 812 Competizione's sleek shape looks stunning
- Accurate proportions
- Beautiful, subtle shaping
- Distinctive colour scheme
- Rear bodywork could be better
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
Instead of racing overalls, this minifigure features a Ferrari-branded shirt. I love the understated presence of the iconic prancing horse logo on the breast pocket, alongside realistic buttons and creases, which continue on the back. The whole ensemble seems rather stylish, perhaps suiting the stereotypical Ferrari driver!
As usual, the driver wears a crash helmet with an opening visor. The bearded head underneath looks good, but is extremely common, which is disappointing because these Speed Champions minifigures frequently provide an opportunity to re-use less familiar designs.
The black hair element is also uninteresting, although matches the driver's facial hair. A wrench is supplied to remove the wheel inserts from the Ferrari, consistent with other Speed Champions sets.
Reference
Source - autogespot.com
The Completed Model
Speed Champions includes surprisingly few berlinetta models, perhaps because their distinctive proportions are more challenging to build than rear-engined supercars, which are more common in the theme. 76901 Toyota GR Supra encountered some issues, but this design appears much sleeker and avoids the bulky silhouette of the Toyota Supra.
I think the forward rake is helpful in that respect, although probably more significant are the new wheel arches. While these elements appear outwardly unchanged, the structure behind the arch has been updated, so the bodywork above the wheel arch seems lighter. However, the shape is certainly not perfect when viewed from the side, with an awkward transition between the bonnet and the windscreen.
Ideally, the windscreen component would be sunken into the bodywork slightly, but this issue is only noticeable from the side. The bonnet is cleverly constructed in sections, allowing the central portion to be angled downwards, while the headlights remain level. The resulting curvature looks superb and I like the radiator underneath as well, even though this requires a sticker.
23 stickers are included, seven of which comprise an attractive yellow stripe, in combination with the printed windscreen. This stripe is an important feature of the Ferrari 812 Competizione and I like the red and yellow colour combination. Moreover, an angular black band crosses the bonnet in the other direction, although this is primarily brick-built and seems similarly appealing.
The interior is beautifully detailed, with Ferrari-branded headrests and splashes of yellow visible on the seats and dashboard. These yellow accents are taken directly from the original car, while the prominent air conditioning vents above the dashboard correspond with the actual Ferrari 812 too. 76915 Pagani Utopia incorporates similar vents inside.
There is comfortable space for two minifigures, flanking the stickered centre console. The doors are not functional, as normal, but their shape is incredibly accurate. The deep recesses situated beneath the door mirrors look marvellous and are genuinely hollow, rather than relying on black pieces to create the impression of depth.
Whereas the standard Ferrari 812 includes a rear windscreen, that is replaced with an opaque panel on the Competizione. Stickers form the continued stripe and the black ridges that redirect airflow towards the edges of the spoiler, but the gradual curve looks lovely. However, the shape becomes increasingly complex here, so has necessitated some compromises.
The spoiler is directly integrated with the body and the designer has therefore angled the central section to create an appropriate shape. Unfortunately, this angle does not continue to the edges of the spoiler, where 2x2 curved corner tiles seem awkward. The printed lights and vents behind the rear wheels are effective though, above stud shooters, which are cleverly integrated to form square exhausts.
Overall
Upon first seeing the 2023 Speed Champions range, 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione somehow failed to capture my attention. Actually building the model has therefore been a nice surprise, as this vehicle is much more interesting and impressive than I expected! Undoubtedly most notable is the shape, which is incredibly sleek and closely resembles the original car.
Also, I like the colour scheme and the design includes an array of brick-built details, despite the extensive use of stickers too. The only significant issue relates to the spoiler, although even that is understandable because these compound curves would be essentially impossible to duplicate without specialised parts. 76915 Pagani Utopia remains my favourite of the new single cars, but 76914 Ferrari 812 Competizione exceeds expectations.
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31 comments on this article
I am not a big fan of Ferrari but this one looks surprisingly better than I expected. The colour scheme on this model is glorious. It is nice to see that red print comes out better on the windscreens than the white.
I am looking forward to adding this one to my SC collection.
I'm not a car guy, but I love the complex builds of the Speed Champions line, and this one looks much better in the review pictures than it did in the official photos. I will add it to my want list.
Not my favorite of the bunch, but still seems quite a good model. I love that they did the brick built band on the bonnet, and I can live with the stickers for the yellow band. And at least the red seems to match the plastic quite well. The same can't be said about the windscreen piece, which (again) is a shame. I'd probably leave of some of the other stickers. Still, overall I think they did a pretty good job!
With Marzipan's radish, we're going to win the Competizione!
And yes, I am prepared for no one to get this reference. Apparently homestarrunner.com isn't as mainstream as it used to be.
I just built the Toyota yesterday, and I can safely say that it's my least favorite 8-wide speed champions car so far (haven't built all of them), both in terms of building experience and in terms of looks.
To be honest, I'm not particularly thrilled with this year's line-up. But may add this Ferrari to the collection anyway at some point even if some things look quite similar to the Toyota, especially the area around 'the doors.'
Is it me or does the front resemble 76907?
According to colors, it looks like a promotional car of Spain. :-)
I think this is the first time I've seen the new-style stud shooters used ornamentally on an actual set. They work really well here for the exhausts.
@Randomness said:
"With Marzipan's radish, we're going to win the Competizione!"
You jumped over somma my buses!
Jang sure has a nice ride for a Lego youtuber. Must be the Twitch stream cashflow ;)
Adding this to my want list. Might sell the F8 to pick it up, since this seems like a better version. I may try with limited stickers, just the stripe and maybe front radiator.
I do wish they would make a Ferrari in something other than red and the occasional yellow. This would have worked well with the dark blue color: https://www.carlabnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ferrari-812-competizione-in-blue-proves-not-all-prancing-horses-have-to-be-red-51129b6.jpg
Nice review to coincide with Ferrari launching their 2023 F1 car this morning.
I'll probably get this one at some point, but I'll wait for a good discount. There are other sets I want first, even in the same theme. But it looks like a typical good SpeedChampions build.
However, still very bad color-matching between plastic and prints. That windscreen looks far worse here than in all the official pictures and box-art. This is not ok LEGO. If the issue with the print quality isn't fixed, which should be high priority in my opinion, then at least be honest with the advertisement. The stickers look ok, good enough but not perfect.
I thought the shaping of the entire model looked decent, but after looking closer primarily at the rear as pointed out in the review, I have to agree there are issues. I just wasn't familiar enough with the real car to spot them. The spoiler should definitely have been angled the full width to look right. And looking at the car from the side, one of the really distinct features of the 812 is the sweeping line from behind the front wheels that extends across the rear wheel arch and becomes the rear spoiler. That continuity is unfortunately totally missing in the model. Next are the enormously oversized exhausts. Yes it's a funny parts usage, but they really don't fit at this scale. I'm also not sure about the rear lights. Great that they are brick-built and with a simple and not super specialized print, but again the scale is way off because on the real car they are much smaller. Possibly this is the best compromise.
It's a great effort by the designers, and all-in-all it is very recognizable. Not a favorite of mine, but mostly because I'm biased I'm afraid. I'm weird in that I like cars but not Ferraris.
Another build that looks like a lot of fun. Not number one for this year but will certainly be getting eventually. Anyone know if they will be doing polybags mini SC like last year?
It seems to me that if they hadn't printed the bottom sides of the windscreen and made the curved printing on the stickers for the slope pieces behind it go deeper, it would have looked just as or even more accurate and would have avoided the contrast between the shades and made the piece more versatile. They are over-printing these pieces, in my view.
@shedjed said:
"Another build that looks like a lot of fun. Not number one for this year but will certainly be getting eventually. Anyone know if they will be doing polybags mini SC like last year?"
It appears to be a McLaren Solus GT. It was spotted in one of the interviews with Chris Stamp.
still really want to see some more off road or rally raid vehicles, and as the Dakar rally takes place at the start of the year, it would be perfect for a jan 1st release. would love to see a rally raid Kamaz truck or an Aldi E-tron, or any other off road vehicles used. getting sick of supercars at this point, although I cant deny that the build experience is incredible!
I have to admit I find this one far less interesting than the Pagani.
One of the great things about Lego is to own a model of something you can't afford in real life. The base price for this is $601,570. Out of my league!
I agree not every car can be perfectly captured in Lego, but I think this looks great, especially in the 8-wide models. I own some 6-wide and loved them at the time but the 8-wide is much more realistic shaping and minifigure scale.
@PhantomBricks said:
" @shedjed said:
"Another build that looks like a lot of fun. Not number one for this year but will certainly be getting eventually. Anyone know if they will be doing polybags mini SC like last year?"
It appears to be a McLaren Solus GT. It was spotted in one of the interviews with Chris Stamp."
Interesting! Like the slightly different look from the 8-wide. Thanks! Curious if it will be a GWP option.
Hmm, that driver's face looks familiar...
Love this car. I'm a fan of Speed Champions, but Star Wars (and a little splash of Ninjago) take up much of my budget, and I can't afford to buy every new SC set they release. Among SC, Skyline takes priority (which I still haven't found in stores yet) and I might buy the Utopia as well.
The problem with yellow and red together like this is it screams “McDonald’s!”
I guess even Ferrari is caught in a bubble where they don’t know the rest of the world exists. I mean I get that the prancing horse has always been on a yellow field, but that stripe is just too big.
Still, it does look nice from the side.
Pathetic that Lego cares nothing about matching colors and only wants greater prices and profits! Even more pathetic that Brickset is actively engaged in supporting that position.
"Distinctive colour scheme," indeed. Sad. Really, really, sad.
@peterlmorris said:
"The problem with yellow and red together like this is it screams “McDonald’s!”"
Now I wanna incorporate this set into a MOC where Ronald McDonald drives through a Wendy's in a fit of road rage.
"Ba da ba ba baaaaaa I'm drivin' it!"
@shedjed said:
" @PhantomBricks said:
" @shedjed said:
"Another build that looks like a lot of fun. Not number one for this year but will certainly be getting eventually. Anyone know if they will be doing polybags mini SC like last year?"
It appears to be a McLaren Solus GT. It was spotted in one of the interviews with Chris Stamp."
Interesting! Like the slightly different look from the 8-wide. Thanks! Curious if it will be a GWP option. "
That's quite likely since last year's polybag was a GWP. Although last year's polybag did make a brief appearance at Target in my area.
@peterlmorris said:
"The problem with yellow and red together like this is it screams “McDonald’s!”
I guess even Ferrari is caught in a bubble where they don’t know the rest of the world exists. I mean I get that the prancing horse has always been on a yellow field, but that stripe is just too big."
Great...I can't unsee that, and now I also have a craving for fries...
@DaBigE said:
" @peterlmorris said:
"The problem with yellow and red together like this is it screams “McDonald’s!”
I guess even Ferrari is caught in a bubble where they don’t know the rest of the world exists. I mean I get that the prancing horse has always been on a yellow field, but that stripe is just too big."
Great...I can't unsee that, and now I also have a craving for fries..."
Or, the ol' hot pocket cherry pie! Do they still make those? Man, those pies would always sear the top layer of the roof of your mouth.
The interior is gorgeously done. The Ferrari printing on the headrests is so good. This is the only one in the SC 2023 line that appeals to me. Might pick it up just to go with 76895.
Shame that the seemingly colour matched windscreen of 76915: Pagani Utopia was a one-off. :((
I'm assuming the stud shooters don't include triggers? Oh well, since every set with functional shooter includes an extra trigger, and since pieces that stud shooters will launch are also always included as extras, it's an easy mod if you want to discourage tailgaters. Not that many cars can tailgate a Ferrari if the road's open...
@Randomness: Did you type that comment with boxing gloves on?