Vintage set of the week: Car and Caravan
Posted by Huwbot,
This week's vintage set is 656 Car and Caravan, released during 1974. It's one of 13 LEGOLAND sets produced that year. It contains 52 pieces.
It's owned by 735 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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14 comments on this article
I feel like we've definitely seen this before, just with a different color car or something. Oh hey, look at that, May 20th. So many 4-wide boxy cars in the vintage pool.
Might be a squash and a squeeze getting the family in that.
Caravan had grown a wee bit in the 4 years since 623-2. Still thankfully no pesky minifigs to worry about!
And still fitted perfectly in the box once built.
@MCLegoboy:
It’s not like the possibilities were endless in those days, given the meager part selection.
Back when camper trailers weren’t highway-hogging mobile homes.
I'd say this one is clearly a step up from that other one we got in May. Car still very similar but it looks like it's got a vinyl roof now, and the caravan looks a lot more realistic with these windows. Too bad it still doesn't have a door to get inside...
@MCLegoboy said:
"I feel like we've definitely seen this before, just with a different color car or something. Oh hey, look at that, May 20th. So many 4-wide boxy cars in the vintage pool."
At least this caravan looks like a caravan mate as of a terrarium on wheels
It has another Car and Caravan release 2 years before, 379-2.
I'm just imagining if something like this set had come out a few years later, after modern minifigs had been introduced but before vehicles were big enough for them to fit inside. I'm picturing this hypothetical version coming with a family of four.
I like the simple sloping on the caravan with the stacked plates. It does a lot, especially at this scale. As does the red stripe. Such simplicity, yet it was clearly more thought through than you'd think!
Of course, I never would have bothered to look at this one amidst the sea of similar sets if it wasn't for the RSotD. So thank you, Huwbot!
Oh, and 13 LEGOLAND sets that year. Idk what else was made back then, but such a small lineup would today be completely inconcievable!
Very rare windscreen
Didn't have this set but I liked it. I build it sometimes with my own pieces.
@WizardOfOss said:
"Car still very similar but it looks like it's got a vinyl roof now"
Definitely the sign of promotion if your company Cortina had a vinyl roof!
@heikoloogi said:
"Very rare windscreen"
Omg you're right. Now that's an obscure part!
I thought it was just the image being weird but it turns out it only appears in two other sets, both the same helicopter (probably a international and american release each).
It doesn't seem to be too costly on the aftermarket at least!