Which LEGO car set is the most valuable?

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LEGO figurine dressed as a Ferrari racing driver in a red suit and helmet standing in front of a detailed LEGO model of a red Ferrari sports car, representing new cars and used cars in a toy car collection.
LEGO figurine dressed as a Ferrari racing driver in a red suit and helmet standing in front of a detailed LEGO model of a red Ferrari sports car, representing new cars and used cars in a toy car collection.

We, at Vertu Motors, know a thing or two about getting the best deal on your motor.

Whether new or used, we're very much in the market of scaling up your long-term investments to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.

But we bet you didn't know our knowledge is not simply tied to real car models. We sometimes like to venture into the lighter, more youthful car ownership realm of LEGO, where some of the world's best cars come to life in teeny-tiny brick form.

And, boy, there are plenty incredible models to choose from. From Fiats to Ferraris, McLarens to Mustangs, LEGO's illustrious Technic collection has expanded rapidly over the years - and with their most expensive set yet (the Lamborghini Sian) coming out last year, we wondered which set was indeed the best investment for LEGO lovers in 2021.

To find out, we ranked the car collectibles according to three categories: potential resale value* (for both new and used sets), hours of fun and price difference vs real life models**.

Continue reading, below, for a deeper dive into our LEGO collectibles cheat sheet.

Best value: ordered by best to resell new

If you want to get the most bang for your buck (or pounds, more accurately) on new LEGO Technic collectibles, then look no further than the Ferrari F8 Tributo and 1960s Ford Mustang sets.

Both of these brickified icons fetch more than 50% more than their RRP on eBay when resold as new.

Red LEGO model of a Ferrari sports car showcasing detailed design, including realistic wheels, side mirrors, and Ferrari logo. The image emphasizes the intricate assembly and craftsmanship of the toy car, suitable for illustrating concepts related to new cars and used cars in automotive discussions.

Two detailed blue and white LEGO sports cars displayed on a white background, showcasing models that resemble classic muscle cars, highlighting craftsmanship in new and used cars collections.

They aren't the only LEGO sets to boast a decent return on your investment, either.

The Ford F-150 Raptor, 1985 Audi Sport Quatro S1 and Toyota GR Supra can all net you a tidy profit, seeing their values increase 38%, 37% and 33%, respectively, on auction sites.

Chart showing the best value LEGO cars ordered by best to resell new with percentage differences between original LEGO prices and eBay prices for pre-owned models. Positive differences indicate higher eBay resale value, negative differences indicate lower. Ferrari F8 Tributo and 1960s Ford Mustang have the highest positive resale at +50% with LEGO prices £17.99 and £119.99, eBay prices £26.99 and £179.83 respectively. Other cars with positive resale include Ford F-150 Raptor +38%, Audi Sport quattro S1 +37%, Toyota GR Supra +33%, Koenigsegg Jesko +20%. Cars with slight negative resale include Fiat 500F -3%, Nissan GT-R NISMO -6%, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon -7%, McLaren Senna GTR -11%, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 -12%, Land Rover Defender 110 -13%, 2016 Ferrari 488 GTE -18%, Bugatti Chiron -21%. Greater negative resale includes Porsche 911 RSR -39%, Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 -40%, and Mclaren Elva with the lowest resale at -73%. The chart compares used cars (pre-owned LEGO models) and new car LEGO prices to illustrate value differences.

Best value: ordered by best to resell pre-owned

Pre-owned LEGO Technic collectibles, however, are a slightly different story.

The Ford F-150 Raptor set still represents a decent investment, priced up at £175 on eBay (35% more than RRP), but it is the only LEGO motor to retain a positive value change when sold used.

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The rest of the LEGO Technic collectibles sell at a loss when preowned - but that doesn't mean you can't minimise your losses, especially when your kids have already had their fun.

Opt for the McLaren Senna GTR, Toyota GR Supra or Nissan GT-R Nismo set to recoup most of your initial investment (90%, 89% and 89%, respectively).

Side view of a detailed Lego model car featuring white, black, and red colours with racing decals. The car displays branding text including 'MOTUL' in red and white on the door, and 'nismo NISSAN' in red and white along the lower side skirt. The model includes a rear spoiler and black wheels with a sporty design, representing a race car style. This image could be used to illustrate used cars or new cars with a focus on race-themed vehicles.

Best value: ordered by most hours of fun

Sometimes, the best investment is the one that keeps your kids quiet for the longest.

In this respect, you should add the Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 or the Bugatti Chiron sets to your Christmas shopping list. These two LEGO supercars each total to over 3,500 individual pieces, which guarantees you at least three or four hours of peace and quiet.

Detailed green LEGO model car with black and gold accents, showcasing an intricate design featuring opening doors, steering wheel, and visible interior components resembling a sports car, representing a creative build rather than used cars or new cars.

Detailed model of a blue sports car constructed from interlocking plastic bricks, showcasing intricate parts such as realistic wheels, aerodynamic design, front grille, and beige interior seats. The model represents a high-performance vehicle, suitable for illustrating concepts of used cars and new cars in automotive contexts.

For a less gruelling but still substantial build, there's also the Land Rover Defender 110, 2016 Ferrari 488 GTE and Porsche 911 RSR models that all contain more than 1,500 individual pieces to fit together.

Bar chart showing the number of LEGO pieces per set for various car models. Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 has 3,696 pieces, Land Rover Defender 110 has 2,573 pieces, Porsche 911 RSR has 1,580 pieces, Ford F-150 Raptor has 1,379 pieces, McLaren Senna GTR has 830 pieces, Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has 579 pieces, Nissan GT-R NISMO has 298 pieces, Ferrari F8 Tributo has 275 pieces, and the 1985 Audi Sport quattro S1 has 250 pieces. The chart is titled 'No. of LEGO pieces per set' with a dotted background resembling LEGO studs. Keywords: used cars, new cars.

Best value: ordered by cost of real model

As we look to the future of LEGO set investment, it's important not to neglect those cheaper models priced at £17.99 in favour of the more expensive 'hard to find' sets that set you back upwards of £300.

Of course, those rarer LEGO Technic collectibles represent the most valuable investment in the here and now (a new 1960s Ford Mustang currently nets you a £59.84 profit on eBay) - but if you're looking to beat the market, then real car model prices are your best clue.

The Koenigsegg Jesko, for example, is priced at just £17.99 as a LEGO set but a whopping £2,177,415 as a real car (that's a mega 121,033% price difference). As this LEGO Technic collectible gets rarer over time, its value will shoot up in line with its real car cost - so ensure you get in on the ground floor at 18 quid.

The McLaren Elva (real car cost of £1,400,000), McLaren Senna GTR (£1,033,675.50) and the 1985 Audi Sport Quattro S1 (£351,289.62) all offer a similarly reasonable LEGO cost for the more patient investors.

Bar chart showing the percentage price increase from LEGO car models to their real car models. Koenigsegg Jesko leads with a 121,033% increase, followed by McLaren Senna GTR at 22,975%, Ferrari F8 Tributo at 11,296%, Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 at 7,427%, 2016 Ferrari 488 GTE at 3,012%, Toyota GR Supra at 2,556%, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon at 697%, 1960s Ford Mustang at 207%, and Land Rover Defender 110 at 80%. The background resembles LEGO bricks and the title reads 'LEGO Model to Real Model Price Increase'. Keywords: used cars, new cars.

LEGO Technic collectibles are a great investment, but they still don't quite compare to the real thing, do they? Here at Vertu Motors, you'll find the best deals on a range of new and used car models. Browse for your next investment piece over on our website.

*Used and new LEGO prices sourced from the Buy It Now top result in eBay search (top result for Most Relevant), not including postage and packaging. All figures correct as of July 2021.

**Real car costs are converted from dollars to pounds where necessary. Prices correct as of 8th July.

Image credits:

Ferrari - https://www.flickr.com/photos/brickset/49198163552

Mustang - https://www.flickr.com/photos/nkubate/50010286811

Nissan - https://www.flickr.com/photos/rvbtoyreviews/50215429536

Lamborghini - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_Technic_42115_Lamborghini_Sian_FKP_37_(49979966946).jpg

Bugatti - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lego_Technic_42083_Bugatti_Chiron_(42457831042).jpg

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