Up With Blocks builds Lego creations of all-sizes, from tiny LEGO luxe watches to massive Bespin Cloud City replicas from Star Wars lore. What we haven’t seen from Up With Blocks is a life-size LEGO car… until now.
On his YouTube channel, Up With Blocks introduced his latest LEGO build, the LEGO Ford GT40. This 1:1 scale replica of the Ford GT40 is fully-functional and took roughly 2,500 hours to build!
Bringing the LEGO Ford GT40 From Concept to Reality
The idea for the LEGO Ford GT40 came from the LEGO community. Back in January 2021, LEGO Ideas member BradBuildsLego posted his concept for a LEGO Ford GT40. It garnered nearly 7,000 votes before moving to the LEGO Review phase in June 2022.
In July 2022, Up With Blocks caught wind of the LEGO Ford GT40 concept and hit the brakes. He decided then and there that he would actually build a life-size, working Ford GT40 using only LEGO bricks.
The Impressive Specs of the LEGO Ford GT40
When you set out to build a to-scale vehicle entirely out of LEGO, things like weight ratios, load capacity, power, and durability all become extremely important. The LEGO Ford GT40 measures 4.37 m long (14 feet), 1.85 m wide (6 feet), and 1.14 m high (3 feet 8 inches). It weighs roughly 500 kg (1,102 pounds)!
The LEGO GT40 chassis support over 113 kg (250 pounds) while remaining flexible enough to take corners at speed. Power comes from an onboard battery-powered Power Functions motor rated up to 12 volts. Given the weight constraints, the motor allows it to hit a brisk pace of 19 km/hr (12 mph).
Over 300,000 LEGO Pieces and 2,500 Build Hours
In order to make the LEGO GT40 structurally sound, Up With Blocks had to incorporate a hybrid building approach. This involved combining LEGO Technic beams and liftarms to handle the chassis structure along with standard System bricks for the main exterior body panels.
In total, the LEGO Ford GT40 used over 300,000 LEGO pieces spanning 2,590 individual colors. Up With Blocks estimates it took him 2 years and 3 months in total working time to take the concept from idea to reality. That’s nearly 2,500 hours of designing, testing, rebuilding, and perfecting the mechanics.
Test Drives Confirm Lego Creation is Roadworthy
Now that the LEGO Ford GT40 is complete, Up With Blocks has been able to take it out for numerous test drives to confirm its stability and drivability. He says the vehicle handles remarkably well at moderate speeds with a turning radius similar to its real-world namesake. The 12v motor has enough torque to tackle small hills without issue.
Several YouTube clips show Up With Blocks navigating the vehicle smoothly around corners. He takes it over speed bumps, through residential areas, and on short highway stints to verify its roadworthiness. The videos suggest the months spent engineering the chassis and drivetrain paid off resulting in a solid end product.
A True Test of Skill and Innovation for AFOL
For those well-versed in the adult LEGO builder scene, referred to as AFOLs (Adult Fans of LEGO), Up With Block’s creations continuously push the boundaries of what’s thought possible using the tiny plastic bricks. While clearly not intended as a daily driver, the LEGO GT40 showcases incredible vision, understanding of mechanics, and LEGO mastery.
From incorporating real steering and opening doors to a shockingly realistic exterior body shape, Up With Blocks’ passion project should provide tons of inspiration for builders around the world. With ideas percolating for even more ambitious vehicle-based LEGO designs, we eagerly await seeing how he tries to top this larger-than-life build.
