This week’s spotlight shines on the retired LEGO set, the Nissan GT-R NISMO (76896) from the Speed Champions theme. Launched in 2020, this set captures the sleek and powerful design of the iconic sports car. Unfortunately, it left the shelves for good on various dates in 2021 and 2022. Let’s take a closer look at what made this set a fan favorite before it zoomed off into retirement.
Zoom into the LEGO Speed Champions Experience
The Nissan GT-R NISMO (76896) set from the Speed Champions theme features 298 pieces and includes a mini version of the legendary Nissan GT-R NISMO car and a collectible minifigure in a Nissan racing suit. This model car kit provides an exciting mission for children aged 8+ who love to create and play with toy racing cars. The set measures 1” (5cm) high, 6” (16cm) long, and 2” (7cm) wide. Designed for car fans, the LEGO Speed Champions replicas are 25% bigger and more realistic than ever, allowing builders to create mini versions of the world’s most famous cars and stage thrilling racing stories. The set, released in January 2020, captures the details of the real-life GT-R NISMO and comes with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for a quick assembly. The LEGO bricks and pieces used in this set have been tested to meet the highest global safety and quality standards, ensuring consistency, compatibility, and ease of use for builders.
Speeding into History
The Nissan GT-R NISMO holds historical significance as the first Japanese car to be featured in the LEGO Speed Champions series, marking a milestone for Japanese automotive representation in the LEGO world. Released as part of the Speed Champions theme, this set introduced a larger scale, enabling the inclusion of two minifigures side by side, enhancing the realism of the model. However, the change in scale brought some design challenges, highlighted by reviewers, such as issues with the interior and exterior alignment and an increased reliance on stickers. Despite mixed ratings upon release, the set holds appeal among Adult Fans of LEGO (AFOLs) for its unique representation of a record-holding vehicle and as a notable addition to the Speed Champions series.
Set Reactions and Insights
The reviews for the LEGO Speed Champions Nissan GT-R NISMO set (76896) were mixed. One reviewer, HeadFax, praised the level of detail in the exterior of the car, stating, “In terms of the exterior, however, I have to admit that the detail is exquisite.” However, they also mentioned drawbacks, such as the offsetting of plates on the dashboard, resulting in a mismatch with the steering wheel, and the excessive use of stickers, concluding that “this set is good, but not great.” (Speed Champions 2.0) Another review by TeddytheSpoon highlighted the lack of play value accessories and criticized the small wheels and headlights, ultimately giving it a low overall rating, “despite an interesting choice of vehicle and some reasonable building techniques, I find it hard to recommend the GT-R Nismo.” (First Japanese Speed Champions car sets a low bar)
All the reviews for this article were provided by Brickset.com: Nissan GT-R NISMO Reviews
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In this week’s spotlight, we took a closer look at the retired LEGO set, the Nissan GT-R NISMO (Product Number: 76896) from the Speed Champions theme. With its retirement on multiple dates in 2021 and 2022, this set remains a sought-after treasure for automotive enthusiasts and LEGO collectors alike. Be sure to check back next week as we continue our series featuring previously retired sets.
