The sight of this Volkswagen T1 Camper Van LEGO set will surely capture the hearts of both young and old, male or female.
It is based on the first generation Volkswagen Van nick named the splitty for the two panel windows at the front windscreen.
In fact, this was the set that caught my eye when I saw it in a mailer. I had to buy it, after which also led to many more LEGO purchases subsequently.
Heres a video by the designer of the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van LEGO set introducing it.
This set has openable doors and pop top roof. It is highly detailed and also features a folding bed/ seats just like the real deal. There is also the front split windscreen windows that open outwards like a top hung window. These are also features of the original van known as the safari windows.
The completed build is larger than the normal minifigures. It is not minifig scale so you can’t pose the minifigures with the Volkswagen Camper van. As such, this set does not come with any minifigures.
This is not the first Volkswagen set designed by LEGO. They have a now discontinued Volkswagen Beetle 10187 which is very rare and highly sought after now.
If you like vintage planes, check out the Sopwith Camel 10226 which is about the same scale as the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van 10220.
Year Released: 2011
Pieces: 1332
Retail Price: $119.99
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Do you know the scale in which the large VW camper is built? I would like to model other vehicles in this size.
Just did a measurement of the length from bumper to bumper. It is 28.5 cm or just over 11 inch.
It is about the same length as my Lamborghini Gallardo 8169 set which is supposed to be 1:17 scale.
The blue VW Beetle 10187 set is bigger in size than the Camper. Would be great to have a smaller version that’s the same size as the Camper.
What make and model of vehicle are you thinking of making?
I just joined a volunteer ambulance corps and I am interested in making a larger size Ford F350 or F450 Ambulance. Those are the boxy ones with the cab out the front.
Wouldn’t it be easier to design in 1:24 which would be twice the mini figure scale? I would think that the bricks would work better.
I guess LEGO designers probably started with some existing elements like the size of the wheels? Or perhaps their marketing prescribed a certain piece count to derive at a target price for the set.
Your idea of 1:24 scale would probably be around 10 stud wide for the vehicle? The current city sets have vehicles around 6 studs wide and 8 studs for some of the trucks. Another vehicle I can think of is the Vampyre Hearse 9464. Have not built my set yet but it is 8 studs wide. Overall length is about 20 cm which is close to 1:24 scale.
I’ve never made a vehicle from scratch but I guess you could get a set of the Camper to use the parts as a base for the F350 or F450 ambulance. There’s plenty of red and white pieces that is a suitable color combination for the ambulance.
Do take some photos of both the progress and completed model if you do attempt it. Cheers.