The LEGO Icons line has been kicking out some classic cars pretty regularly at a similar scale and 2023 was no exception with #10321-1: Corvette. This is the classic 1961 version according to the instructions. This set was released on 1 August 2023 and retails for $149.99 in the US. With 1,210 pieces, it works out to $0.124 per piece which is pretty steep. There are a lot of larger pieces and some non-standard ones so I’m sure that added to the cost. I grabbed this one before Christmas from LEGO when they were offering 3X Insider Points so it was a slightly better deal. Still, look for opportunities to grab this one at a discount or with something better than just the standard high price.
The box showed up in a cardboard box designed for the set which was slightly damaged during shipping. The front shows the set with the Corvette logo, Chevrolet logo, Icons logo, and 18+ greebling. The back gives some additional shots of the vehicle and a schematic with dimensions.
The box contains nine individually numbered parts bags, a bag with the wheels, and then I got two of the new paper bags with the two windshields in them. The instructions come in a paperboard envelope for protection.
The instruction book has a few details about the vehicle and the set in the front before launching into the build. Sadly, this set comes with stickers. Thankfully, they’re all pretty small and add some decent detail to the set overall.
Bags one and two start with the chassis of the vehicle. There are a lot of Technic beams and pins that get connected together before you start to attach pieces that will contain the outer mold line of the vehicle.
Bag three gets some of the trunk built along with a bit of the front.
Bag four adds more of the trunk space along with some of the curves. When I started this build, we had a few days of nice weather before the cold spell that hit the US and I brought a table to build outside while my kiddos played with friends. A neighbor who walked by saw the box and said “That’s LEGO? Wow!” I agree. It’s not the blocky, rectangular sets we’re used to. There are a lot of curves to make this a smooth vehicle. The question I have is whether it’s too far. While I think the vehicle looks sleek, have we gotten too far away from the LEGO concept where we are not making whatever parts we need to get the shapes we desire? I’m not sure there is a wrong answer here. It’s really up to the fan base.
Back to bag four… you add stickers to the license plates. You get three so pick what you like. Also, the bumper includes some gray banana pieces which is a fun detail.
Bag five adds some details to the front of the car to include the mechanism for the steering column. It’s pretty similar to past vehicles, but that’s okay. I don’t buy Icons sets for functionality. It’s more of an added bonus. If you want functionality, go for Technic sets.
Bag six builds the sides of the front of the car to include the wheel wells. You also add in the bumper which includes more gray banana pieces.
The seventh bag adds in headlights using a piece that I haven’t seen used before. Maybe it’s new? You also add the curvature to the top of the car over the wheels in the front. You add in some tiles which are printed to get the racing stripe look. This bag also adds in both doors. They are built in a similar way only mirrored. You use some interesting techniques to build them, but there are more pieces which seem a bit specialized so you be the judge here.
The eighth bag adds the front hood and trunk in the back. The hood in the front opens from the back up versus the front. The fit didn’t seem quite right to me and I’m not sure if I did it wrong or that’s just how it’s intended. Also, the hood piece doesn’t stay onto the assembly that connects to the front of the car real well as you open/close it. The hood has some larger curved tile like pieces… again, helps the model look great, but seem to be rather specialized. I forgot to get a picture here, but you’ll see the engine parts next. You build an engine with this bag. The trunk is added as well. There is a small Technic piece that is loose that seemed out of place that you added in earlier. This piece is used to help you open the truck as it is hard to do otherwise. A smart move and it doesn’t really stand out so I appreciate the effort. There is a sticker on the trunk and I think I centered it okay.
I also failed to take pictures of the seats, but they get added here too.
Here’s the final build with a few picture of the final vehicle. Bag nine adds in the windshields, roof, an antenna, and the steering wheel. Overall, it’s a sleek looking build. I’ve already complained enough about the specialized parts. I enjoyed the build, but wasn’t so sure about all the parts. Also this car is a bit overpriced considering the piece count. The 3X Insider Points along with GWPs helped encourage me to grab this one, but I wouldn’t buy it without multiple promotions.
What are your thoughts on this one? Could have been better? Just right? Awesome?
Happy building!
