The LEGO Group has partnered with Ford Motor Company to create a new Model T LEGO set, officially launching on November 6, 2023. This collaboration celebrates the historical significance of the Model T, an invention that revolutionized transportation and contributed to the automotive industry’s development.
Passion and Precision Drive the Project
Ted Ryan, the archives and brand manager at Ford, played a pivotal role in bringing this project to life. A long-time LEGO enthusiast, Ryan’s passion for both the toy and the automotive brand helped bridge the two worlds. “We always, always build with the kids. So, I missed the ability to build with the kids, so I just said, ‘heck, I’m gonna start getting them myself,’” Ryan explained.
Ryan noted that while LEGO and Ford have collaborated on various sets in the past, the Model T replica stands out due to its intricate design and historical accuracy. “The questions and the level of detail that the designer was looking for made me know that she was really invested in making the project exactly as perfect as it could be,” he said.
Collaboration and Design Excellence
The project began over a year ago and involved significant collaboration between Ryan and the designers at LEGO’s headquarters in Billund, Denmark. During his visit, Ryan shared original artifacts related to the Model T, enhancing the authenticity of the set. “It was a one-of-a-kind, unique experience getting to be in the LEGO campus at LEGO Idea House, seeing a prototype of something that I’d only seen pictures of,” he remarked.
The resulting product features over 1,000 pieces and includes numerous historically accurate details. Ryan highlighted that the wheels are white, reflecting the era’s manufacturing practices, as tire manufacturers had not yet switched to producing black wheels. Additionally, the set incorporates a gas tank, which was situated beneath the main seat in the original Model T.
The LEGO Icons Team, responsible for selecting culturally significant themes for LEGO sets, chose the Model T due to its lasting impact on society. “It’s putting the Model T back up on a pedestal that it rightly belongs to be on,” Ryan stated, emphasizing the enduring legacy of this Detroit invention.
As consumers prepare to celebrate the launch of this set, the collaboration between LEGO and Ford serves as a reminder of the Model T’s pivotal role in the automotive history, more than a century after its introduction.