If any of you think that getting paid to build LEGOs is a fun job, I’m here to let you know that, well, yes, it’s an awesome gig. But it can also be tedious, especially when you’re tasked to build a LEGO version of the Ford GT race car that approximately has 30,000 to 40,000 LEGO bricks in it. Such is the job of Pascal, who was tasked to build a scaled version of the Ford GT race car that will spend the coming weekend on display at the Circuit de la Sarthe for the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race.
It’s not a coincidence that the LEGO version of the Ford GT race car will be on hand at Le Mans right around the same time that the American automaker celebrates the 50th anniversary of its unforgettable 1-2-3 finish at Le Mans back in 1966. The Blue Oval has made a concerted effort to remind everyone of that historic feat and now, it’s also brought in LEGO to take part in the festivities.
The final product isn’t shown until the end of the video but we do get a lot of Pascal explaining the process behind the creation of the LEGO Ford GT racer and as it turns out, it’s not as easy as it looks. For one, building something of this scale involves tedious amounts of planning just to make sure that the scale is done right. A 3D model was also created in the size of the LEGO version – one-third the size of the actual race car – to ensure that the builders like Pascal will have the scale down pat when the build starts.
It gets even more chaotic when the actual build starts. I’d like to be as descriptive as I can to do Pascal’s words justice, but I think it’ll be much better if we just heard it from the man himself.
Continue after the jump to read the full story.
Why it matters
I have to give it to Ford for really pulling out all the stops in celebrating the 50th anniversary of its 1966 Le Mans triumph. It released a number of Le Mans 50th Anniversary Special Edition models based on the Ford Focus RS, Ford Fiesta ST, and Ford Mustang. It partnered with Microsoft and Turn 10 Studios to offer a free download of the Ford GT race car on Forza Motorsports 6. And now, it’s partnered with LEGO to build this scaled down version of the same racer.
Obviously, Ford still thinks highly of its accomplishment 50 years ago and I’m not going to be the one to call them out for it. The truth is, that 1966 triumph should still be held in high regard because of what has happened to American automakers competing in the legendary race since Ford’s run of dominance in the late 60’s. Guess how many of them have won Le Mans since then? Zero.
Ford remains the only American automaker to take the checkered flag at Le Mans so 50 years after that historic triumph, you can be sure that the Blue Oval is having fun reminding everyone of that fact.
Want a LEGO version of the Ford GT race car, anyone?
Ford GT Le Mans
Read our full review on the Ford GT Le Mans here.