A new (studless) version of the classic Technic 8845 Dune Buggy from 1981.

Yes, I’m a big fan of the 8845 Dune Buggy, I still am. I’ve already had the idea for this classic model built with new Technic elements a few years ago. I started building an LDD model and then I kept “in the drawer” until it was time to build it “for real”.

I remembered my “old love” a few weeks ago when I wrote a review for the original model for The Lego Car Blog and I thought: “That’s so cool, maybe now it’s time to order some bricks for it”. But when I looked at the LDD model the first time after all that time I wasn’t a 100% satisfied with it, anymore.

So I started optimizing the design a little until I was. Then I uploaded it to Bricklink into a new Wanted List and used the new “Buy All” function for the first time. The experience was just “Wow, it has become so easy to get all bricks!”

After a few days I had all the bricks and got started immediately when the last of the three envelopes arrived. This was the result a few hours later:

The basic design is as close to the original as possible. Most “old” 8L bricks are now 7L beams, 8L bricks are 5L beams, and so on. The roll cage has the same dimensions (in the side view) as 8845 and the angles between the axles are the same, too.

The main differences are: The new one is one “stud” wider, the wheelbase is half a “stud” longer and I’ve added a second beam on each “lever” of the rear suspension to add some rigidity.

I’ve also added a HOG steering, something I had done on my old model when I was a kid (As I didn’t have an extra gear for the “right side” I used a longer axle going through the steering wheel, a second cardan joint and another axle plus a “spare tire” for the steering).

Here I used an additional gear on the front, a complete second steering column and a small black ball as “steering wheel” for the HOG steering (I tried out quite a few elements, even a spare wheel – but I think the ball looks best and it really works fine).

Top view: You can see the front part of the HOG steering.

Bottom view: And here is the rest of it.

Bird’s view: Looks cool for me…
And it’s so much fun to play with it, especially for my 3-year-old son.

The Next Generation: 8845 and his studless new friend.

With the studless model finished I also got my smaller versions of 8845 out of the glass cabinet and reworked the roll cages with new holders and rigid tubes.

Family picture: The classic 8845, the new studless model, the 6-wide Minifig model (with BrixoNils at the wheel) and the 4-wide model.

So, that’s my new studless version of the classic Lego Technic 8845 Dune Buggy. I hope you like it :-)) – Maybe not as much as I do, but who could expect that? ;-))