A self-confessed ‘petrol head’ dad has spent 100 hours building his dream car from 1,200 Lego pieces – and could soon see it become a real toy for sale in stores.
Civil engineer Dave Collins rediscovered his love for the construction toy after 20 years, when a friend found an old box of the tiny colourful bricks in his loft and suggested they give it a pop.
Once he got the Lego bug, the 47-year-old, who hails from Newton Abbot, South Devon, started looking for a bigger challenge.
As his wife Addie and their 13-year-old daughter watched on, Dave spent countless evenings constructing motor masterpieces, including three classic 80s ‘hot hatch’ cars.
![FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE Story from Jam Press (Lego Obsessed Dad) Pictured: Dave Collins built a detailed replica of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. ‘Petrol head’ Brit dad spends 100 hours creating perfect miniature replica of dream car in LEGO A self-confessed ‘petrol head’ dad has spent 100 hours building his dream car from 1,200 Lego pieces – and could soon see it become a real toy for sale in stores. Civil engineer Dave Collins rediscovered his love for the construction toy after 20 years, when a friend found an old box of the tiny colourful bricks in his loft and suggested they give it a pop. Once he got the Lego bug, the 47-year-old, who hails from Newton Abbot, South Devon, started looking for a bigger challenge. As his wife Addie and their 13-year-old daughter watched on, Dave spent countless evenings constructing motor masterpieces, including three classic 80s ‘hot hatch’ cars. But his pièce de résistance is a detailed replica of the £140,000 Renault 5 Turbo 3E. “My friend brought some Lego down from his loft – I hadn’t played with it in over 20 years,” said Dave. “[I started with the 80s hot hatches] – all the boy racers drove those back in the day. “My job is in design, so[then] I looked at the Renault and knew I could replicate it. “I’m a creative person and always have a DIY project on the go. “The Turbo 3E] was a concept car at one of their motor shows, [which I visited] a couple of years ago. “I’ve never forgotten it.” To make sure the dimensions were spot on, Dave printed out photos of the car and carefully sketched the proportions before starting the build. The Lego motor might technically be a toy but it’s partly functional – the doors and boot open and close, and it has adjustable seats. It was Addie who convinced Dave to show the finished model to Renault rather than leaving it sitting on a shelf at home. And he couldn’t believe what happened next. The motor bosses were so impressed that they asked to showcase the model in the company’s flagship Oxford Street store. He said: “I was happy to have it on a bookshelf but she knew people really needed to see it. “She encouraged me like any good wife should, so I called Renault, and the rest is history.” Renault displayed Dave’s Lego creation in store, side-by-side with the real Renault 5 Turbo 3E. He said: “I was worried it might make my model look rubbish – it was a dangerous move having them beside one another – but it looks even better than I could have hoped for. “I just love that something I did purely for fun has been picked up by a car manufacturer and they’ve gone, ‘That’s pretty cool’. “I’d love to see it become an official set on shelves one day – that would be absolutely mind-blowing.” Dave’s dream might just become a reality. His design is available for fans to vote for through Lego Ideas; if it reaches 10,000 supporters, it might be made into an official set, sold in shops worldwide. Ironically, Dave actually drives a Ford Focus but he has his eye on one day sitting behind the wheel of the Turbo 3E. He added: “A man can dream.” ENDS EDITOR’S NOTES: For more information, please visit: About Renault](https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/resources/images/20910708/?type=mds-article-620)
But his pièce de résistance is a detailed replica of the £140,000 Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
“My friend brought some Lego down from his loft – I hadn’t played with it in over 20 years,” said Dave.
“[I started with the 80s hot hatches] – all the boy racers drove those back in the day.
“My job is in design, so[then] I looked at the Renault and knew I could replicate it.
“I’m a creative person and always have a DIY project on the go.
“The Turbo 3E] was a concept car at one of their motor shows, [which I visited] a couple of years ago.
“I’ve never forgotten it.”
To make sure the dimensions were spot on, Dave printed out photos of the car and carefully sketched the proportions before starting the build.
The Lego motor might technically be a toy but it’s partly functional – the doors and boot open and close, and it has adjustable seats.
It was Addie who convinced Dave to show the finished model to Renault rather than leaving it sitting on a shelf at home.
And he couldn’t believe what happened next.
The motor bosses were so impressed that they asked to showcase the model in the company’s flagship Oxford Street store.
![FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE Story from Jam Press (Lego Obsessed Dad) Pictured: Dave Collins built a detailed replica of the Renault 5 Turbo 3E. ‘Petrol head’ Brit dad spends 100 hours creating perfect miniature replica of dream car in LEGO A self-confessed ‘petrol head’ dad has spent 100 hours building his dream car from 1,200 Lego pieces – and could soon see it become a real toy for sale in stores. Civil engineer Dave Collins rediscovered his love for the construction toy after 20 years, when a friend found an old box of the tiny colourful bricks in his loft and suggested they give it a pop. Once he got the Lego bug, the 47-year-old, who hails from Newton Abbot, South Devon, started looking for a bigger challenge. As his wife Addie and their 13-year-old daughter watched on, Dave spent countless evenings constructing motor masterpieces, including three classic 80s ‘hot hatch’ cars. But his pièce de résistance is a detailed replica of the £140,000 Renault 5 Turbo 3E. “My friend brought some Lego down from his loft – I hadn’t played with it in over 20 years,” said Dave. “[I started with the 80s hot hatches] – all the boy racers drove those back in the day. “My job is in design, so[then] I looked at the Renault and knew I could replicate it. “I’m a creative person and always have a DIY project on the go. “The Turbo 3E] was a concept car at one of their motor shows, [which I visited] a couple of years ago. “I’ve never forgotten it.” To make sure the dimensions were spot on, Dave printed out photos of the car and carefully sketched the proportions before starting the build. The Lego motor might technically be a toy but it’s partly functional – the doors and boot open and close, and it has adjustable seats. It was Addie who convinced Dave to show the finished model to Renault rather than leaving it sitting on a shelf at home. And he couldn’t believe what happened next. The motor bosses were so impressed that they asked to showcase the model in the company’s flagship Oxford Street store. He said: “I was happy to have it on a bookshelf but she knew people really needed to see it. “She encouraged me like any good wife should, so I called Renault, and the rest is history.” Renault displayed Dave’s Lego creation in store, side-by-side with the real Renault 5 Turbo 3E. He said: “I was worried it might make my model look rubbish – it was a dangerous move having them beside one another – but it looks even better than I could have hoped for. “I just love that something I did purely for fun has been picked up by a car manufacturer and they’ve gone, ‘That’s pretty cool’. “I’d love to see it become an official set on shelves one day – that would be absolutely mind-blowing.” Dave’s dream might just become a reality. His design is available for fans to vote for through Lego Ideas; if it reaches 10,000 supporters, it might be made into an official set, sold in shops worldwide. Ironically, Dave actually drives a Ford Focus but he has his eye on one day sitting behind the wheel of the Turbo 3E. He added: “A man can dream.” ENDS EDITOR’S NOTES: For more information, please visit: About Renault](https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/resources/images/20910709/?type=mds-article-620)
He said: “I was happy to have it on a bookshelf but she knew people really needed to see it.
“She encouraged me like any good wife should, so I called Renault, and the rest is history.”
Renault displayed Dave’s Lego creation in store, side-by-side with the real Renault 5 Turbo 3E.
He said: “I was worried it might make my model look rubbish – it was a dangerous move having them beside one another – but it looks even better than I could have hoped for.
“I just love that something I did purely for fun has been picked up by a car manufacturer and they’ve gone, ‘That’s pretty cool’.
“I’d love to see it become an official set on shelves one day – that would be absolutely mind-blowing.”
Dave’s dream might just become a reality.
His design is available for fans to vote for through Lego Ideas; if it reaches 10,000 supporters, it might be made into an official set, sold in shops worldwide.
Ironically, Dave actually drives a Ford Focus but he has his eye on one day sitting behind the wheel of the Turbo 3E.
He added: “A man can dream.”
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