Although LEGO used the Technic name for its line of expert building sets in Europe as early as 1982, I believe 1986 was the first year the Technic name was officially used for the same series here (in the U.S.), correct? That is according to all the U.S. LEGO catalogs I've checked on peeron.com: the 1984 and 1985 editions of those mid-sized full-line catalogs still list the Expert Builder line as such, but the '86 version does make mention of the Technic name both in the catalog and on the boxes.

Therefore, even if a LEGO Technic 8020 Universal Building Set (as sold here) had a 1984 copyright date on the box, with the Technic label it would actually be a 1986 revision. That would also mean the 8040 Universal Building Set with the pneumatic system, which was released the year after the 8020, 8030 and 8050 sets, would be more short-lived under the 1977-style label.

1984 seems to be the first year the Universal Building Sets within the Expert Builder series were first sold here, starting with sets 8020, 8030 and 8050. The larger two of the three sets were first sold in Europe in 1982, along with 8090 (which we didn't get although our neighbors to the north did), and bearing the Technic label. In 1985, the 8040 Pneumatic set complimented the original three sets, while in 1986 the 8030 and 8050 sets were replaced by the 8035 and 8055 sets respectively. Then, in 1989, the entire Technic Universal Builder line was overhauled and four new sets appeared: 8024, 8034, 8044 and 8054 to replace sets 8020, 8035, 8040 and 8055 respectively. However, the 8054 set used the same 4.5V electric motor from the prior 8050 and 8055 sets until being replaced for 1991 by the 8064 kit with the new 9V motor.

~Ben

Edited June 20, 20168 yr by ClassicTVMan1981X

Very informative! I had no idea they started the bigger sets in 1984. Seems to be a big year for a lot of neat things!

Very informative! I had no idea they started the bigger sets in 1984. Seems to be a big year for a lot of neat things!

Yeah, for us it was.

During the '90s, the TECHNIC Universal Building Sets also had two revolutionary sets in models 8074 with the Flex System and 8062 with the carrying case. LEGO retired the UBS line in 1995.

~Ben