I got the Lego Technic 8865 Test Car when I was 10 years old for Xmas. It was an awesome piece of kit and I loved building and playing with it. Some 20 years have passed since then, and my Test Car has stayed built up in numerous places. It's been on a shelf, in the loft (attic), then brought out again a few years ago to proudly sit in my room. I have since moved out into my own place, and after discovering this place and looking at all the cool new Technics, I thought I might as well rebuild the Test Car.

Firstly, it's dusty. Really dusty. It needs a complete strip down, wash, brush and dry before we do anything else.

Secondly, it's missing a couple of small parts, and/or some could do with being replaced. The "gate" parts of the gearbox is missing but I suspect my nephew has borrowed those small black "2 stud" slates for his own creations. And, the yellow blades from the engine have got small bites marks which I did when I was a child and didn't have the nails to pull parts apart myself. I know, gross, but hey I was 10 years old!

Here is a pic of how it stands tonight. Steering is a little knackered, and lights don't raise/lower anymore, the engine has come free and the passenger seat is loose, but for 20 years old its not in bad shape. This will all be sorted of course when I rebuild it.

These were taken on my iPhone 3GS so aren't the best quality I am afraid.

I hope I am not breaking rules here by doing my own review, I just thought I would document and show my strip down, clean up, and rebuild process of one of my favourite Technics ever, and probably my most loved "toy" of all time.

More to come soon...

Edited July 20, 200915 yr by tomacwhite

Very cool! I look forward to seeing more of this project!

You are definately not breaking any rules. Lovely to see such an old set, and I look foreward to the dust-off proces

Sounds fun. I was actually rebuilding this set myself last month, in order to remove the old friction pins from it and replace them with the modern slotted kind. My built up copy is a 1988 version that used the old pins.

I'm not sure what the North American name for this set was. It's called the Test Car everywhere on the internet, but the US catalogs from those years I have call it the Auto Chassis.

Sounds fun. I was actually rebuilding this set myself last month, in order to remove the old friction pins from it and replace them with the modern slotted kind. My built up copy is a 1988 version that used the old pins.

I'm not sure what the North American name for this set was. It's called the Test Car everywhere on the internet, but the US catalogs from those years I have call it the Auto Chassis.

I am not sure what pins mine has on it? Got a picture to compare the two? I do know that I got it the year it was released in the UK, because I remember seeing the TV ads and catalogue and getting very excited knowing that it will be waiting for me on Xmas morning (well, hoping!).

I always remember it being the Test Car. I am going to try and dig out the box sometime soon so maybe the name is on there? Did they change the names of the kits between different countries?

Edited July 21, 200915 yr by tomacwhite

I have this model on my fridge

I am not sure what pins mine has on it? Got a picture to compare the two? I do know that I got it the year it was released in the UK, because I remember seeing the TV ads and catalogue and getting very excited knowing that it will be waiting for me on Xmas morning (well, hoping!).

I always remember it being the Test Car. I am going to try and dig out the box sometime soon so maybe the name is on there? Did they change the names of the kits between different countries?

The newer ones, which were introduced in 1990, have slots in the middle. If you aren't tearing your hair out trying to disassemble the model, you probably have the new kind. The old ones have an extremely strong grip and require other pieces to remove. They also cause various types of damage to other bricks if left in place for a long time or removed at the wrong angle. I recently took them off all of my models which used them, and replaced them with the modern kind.

In most cases, each country had its own name for a given set. The US and UK had different names, and even in countries with other languages, the names often meant something quite different.

The newer ones, which were introduced in 1990, have slots in the middle. If you aren't tearing your hair out trying to disassemble the model, you probably have the new kind. The old ones have an extremely strong grip and require other pieces to remove. They also cause various types of damage to other bricks if left in place for a long time or removed at the wrong angle. I recently took them off all of my models which used them, and replaced them with the modern kind.

In most cases, each country had its own name for a given set. The US and UK had different names, and even in countries with other languages, the names often meant something quite different.

Are these the black pins which hold pieces together?

When I was a kid I liked this car so much. It looked so complicated and technical back then...

That's fantastic... I'd want that for the gearbox ideas alone!

I spent some time tonight taking 8865 apart for cleaning and I am surprised how well it went. Considering its age and how stuck some of the black friction pins were, everything came apart without issue, although three or four pins required a sharp blade being put behind them slightly to 'unstick' 20 years :)

One of the red flat panels which make up the top of the rear "window" of the Test Car has a slight crack in it, but I think I have a replacement I can use, or if it matches I will just make sure I use that part for the front bumper were it wont be stressed.

I was hoping to get time to clean the parts today and start the rebuild, but it looks like I'll have to wait a little bit longer.

One thing I noticed was how jammed in the parts are on this car, and that's not meant in a negative way. The building process is complex and there are so many tiny studded Lego pieces which fit on the main chassis area, its ace :)

Here is a quick shot of the car in pieces :)

Edit - I am going to make a stop-motion film of me building the car too which should be cool!

Edited July 24, 200915 yr by tomacwhite

How do you plan to clean the parts?

Edited July 25, 200915 yr by Milan

How do you plan to clean the parts?

I am going to fill up a plastic box with warm water and simply soak the pieces in the water. I am then going to use a old toothbrush to gently scrub the bricks and parts until they are shiny and dust free. For the suspension parts I am just going to clean them with the brush, I don't really want to soak any metal or

set parts like those units because water might get inside

and cause damage.

I tried cleaning one red Lego piece and it came up really

nicely, so the car should look fantastic when it's finished. It's never been kept in direct sunlight so none of the

panels have faded over time.

Are these the black pins which hold pieces together?

Yes. The new ones are so cheap and common on Bricklink that you might as well replace them if you have the older variety.

That's fantastic... I'd want that for the gearbox ideas alone!

This type of gearbox still has its uses. The driving ring gearboxes are more compact and were used in 8880 and all subsequent super cars, but the kind of gearbox seen in this set is actually more useful for making automatic transmissions.

I am going to fill up a plastic box with warm water and simply soak the pieces in the water. I am then going to use a old toothbrush to gently scrub the bricks and parts until they are shiny and dust free. For the suspension parts I am just going to clean them with the brush, I don't really want to soak any metal or

set parts like those units because water might get inside

and cause damage.

I tried cleaning one red Lego piece and it came up really

nicely, so the car should look fantastic when it's finished. It's never been kept in direct sunlight so none of the

panels have faded over time.

I've done this with around 30 or so sets and I have to say it makes them shine like new! There are a few problems I have run into: 1)Don't set the temperature of the water to far from room temperature...it can make your parts brittle and even crack 2) Water spots often appear, so have some air circulation going if you can 3) The suspension will be fine to put in the water, as long as you dry it off immediately after putting it in there. Good luck...make them shine!

I am going to fill up a plastic box with warm water and simply soak the pieces in the water. I am then going to use a old toothbrush to gently scrub the bricks and parts until they are shiny and dust free. For the suspension parts I am just going to clean them with the brush, I don't really want to soak any metal or

set parts like those units because water might get inside

and cause damage.

I tried cleaning one red Lego piece and it came up really

nicely, so the car should look fantastic when it's finished. It's never been kept in direct sunlight so none of the

panels have faded over time.

I've done this with around 30 or so sets and I have to say it makes them shine like new! There are a few problems I have run into: 1)Don't set the temperature of the water to far from room temperature...it can make your parts brittle and even crack 2) Water spots often appear, so have some air circulation going if you can 3) The suspension will be fine to put in the water, as long as you dry it off immediately after putting it in there. Good luck...make them shine!

Thanks for detailed explanation, guys!

The cleaning went well, the pieces all look superb now! Some of the grey "chassis" pieces needed a bit more attention to get rid of the hardcore dust on them, but everything is shiny now :) I have left the pieces to dry over night but I'd imagine they'll need a proper dry down as water will sit in the small holes etc.

My black friction pins all have little slots on them which is good. I am going to replace ten of them, and also five of the grey half axel-half friction pins as they have teeth marks on them from when I was a child with no finger nails! Hopefully I'll be able to start the rebuild this week!

Edited July 27, 200915 yr by tomacwhite

What a excellent project. Restoring actual cars in my non-LEGO life being another hobby/profession I think this is very cool to see a "barn find" being brought back to life just like a automobile.

Great job, I'll follow this one as it is restored.

Yes. The new ones are so cheap and common on Bricklink that you might as well replace them if you have the older variety.

Mine are like this, are these the old ones?

Could you put up a link to the new ones? I am not sure what they look like!

Cheers :)

Mine are like this, are these the old ones?

Could you put up a link to the new ones? I am not sure what they look like!

Cheers :)

The new on looks like this, and its still used:

Mine 8865 had the new friction pins.

And I suggest to replace all the friction pins with the new type, buying 200 or so only costs a couple of bucks

Edited July 27, 200915 yr by SuperCow

The new on looks like this, and its still used:

Mine 8865 had the new friction pins.

And I suggest to replace all the friction pins with the new type, buying 200 or so only costs a couple of bucks

Do they share the same model code as the old ones?

The new ones on Bricklink are coded 4459

The old ones listed on here: http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/8865-1 say the same code but are the old type.

its the same code, but a different name: "Technic, Pin WITH Friction Ridges Lengthwise"

bricklink link to buy: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID...&colorID=11

These new types are easy to remove, ive replaced in all my old models that use the old type.

Ah, the good old days. I remember going nuts when this set first hit store shelves.

its the same code, but a different name: "Technic, Pin WITH Friction Ridges Lengthwise"

bricklink link to buy: http://www.bricklink.com/search.asp?itemID...&colorID=11

These new types are easy to remove, ive replaced in all my old models that use the old type.

Thanks!, I thought that would be the case. It's great that there are lots of UK sellers too. I am really looking forward to putting this back together again, its going to be ace :)

Edited July 27, 200915 yr by tomacwhite

Just a small update. I have ordered the replacement parts and they should be with me within the next few days, so I'll be able to start building it back up again then.