Chrome look, LEGO reality — we make it easy
LEGO® stopped making most true chrome parts, so shiny trim can be tough. No stress — we show practical ways to keep your build looking real with parts you can actually find.
Use metallic for the mass, chrome for the pop — and we’ll show you exactly where, part by part.
What we’ll do for you
- Mark chrome hotspots: grilles, bumpers, trim, badges, exhaust tips.
- Recommend metallic / light‑bluish gray stand‑ins for body panels.
- Offer optional upgrades: third‑party chrome caps/trim or foil tape for thin lines.
- Provide BrickLink part IDs and shopping lists for each approach.
- Show side‑by‑side photos so you can choose official‑only or upgraded builds.
Fast tips (9th‑grade simple)
- Metallic parts = painted metal vibe; great for big areas.
- Chrome accents = mirror flash; use sparingly for realism.
- Keep cost low: start metallic, add chrome where it counts.
- Durability: metallic is tougher for daily handling.
🚘 Lego Fan Plans — Vintage Vehicle Showcase
Step into our Lego Fan Plans Vintage Vehicle Showcase—your lane for classic cars and trucks translated into real-build LEGO® models. Browse step-by-step instructions, BrickLink-ready parts lists, and builder notes tuned for stable, display-worthy results.
- 1910 Thomas Flyer Flyabout – Early American endurance royalty—tall stance, big wheels, and an expedition-ready touring body.
- 1912 Albion Charabanc – An open-air excursion coach on a rugged Scottish chassis—bench seating and high-clearance touring for Edwardian outings.
- 1916 Simplex Crane Model 5 Touring Car – A luxurious, powerful early-American touring car famed for its smooth Crane-Simplex engine and elegant long-wheelbase style.
- 1920 Renault Sahara Wagon – A rugged, high-ground-clearance desert hauler blending Renault reliability with enclosed, utility-minded bodywork for Sahara travel.
- 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom – embodies pre-war luxury at its peak: a hand-built chassis paired with bespoke coachwork from elite firms like Barker, Hooper, and Mulliner.
- 1930 Cadillac V16 Sport Phaeton – A grand open touring V-16 with flowing Fleetwood coachwork, effortless silk-smooth power, and opulent 1930s prestige.
- 1933 Ford Woody Station Wagon – Timber-sided utility on a classic Ford chassis—family hauling with surf-shack charm.
- 1935 Western Clipper Motorhome – A sleek, Art Deco, aircraft-inspired road yacht with streamlined aluminum coachwork and plush accommodations for glamorous 1930s motor touring.
- 1936 Auburn 852 Boattail Speedster – A supercharged, wind-cheating icon with dramatic boattail and chrome pipes—Cord-era engineering delivering near-100-mph showroom glamour.
- 1937 Cord 812 Supercharged Cabriolet – A front-wheel-drive, coffin-nose cabriolet with hidden headlights and a whistling supercharger—pure futurism on whitewalls.
- 1937 Cadillac Series 75 Tour Bus – A coachbuilt, long-wheelbase tourer with panoramic windows and plush seating—Cadillac V8 smoothness tailored for scenic-route duty.
- 1937 Talbot-Lago T150 C SS “Teardrop” – A Figoni et Falaschi rolling sculpture—race-bred T150 C SS under fluid “Teardrop” coachwork, marrying Grand Prix soul to grande routière elegance.
- 1938 Cadillac Series 90 V16 – Cadillac’s pinnacle limousine—silky sixteen-cylinder power, cathedral-quiet cruising, and imposing Fleetwood formal coachwork.
- 1938 Mercedes Benz 320 Cabriolet – An elegant pre-war tourer with Sindelfingen coachwork, smooth inline-six power, and dignified open-air cruising manners.
- 1946 Delahaye 135 – A coachbuilt French grand routière revived after the war—sleek lines, twin-carb inline-six, and Riviera-poised manners.
- 1949 Buick Roadmaster Convertible – Top-down Roadmaster glamour—Fireball straight-eight torque, Dynaflow smoothness, and miles of chrome.
- 1950 Ferrari 166 MM – A lithe V12 Barchetta that launched Ferrari legend—light, agile, and victorious at the Mille Miglia and Le Mans.
- 1952 Allard Estate Wagon – A coachbuilt British longroof on Allard’s rugged chassis—rare utility meets hot-rod V8 roots.
- 1953 Chevrolet Corvette – America’s fiberglass two-seater debut—Blue Flame six, Powerglide glide, and pure Motorama show-car sparkle.
- 1953 Glasspar G2 Roadster – America’s early fiberglass special—lightweight, low-slung two-seater with sunny SoCal sports-car vibes.
- 1953 Jaguar XK120 Coupe – A curvaceous fixed-head GT with Jaguar’s DOHC straight-six—120-mph glamour wrapped in elegant coupé lines.
- 1957 Mercury Voyager – A jet-age longroof with big-block Merc V8 swagger—flashy fins, acres of chrome, and family-hauling speed in mid-trim wagon form.
- 1958 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe – Jet-age full-size style—sweeping fins, triple tail-lamps, and boulevard-cruiser presence.
- 1958 Ford Fairlane – Chrome-rich late-’50s Ford with wide stance and comfy ride—family sedan flair with optional V8 punch.
- 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Wagon – Fins to the sky on a custom longroof—Cadillac glamour reimagined for wagon duty.
- 1959 Daimler SP250 Dart – A glassfibre British roadster packing Daimler’s rorty 2.5-liter hemi-head V8—light, quirky, and surprisingly rapid.
- 1961 Chevrolet Impala – Wide-track “bubble-top” style with crisp jet-age trim—quiet full-size ride hiding hot-V8 potential.
- 1961 Pontiac Tempest – Innovative rope-drive compact—rear transaxle balance and lively four or Trophy 4 power.
- 1964 Buick Riviera – Bill Mitchell’s crisp “Coke-bottle” coupe, propelled by Buick’s 425 Nailhead V8—velvet torque and quietly sinister speed.
- 1967 Plymouth Belvedere GTX – Mopar’s “gentleman’s muscle car”—big-block thunder, understated trim, and straight-line menace.
- 1968 Oldsmobile Toronado – GM’s radical front-drive bruiser—a hidden-headlight fastback now packing the 455 V8 for effortless interstate surge.
- 1971 Chevrolet Vega Hatchback – Clean Giugiaro-influenced lines in a lightweight compact—perfect for custom tuner twists.
- 1977 Ford Pinto Wagon – Woodgrain longroof charm on a thrifty platform—weekend cruiser with plenty of swap potential.
- 1977 Lincoln Continental Mark V – Opera windows, hidden lamps, and boulevard length—ultimate ’70s personal luxury.
- 1980 Chevrolet Chevette – Honest economy hatch—simple lines and simple fun, perfect for minimalist LEGO builds.
- 1983 280ZX Turbo – A boosted Z-car grand tourer—turbocharged inline-six punch, T-tops, and period-perfect digital flair.
❓ Q&A — Building Realistic Vintage Cars with LEGO®
Why doesn’t LEGO make many chrome parts anymore?
True mirror-chrome parts are rare/retired. To keep builds realistic and sourceable, we show you how to replace large shiny areas with metallic or light‑bluish gray and save chrome for small accents.
Chrome vs. Metallic — what’s the difference?
Metallic has a fine sparkle like painted metal—great for big panels. Chrome is mirror-bright—best for grilles, bumpers, thin trim, badges, and exhaust tips.
Can I build with 100% official LEGO parts?
Yes. Every plan works using official parts only. We list metallic/LBG stand‑ins for large areas and mark optional chrome accents as upgrades.
Where do I buy the pieces?
Each model page includes BrickLink‑ready part IDs and color notes. You can add them to your wanted list and shop from stores worldwide.
Do I need glue, paint, or cutting?
No. Builds are designed for standard LEGO connections. Optional extras (like thin chrome foil tape) are clearly labeled and not required.
What scale are these cars?
Scale varies by model and is listed on each plan. We target display‑friendly proportions so details read well and parts stay easy to source.
How difficult are the builds?
Difficulty is labeled per model. Each plan includes sub‑assemblies, part callouts, and reference views to keep steps clear.
Can I start metallic and upgrade to chrome later?
Yes. We mark chrome hotspots so those elements can be dropped in later without rebuilding the whole car.
What if a part is rare or out of stock?
We include an approved substitution list with shape/color alternates so your build stays accurate and affordable.
Do you sell physical kits?
We provide digital plans and BrickLink parts lists. Kits are not included; you can source parts from BrickLink stores using our lists.