Is the LEGO® DC Batman™ Batmobile™ Tumbler (76240) a Good Investment Set?

4th March 2023

There's some uncertainty at present around the retirement date of the Tumbler (76240), but based on the shelf life of the two previous large-scale Batman sets (76139 1989 Batmobile and 76161 1989 Batwing), it's likely to bow out at the end of 2023.

Many large-scale Batman sets have shot up in value post-retirement, so in this article we find out whether the Tumbler is likely to do the same.

The set

This set can be seen as an updated replacement for The Tumbler (76023), which was released in 2014 and built to the same scale. Looking at the two side-by-side, it's obvious that not much has changed. The new version features bigger and better proportioned tires, but after that the changes become more subtle. Therefore, there's little reason to buy this one if you have the original.

If you don't own the original though, this is a great set to buy if you're a Batman fan. It accurately resembles the tank-like vehicle seen in The Dark Knight trilogy, so as a replica it performs well.

Although it might look fun to play with, this set is definitely designed to be displayed, as the hinged panels used to create all the stealthy angles are precariously balanced and can easily fall off. It's just as well then that the finished model looks as good as it does.

The majority negative of this set is the design of the display stand, which is needed to remove the weight off the spongy front tires and prevent flat spots. To achieve this, the stand tilts the Tumbler either upwards or sideways, both of which look a bit odd. However, this can be adjusted.

In summary, this set isn't perfect and only represents a small upgrade, if any, from the 2014 version. However, I would still recommend it to anyone that doesn't own the original.

Value for Money

Following the price rise we saw on this set last year, the value for money has gone down and it feels a little too expensive, especially when you compare it to the original Tumbler.

The RRP of £229.99 / $269.99 / €269.99 equates to a price per piece of 11.2p / 13.2c / 13.2c, which is not outrageous for a licensed set, but is significantly more than the 1989 Batmobile and Batwing.

The Minifigures

As you would expect for such an expensive set, both minifigures are exclusive and finely detailed. The Joker, which shows the villain as we see him in the interrogation scene from The Dark Knight, is the best of the two. The printing on him is good overall, but the detail on his head piece is really top notch. This minifigure is definitely worth buying separately as it's the best Joker minifigure so far, in my opinion, and I expect it to become quite desirable in the years to come.

Unique Parts

There are only two unique elements in the set, one being the printed window at the very front of the vehicle, and the other being the four printed pearl gold round 1x1 tiles on the side of the Tumbler. There are 13 stickers in total, most of which are used for the control panels in the interior.

Outlook

Because of the similarity of this set to the 2014 Tumbler, it has dragged down the price of the original, as there are now effectively two sets to choose from for Batman fans. Sure, the serious collectors are going to want both, but not everyone will feel that way. The 2014 Tumbler has an average value not much more than its original RRP, and it's hard to imagine this Tumbler performing much better, especially given that it's already quite expensive.

TLDR

Investment opportunity: FAIR

If you're not worried too much about making a profit, I would recommend buying this set, as it's a good quality model with two nice minifigures. But if you are, there are better investment prospects out there. However, if you can get the Tumbler at a good discount, there's probably some profit to be had.

Disclaimer: This article or any others on brickranker.com should not be considered financial advice and investing in LEGO is risky.

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