Is the LEGO Fiat 500 (10271) a Good Investment Set?

2nd August 2022

The Fiat 500 is due to retire by the end of this year, along with a handful of other Icons sets. Time is therefore running out to add this Italian classic to your collection of LEGO cars at a fair price. In this article we look at how well this set can be expected to perform on the secondary market once it retires and whether it's a must-have for budding investors.

The set

The Fiat 500 is part of a growing range of large, detailed replicas of classic vehicles released under the Icons (formerly Creator Expert) line. This started in 2014 with the release of the MINI Cooper MK VII, and annual instalments have since followed. The Fiat 500 was the sixth vehicle in the series and came in 2020, and it was seemingly so good LEGO decided to make it again in 2021...

For those of you out of the LEGO loop, allow me to explain. Back in 2021, LEGO began trailing set variants by altering the size or colour of three sets from the Creator Expert, Creator, and City themes, in order to see how consumers responded. The Fiat 500 was the headline act of this program, and it meant that UK consumers got the car in baby blue, as well as the original yellow. Although the exact reason why the Fiat 500 was picked is not known, popularity was deemed to be a factor in the selection process, which bodes well for anyone thinking of buying this set as an investment. The addition of a second Fiat 500 could also prove to be favourable for investors, as we expect future collectors will want both colours in their collection.

The design of the set captures the beautiful curves of the real-world car very successfully, which is not an easy feat. In all regards, the model is a great replica of its source material, and the chosen colour scheme makes it stand out on any shelf. The fabric sunroof is a particularly good addition that's in keeping with the actual car. There are also a couple of nice accessories which add to its display appeal. Although there are a couple of unsightly gaps in the bodywork, which ruin the appearance slightly in places, these are the only major criticisms.

Because of the diminutive proportions of the Fiat 500, this set is of a smaller scale compared to the other Icons / Creator Expert vehicles. This means it's more attractively priced, at £69.99 / $89.99 / 79.99€, giving it a reasonable price per piece of 7.3p / 9.4c / 8.3c. Due to the weakness of the Euro, at the time of writing this set is a particularly good deal for European consumers.

Unique Parts

The pastel yellow colour is an uncommon choice amongst other LEGO sets, which means many of the parts in this model are unique or rarely found. This means this set could prove desirable for LEGO enthusiasts with their own similarly shaded builds in mind, although the yellow colour in question is a bit niche.

Looking to the future

It's important to note that this set is based on the legendary Fiat 500F from the late 1960s, rather than the modern reincarnations we're so used to seeing today. Because this set recreates a classic car, its appeal is almost guaranteed to be long lasting, rather than a flash in the pan. And there's no arguing with the Fiat 500F being considered an icon of automotive design. It also means that its appeal is going to be strong amongst older LEGO fans, who tend to be serious collectors who are willing to fork out to add a set to their collection. That's not to say that this set's popularity is limited to adult fans, as many teenagers will appreciate the vintage aesthetic too.

Conclusion

Investment opportunity: GOOD

The Fiat 500 is a good replica of a highly popular Italian automotive icon that makes for a beautiful display piece. It nicely complements other LEGO cars, and therefore is likely to be desirable to future collectors of LEGO vehicles.

All the previous Creator Expert cars have gone up in value, with the early MINI Cooper and Ferrari F40 models now fetching roughly two and three times their original RRP respectively. There are similarities between the MINI and the Fiat 500 in the real world and in LEGO form so it's reasonable to expect that this set will also perform strongly and appreciate significantly in value over time.

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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