Lego Review: 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van

For whatever reason, I was trepidatious about posting a write up for the T1 Camper Van, probably because once I did it I had no clue what to follow it with.

But since I got that out of my system, and figured out what to do with what's left of November and December, I started snapping pictures, working my meager photoshop skills, and lo' and behold, we have the Lego 10220 Volkswagen T1 Camper Van.

Calling all hippies!!

As far as the information for the set goes, it retails for $119.99 and comes with 1332 pieces. And it's a pretty good-sized build, clocking in at almost 12" long and about 6" high.

Now on to the build.

Watching It Come Together

After having a good amount of time between major Lego reviews, I realized that one thing they lack is a good look at what these sets look like coming together. So I decided to change that with the Camper Van. These are building toys, after all, and while I've never shied away commenting on how the build comes together, I don't normally show how it happens.

First thing's first, the Camper Van absolutely looks great. I feel like I've said this before about various Lego sets, and I'm probably going to say it again, but I'm always amazed at the way Lego set designers are able to put these pieces together in a way that stays true to what Lego is while also remaining true to what they're replicating. Especially since they were able to replicate the Camper Van using only one piece that's native to this set.

One of the things I'm most impressed about the Camper Van is the attention to detail. I love the little license plates, the way the VW logo (which sadly isn't a printed piece) is built to have a slant that lines up with the slope of the front, the dashboard and sink (which I've pictured further down), you can just really tell that a lot of time went into to accurately representing the feel of the van, since so many variants were made. And they really went all out with the engine, as it's not even visible most of the time.

Looks good going and coming

Which really makes the look and feel of the engine block all the more great. As you can see, the engine really looks like that of a real vehicle, with "gaskets, hoses, and belts" that really help sell the look.

Looks real enough... I think, I'm not a mechanic

Up next is the base of the van, where most of the technic pins and pieces are used in the build. This really helps the overall sturdiness of the vehicle. It's hefty, and really feels solid in your hands, so I have no problem with just picking it up and moving it around.

Yup, that looks like the 60's and 70's

Looking at the walls of the Camper Van, you'll notice there are only a few studs along the top of the walls. This is what allows the roof of the van to easily be removed to access the inside without much trouble.

Studly, amirite?

Inside the van looks fantastic, and there are a lot of neat features, such as the folding table and the back seat that converts into a bed. Now great looks aside, I have encountered a few problems with the build, which ultimately are really closer to annoyances than genuine problems, but I do feel like they need to be addressed.

First, I find it very difficult to get the double doors open with the roof on properly. If you press the roof on firmly to secure it, the doors get stuck. This isn't that big a problem since you easily remove the roof to get the door open, and the door handle will give before the door does, so it doesn't seem like any real damage can occur from pulling it too hard. Also, the right door cannot shut if the left door is closed. Again, not a big problem, but still somewhat annoying.

Second, when you fold down the table to turn the back seat into a bed, getting everything into position is a breeze. The problem comes in when you try to put it back in it's original configuration. There just isn't a lot of space to move your fingers around inside the van, so it can get a little tricky. Best bet (at least for me) was the reconnect the wine glass to the table top and pull from there.

Look at that sexy inside

I should also add that the roof comes in two pieces, so you don't have to pull everything off to access the inside, although it is easier to get the front off if the back isn't on.

Speaking of the front of the van, here's how it comes together. You can't really tell from the picture, but the windshield are actually connected to the roof, giving you move access to the driver's seat once it's removed. And the split windshield is replicated through the use of a sticker on a clear piece, to give the van a more authentic look. And even though the face of the van is only connected by a few studs, it's fits very snug, so you really don't have to worry about it coming off if your intent is to play with the build.

Kinda looks like a firetruck without the faceplate

Now on to my favorite part of the Camper Van: the pop-top ceiling. The up and down motion of the pop-top is really smooth, and is facilitated by a cross-lift design that is concealed by the orange cloth strip shown below.

If you don't know how it works, it's magic

The cloth allows for the pop-top to move up and down without really showing how it's happening. It also limits the upward movement of the build, so you can't lift it any higher than it needs to go. When I first bought the van, I wasn't quite sure how the pop-top was going to work, and was happy to see that it doesn't just push into the van, as you can see in the pictures below.

Going up

One last thing to highlight, and that's the fine detail inside the van. It really looks great, and I especially love the sink and the addition of a frying pan that you can hang above it, although I'm a bit puzzled as to why there's a hair brush hanging next to the pan, but I guess it could actually be a scrub brush.

Cute detail

And I really love the "Make Lego Models" t-shirt hanging in the van's window.

Final Thoughts

To be honest, I never really had any doubts as to the quality of this set. Lego did not disappoint on that front. And minor gripes aside, such as the time it took to sort and build, and having to take the build apart to get it to work the way it should, the whole is absolutely greater than the sum of it's parts. Seeing this on display is a thing of beauty. So I wholeheartedly recommend this purchase, either for yourself or as a gift, especially with the holidays around the corner.