The most expensive LEGO Technic sets of all time – July 2023

04/07/202304/07/2023 Chris Wharfe 12322 Views 0 Comments

The priciest LEGO Technic set ever is about to hit shelves – but how does it compare to its contemporaries? Find out in our breakdown of the most expensive LEGO Technic sets of all time.

42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 joins the LEGO Technic range on August 1, and comes in at a not-insignificant price of £579.99 in the UK, $699.99 in the US and €679.99 in Europe. That’s a price tag that places the crane among the most expensive LEGO sets of all time (across all themes), but also shoots for the stars within the Technic range.

If owning the most expensive LEGO Technic set ever is on your bucket list, the wildly ambitious 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 is available to pre-order now. Otherwise, keep reading to learn just how pricey it is compared to the rest of the theme, and see how many of the most expensive Technic sets you can count among your own collection.

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10 – 42114 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler

Price: £229.99 / $249.99 / €259.99 Pieces: 2,193 Release date: August 1, 2020

LEGO Technic 42114 6x6 Volvo Articulated Hauler

This CONTROL+ construction vehicle packs in three motors and a Bluetooth smart hub, but still managed to offer decent value for money back in 2020. You can currently find it below retail on the aftermarket, too – so while 42114 6×6 Volvo Articulated Hauler is technically the 10th-most-expensive LEGO Technic set ever, it won’t break the bank. At least next to the LR 13000…

9 – 42082 Rough Terrain Crane

Price: £229.99 / $299.99 / €229.99 Pieces: 4,057 Release date: August 1, 2018

While 42082 Rough Terrain Crane came in at the same price as the Volvo in the UK (and was actually a little bit cheaper in Europe), its US price sees it climb to ninth place on this list. The 4,057-piece set was previously the LEGO Group’s most expensive Technic crane, and even with the debut of 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 remains its biggest by piece count.

8 – 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS

Price: £259.99 / $299.99 / €299.99 Pieces: 2,704 Release date: June 1, 2016

The set that launched LEGO Technic’s 1:8-scale supercar range, 42056 Porsche 911 GT3 RS was quickly surpassed in size and price by its successors. But that doesn’t diminish the impact of this bright orange beast, which at the time of release in 2016 was then the most expensive LEGO Technic set of all time. It’s been pipped to that post seven times since…

7 – 42129 4×4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck

Price: £284.99 / $329.99 / €329.99 Pieces: 2,110 Release date: August 1, 2021

A set on the brink of retirement (it’s due to leave production by the end of this month), 42129 4×4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck includes a smart hub and four motors to power its CONTROL+ functionality. It’s also the first LEGO Technic set to include differential locking, which it boasts alongside suspension on all four wheels and a working gearbox. The best part? It’s not difficult to find at a discount, such as at the link below.

Click here to save 30% on 42129 4×4 Mercedes-Benz Zetros Trial Truck at John Lewis.

6 – 42083 Bugatti Chiron

Price: £319.99 / $349.99 / €369.99 Pieces: 3,599 Release date: June 1, 2018

The second LEGO Technic Ultimate supercar hung around on shelves slightly longer than originally anticipated, but has now raced off to the great LEGO retirement home in the sky. You can still pick up 42083 Bugatti Chiron for below retail on the secondary market, though, so like most sets on this list, its RRP is perhaps not truly reflective of its real entry price. Few themes enjoy such sweeping discounts as Technic…

=4 – 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3

Price: £389.99 / $449.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 3,778 Release date: June 1, 2022

The two remaining LEGO Technic 1:8 supercars share fourth place in this list, given they have identical RRPs across the UK, US and Europe. Last summer’s 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 is regarded by many as the best of the four sets in the supercar garage to date, in terms of both build and aesthetics, and is currently available for 20% off at John Lewis. So, you know. Feel free to ignore that RRP.

Save 20% on 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 at John Lewis.

=4 – 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37

Price: £389.99 / $449.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 3,696 Release date: June 1, 2020

A much smaller and more affordable LEGO Technic Lambo is about to zoom on to shelves in 42161 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, but if you can afford it (and have the space), 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 really is the one to aim for. It’s a lime green racing machine of epic proportions, and packs in an eight-speed transmission, front and rear suspension and a V12 engine. Plus, it’s another one that’s no stranger to deep discounts…

Head over to Zavvi to save 26% on 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37.

3 – 42100 Liebherr R 9800

Price: £399.99 / $449.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 4,108 Release date: October 1, 2019

Eking ahead of the supercars for its UK price tag, 42100 Liebherr R 9800 wore the crown of LEGO Technic’s most expensive set for a full two years after lumbering on to shelves in 2019. The mighty CONTROL+ machine doesn’t do 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 any favours from a value perspective, either: the excavator includes two smart hubs, seven motors and still managed to offer 4,108 pieces for its £400 price tag.

2 – 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer

Price: £429.99 / $499.99 / €499.99 Pieces: 3,854 Release date: October 1, 2021

Until the LEGO Group pulled back the curtain on 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000, 2021’s 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer was the most expensive LEGO Technic set of all time – and it’s still £150 / $200 / €180 cheaper than this summer’s crane. Both sets are powered by CONTROL+, which pushes up their price tags, but this one includes 971 more pieces. You can also currently find it for 20% off at John Lewis.

Click through to John Lewis to save 20% on 42131 Cat D11 Bulldozer.

1 – 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000

Price: £579.99 / $699.99 / €679.99 Pieces: 2,883 Release date: August 1, 2023

No surprises here: 42146 Liebherr Crawler Crane LR 13000 is far and away the most expensive LEGO Technic set of all time. But with the same number of smart hubs and one fewer motor than 2019’s 42100 Liebherr R 9800, what’s driving that price? Its 24 weighted elements – which together add up to a 0.9kg counterweight to help balance the crane – are likely a big factor, but we’ll have to wait until we have our hands on the set to find out for sure whether it’s worth anywhere close to that price…