Mattel’s new Brick Shop lineup of products combine Hot Wheel’s expertise with scale model cars with the fun of DIY brick sets. The models are direct competitors with Lego sets with affordable 1:32, mid-level 1:16 and premium 1:12 scale models. In this review we’ll be looking at the first 1:12 scale model which is the iconic 1955 Mercedes 300 SL Gullwing. Mattel currently sells this premium level model for $130 and even includes a color matched 1:64 diecast RLC Mercedes 300 SL. To differentiate the Brick Shop models from Lego Creator, Mattel has incorporated diecast parts such as wheels, front badge and mirrors along with more custom pieces to give the car a more realistic appearance.
The included 1:64 Mercedes diecast car is also a premium RLC (Red Line Club) model that is highly detailed with opening gullwing doors, rubber tires and even an acrylic display case. While the casting is the same as previous RLC releases, the blue enamel paint is exclusive to this set. The Brick Shop model consists of 1600 pieces with options to build a street or racing version of the Mercedes by swapping out a few key components. All the bricks also share the same stud sizing as Lego which opens up the opportunity for unique customization options in the future. The completed 300 SL has functioning steering, opening hood, gullwing doors, trunk and a full interior.
The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Mercedes 300 SL combines the fun of DIY brick sets with diecast details and a matching 1:64 car.
| Retail Price | $130 |
| Rating | 9.4 / 10 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 1398 (completed brick model) |
| Likes | + Diecast details such as bradge and hubcap give the car a unique appearance + Pre-printed main graphics instead of sticker sheets with the only sticker sheet for race car logos and graphics + Customized parts such as front grill and windows give model realistic appearance |
| Dislikes | – Gullwing doors have to be manually propped open instead of a built-in locking mechanism – Some fragile details like the front fender and side grills require care when being handled – Custom pieces take away from creativity of model compared to traditional Lego Creator models |
| Where to Buy (US) | Mattel |
UNBOXING
The Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Mercedes 300 SL comes in a bright blue box with vibrant graphics and transparent top section to show off the diecast pieces. You notice straight away how heavy the box is as the diecast parts and included 1:64 scale car add a significant amount of weight. Graphics on the front and rear show off the various features of the model as well as the two build variations. Inside the box you’ll find:
- 28 marked parts bags
- Full color instruction booklet w/ sticker sheet for race numbers / logos
- 1:64 diecast RLC 300 SL model w/ acrylic case
- Diecast rear mirror / side mirror
- Diecast spare wheel and four main wheels
- Diecast Mercedes front badge
- Diecast signature plate
- 4x Diecast street + 4x race style hubcaps
While the packaging and part baggies are very similar to Lego Creator models, Mattel has upped the game with the included diecast parts in their own separate plastic holder. They have also taken extra care with fragile pieces like the windshield, rear glass and doors by wrapping them in tissue and putting them in separate bags. This is a common complaint with Lego models which can have scratched clear pieces right out of the box. The other major difference with this model is that the sticker sheet is entirely optional as all the badging, dash pieces, and seats have pre-printed graphics which avoids the stress of having to align stickers.
1:64 DIECAST CAR
Mattel’s new Brick Shop models not only offer fun DIY brick versions of popular cars, but they also include exclusive Hot Wheels 1:64 diecast cars with them. The Mercedes 300SL Brick Shop set comes with a color-matched diecast 1:64 car. The diecast car is none other than a Hot Wheels RLC (Red Line Club) casting that is one of the most detailed castings Hot Wheels offers and features opening gullwing doors. This casting was first offered as a RLC exclusive in 2019 with a Spectraflame olive finish and again in 2021, 2022 and 2023 with different exterior treatments and retailed for $30 for just the car before shipping and taxes.
The car with this Brick Shop model has a matching enamel blue finish with polished metal base and Real Rider rubber tires wrapped around “steelie” style wheels. It’s an impressive casting with multi-piece front Mercedes emblem, side vents and decals for headlights and taillights. Even the tan interior has blue plaid graphics on the seat, dash gauges and painted shifter knob. The opening gullwing doors also have a friction style hinge that allows them to stay open on their own so you can display the car with open doors. Compared to the brick model, the car has the street version with side mirror and chrome bumpers, but uses the race style steelie wheels instead of the more elaborate Mercedes hubcaps.
THE BUILD
Once you open up the heavy box you’ll find 28 label bags with different parts in them. This is the other big difference with Lego, where Lego typically have about 6 large parts bags, Mattel has split the car into much smaller bags. The assembly instructions use two bags at a time with one bag typically being small and a larger bag with oversized pieces. That translates to 14 stages that build the car in faster and shorter stages that take less time than equivalent Lego models. With the smaller bags, there are less parts to sort and separate which helps speed up the build process. The instructions are easy to follow with full-page glossy color prints and parts count for each step.
There are almost no written instructions, instead there are simply arrows and highlighting used instead to illustrate each step. Be prepared to spend several hours building the car as the 1600 parts take time and patience to put together. One of the other perks of the Mattel Brick Shop models is that the stickers are entirely optional as all the details like license plates, dash board and logos are pre-printed onto the parts. If you are a perfectionist like us, then you should be very happy that you do not have to deal with trying to perfectly align stickers. The car builds up from the chassis with details like the steering mechanism and then from the rear-end to the front-end.
It’s a fun experience that blends a combination of technic style gears / rods with standard bricks and smooth curved parts. There are a mix of colors with some random brighter color used in the chassis build up while the exterior of the car is entirely blue, silver and with tan pieces on the interior. As with Lego, it’s fun to see what seem like a random set of parts come together with our favorite pieces being the interior luggage and the engine. Mattel has also incorporated a number of custom pieces like the windshield, rear glass and the front end. While the custom pieces add to the more realistic appearance we can’t help to think that Mattel has “cheated” in some way compared to the more generic Lego builds. It is sure to be a sticky point with many people as the custom pieces help complete the model and match the unique curves of the actual car.
OUR IMPRESSIONS
The Mercedes 300 SL is the first large scale 1:12 model that Mattel has released in the Brick Shop series and it’s an impressive first release of the premium line. It’s a great choice as it is a stunning car that’s essentially un-attainable in real-life with auction sales prices exceeding a million dollars. Mattel has captured the beautiful curves and design details of the 300 SL into this 1:12 scale model by using a combination of standard bricks with custom pieces. The included matching 1:64 diecast car as well as use of diecast pieces really help tie the car back to the Hot Wheels brand. We are particularly impressed with the diecast wheels and front badge in particular which help give the car a finished appearance. Even the diecast mirrors give the parts a more realistic look that is hard to match with painted plastic.
The two versions of the cars look great with the standard street version having plaid blue seats and full front bumper while the race version gives the car an outlaw appearance. Our favorite version of the car is a hybrid of the two variations, using all race version changes (i.e. roll cage, race seat, minimal bumpers, side exhaust, headlights / fog lights and hubcaps) except for the hood and mirror delete. The completed model looks impressive with tight tolerances between the pieces and uniform finish. Some of the smaller bricks do have discoloration at the injection spots which are only noticeable if you look closely.
Putting it side-by-side with Lego Creator models like the Lamborghini Countach or Porsche 911 you could easily mistake the car for a Lego model. It is very similar in scale and can be displayed next to other Lego models. The only giveaway that this isn’t a Lego model are the diecast parts and custom pieces. Where the Lego models often look a bit clunky, particularly with more curved vehicle shapes, the Mercedes has complex curves and fine details like window trim that you simply can’t reproduce with bricks at this scale. Some of the details like functional steering are almost expected at this point, while the hood release was a clever feature. It solves the issue of some Lego models that have hoods that are difficult to pry open.
There are a few weak points we’d point out with the model though that we haven’t seen with Lego models. One of them is some fragile pieces like the front fender edges which only have a single row connection to the chassis and can fall off when handling the car. Similarly, the side grill covers have two silver outer rods that match the real car but rotate at the slightest touch. The other minor complaint we would have are the gullwing doors which use a rod to prop them open instead of a more complicated hinge like the hood which holds itself up. Otherwise, the model has enough complexity and detail to make most people happy.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Mattel Brick Shop Hot Wheels Mercedes 300 SL to be a well designed and impressive model. Despite being Mattel’s first 1:12 premium brick set, the model has a premium look and feel with clever details and use of diecast parts. It’s a smart choice as the metal hubcaps, front badge and included premium 1:64 scale model help the model stand out compared to Lego Creator equivalent models. The car is also more affordable than Lego Creator models which we hope will light up some competition with Lego and lead to more affordable or detailed large scale car models. Our only negatives would be that the use of custom pieces can feel like cheating compared to other models, the gullwing doors have to be propped open and that some fragile components on the car. That said, whether you are a Lego or Hot Wheels fan you’ll be impressed with the Brick Shop Mercedes 300 SL model and have fun putting it together.
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