LEGO Reviews Technic42153

NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Name: LEGO NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 42153
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 42153
Rating: 4.8 (2649 reviews)

53 · SKIP ITINVESTMENT GRADE: B2023672 pcsHigh agreement · 88%

Expert reviews

2analyzed

Owner ratings

2.6K+

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

BrickScore

Skip It

Owners

Synthesized Verdict

"A set that punches well above its BrickScore of 52.5 for dedicated NASCAR fans but falls short as a general Technic car recommendation. The 4.8-star average across nearly 2,650 buyers signals strong fan satisfaction, while critics point to basic interior detail and a narrow license as limiting factors."

The NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (42153) earned a BrickScore of 52.5, landing it in Skip It territory despite an enthusiastic owner response. All reviewer sources here are owner accounts from LEGO.com, and they rate it a remarkable 4.8 out of 5 across 2,649 ratings with a 96% would-recommend rate. The gap between that owner enthusiasm and the expert consensus score reflects a set that appeals strongly to NASCAR fans but falls short on the broader criteria critical reviewers apply to Technic vehicles.

Where they split: The most notable split is between the expert BrickScore of 52.5 and the owner rating of 4.8 out of 5 across 2,649 buyers. Owners overwhelmingly love the set; critical assessment penalizes its narrow theme focus, basic interior detail, and limited design scoring (51.5) relative to what Technic car sets can achieve.

Where to Buy

Out of stock · 8% off

$45.97

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LOVED (6)

01Moving V8 pistons and visible engine mechanism activated by rolling the car
02Functional working steering via rear HOG knob
03Sticker sheet quality praised as some of the best seen in a Technic set, with foil-backed NASCAR livery
04Authentic Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 proportions and overall shape
05Clear, well-structured instruction manual praised across multiple builds
06Accessible build experience enjoyable for kids and adults alike

CRITICIZED (4)

01Heavy sticker count that can be tedious to apply, requiring tweezers for precision
02Engine detail is relatively basic; interior lacks depth
03Appeal is narrow, skewing toward committed NASCAR or racing fans
04No licensed driver number in the Cup Series (number 75 is anniversary-only)

What reviewers are saying

"This is the 42153 NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1!"

RacingBrick

"Sparkly and colourful but unless you need a NASCAR licenced car you'll be better off looking elsewhere in the Technic assortment"

Brickset Reviews

Ecosystem

Bugatti Bolide — For the same price, Bolide offers more interesting building experience and more exciting appearance

McLaren Senna — For the same price, Senna offers more interesting building experience and more exciting appearance

Car Transporter set (generic blue muscle car) — This Camaro is a reincarnation with added NASCAR livery; if you already own the old generic muscle car, this won't make a huge difference unless you're a NASCAR enthusiast

42098 Car Transporter — Very similar to the car that comes with 42098 Car Transporter introduced four years ago, which also suffers from similar aesthetic deficiencies. Fits the same scale.

TechnicTier 2Investment Grade

By Reviewer · 2

Avg score

Consensus

WAIT FOR SALE

RacingBrick

Expert Video Source

WAIT FOR SALE

"This is the 42153 NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1!"

Key Pros

✓Proper differential (rare at this scale)
✓Functional V8 engine
✓Hand-of-God steering system

Key Cons

✕Heavy reliance on stickers for aesthetic appeal
✕Gray cross block steering assembly easy to misplace (manual lacks warning)

JUMP TO REVIEW

Brickset Reviews

Editorial Source

SKIP

"Sparkly and colourful but unless you need a NASCAR licenced car you'll be better off looking elsewhere in the Technic assortment"

Key Pros

✓Fits on 42098 Car Transporter at the same scale
✓Relatively quick and simple build
✓Stickers are beautifully printed on sparkly silver foil backing

Key Cons

✕Entirely dependent on stickers for overall appearance
✕Would look terrible without stickers applied

READ FULL REVIEW

Dimensional Analysis

Investment Layer

Buy now (1)Wait for sale (0)

Exclusivity

RacingBrick: Licensed NASCAR vehicle

Brickset Reviews: NASCAR 75th Anniversary branding suggests limited exclusivity or time-window appeal.

Minifigures & Standout Parts

Standout parts (per reviewers)

Technic half-pin with extra hole
Only appeared in one non-Education set prior (T2 Camper Van in 2021); used as a stopper for steering arms
New green clutch gear
Only appeared in the Airbus set so far; used for steering axle to bypass the axle driving the engine from the differential
Missile pieces
Used to support small panels on the front assembly
Half bushes and cross axles on crankshaft
Part of a recurring setup seen in 2022 sets and Bugatti Bolide, now apparently the new standard for small-scale engines
Printed rear wheel arches
A blessing and a curse—forces application of matching stickers otherwise the model looks odd
Sparkly silver foil backing on stickers
Beautifully printed stickers, but the set is entirely sticker-dependent for aesthetics

What Owners Say · summarized from 48 written reviews (LEGO, Amazon, Walmart)

Owners overwhelmingly praise the detailed build quality, moving mechanics, and appealing design, though many express frustration with the excessive number of stickers and some accuracy concerns about proportions.

COMMON PRAISE