These LEGO Porsche Models Are The Most Accurate We’ve Ever Seen

“What is art? What makes an artist?” You might ask 100 people these questions and never get the same opinion. But what about Lego? Is Lego art?

While many of us have put away our bricks by the time we leave our teenage years, some have kept at it and have created many wonderful creations. One particular master builder who works at the intersection of where Lego art meets the automobile is Malte Dorowski, from Germany. Malte has been playing with Lego since childhood—and I think you’ll see from these pictures of this Lego Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 that time has honed his skills considerably.

Malte says this approximately 1/15 scale recreation is comprised of more than 1,500 individual Lego pieces, and seemingly no detail has been left out, no matter what the complexity. For instance, the rollcage is made of 16 pieces from the company’s Minifigures collection. The steering wheel is made out of 9 Lego bricks, where an original Lego car would have just one piece. Each wheel and tire assembly is made of 13 bricks. Malte’s model also includes working doors, a hood that can be opened and closed, and a trunk that opens to reveals the car’s famous flat-6 engine.

Malte decided to build this Porsche because Lego has not sold any larger scale Porsche models in the past, only Ferrari and Lamborghini.*

You don’t have to feel left out of the action, though: Malte is asking for your help to launch his Lego Ideas campaign for his model. If enough people vote, his Porsche GT3 model might be considered by the company to become an official Lego kit. Follow that link to cast your support.

In the meantime, I had a chat with Malte about his process. With plastic bricks or oil paints, artists are explorers, and Malte was kind enough to share some thoughts about his unique model-making style.

Benjamin Shahrabani: How did you get started with making Lego models? What do you build the models with?

Malte Dorowski: Lego was the toy of my childhood. All Lego models that Lego has sold, I have built. I look at the models on photos on the internet. Some details I produce in different variants (of Lego kits). In the first step, I am building the model with bricks independent of the color (only the details and the shape is important). Then I order (at bricklink.com) the bricks that I need in the desired color. In the second step, I am building the car in the color I find suits the car.

I only use original Lego bricks, my experience with Lego bricks, my hands and my creativity.

BS: What is the most challenging, and technical model you’ve worked on, and why was it so hard?

MD: Each model is a challenge. Some problems that come up are that not every Lego brick is available in any color, and at 1/15 – 1/17 scale, one needs to recreate the car with as many details as possible which is also difficult. One particular challenge has been Porsche cars—they are not angular such as Ferrari or Lamborghini, they are round and curved, but I believe I’ve found a good solution for them.

BS: How do you decide which cars/models to make and why?

MD: Almost randomly—cars which are a challenge, or because someone has asked me. But always it’s cars that I find beautiful or impressive.

BS: What model are you most proud of?

MD: It’s not a car, but the details of different cars I have worked on. For example, on the Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick, the curving hood I devised impressed many. I am proud of the  functional independent suspension, and fully-functioning steering system on the RWB Porsche 964. The functional convertible top on my Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Cabriolet is another.

BS: If there is a “Holy Grail” item you would like to make, what would it be and why?

MD: The Porsche-Museum Zuffenhausen building in 1/15 or 1/17 scale.

BS: Have you had any success getting some of your Lego designs turned into official kits by the Lego company?

MD: Some Porsche models (917k, 911 GT3 Hybrid) that I’ve built in the past are now available (or soon) to buy as small Lego Speed Champions Sets like (75876-1: Porsche 919 Hybrid and 917K Pit Lane). These kits are great, but a little too small in my opinion.

BS: Are you also a car enthusiast? What is your dream car?

MD: I am. My dream car is a 993 GT2 EVO, but I don’t drive anything as cool or interesting in normal life.

BS: What do you do (and when you’re not building Lego models)?

MD: I am self-employed as an IT & Marketing consultant. My hobbies are Playstation—FIFA Football, Project CARS & Gran Turismo (which was the inspiration for the first of my models, such as the Toyota GT-One TS020 or Pescarolo JUDD C60); playing with my little son; and watching motorsport.

Want more? Check out some more of Malte’s amazing creations at his Flickr and moc-pages.com profile.

* That said, Lego has recently announced a camouflaged Porsche 911 GT3 for its Technics line.