LEGO® Technic parts review: 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.

Every couple of years the LEGO® Technic team treats car enthusiasts to a new Ultimate car set. The 3778-piece Ferrari Daytona SP3 is an intricate and beautiful recreation of Ferrari's latest "Icona" car and its design utilizes a heaped helping of new moulds and recoloured elements. Join us as New Elementary examines the Daytona SP3's notable parts including several new Technic panels, printed elements, and of course those gorgeous twisted rims.  

This flagship collaboration between The LEGO Group and Ferrari rolls out of the garage on 1 June 2022 for £349.99 / $399.99 / 399.99€. Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links, New Elementary may get a commission.

New moulds

The low-slung swooping lines of the Ferrari Daytona SP3 are inspired by Ferrari's winning cars used in the 1967 24 Hours of Daytona. Translating those glossy red curves into Technic shapes has been helped with the development of a pile of new panels.

• 12x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 5 x 3 in Bright Red/ Red (6362563 | 80285)
• 6x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 5 x 3 in Black (6399568 | 80285)

This plentiful part can be considered a wider version of the 2 x 5 panel extension (80286) which is also new for 2022. The quarter-ellipse side profile matches various 2 x 5 fairings which are used throughout the SP3's red bodywork and black roof.

A limited coffee table book, The Sense of Perfection, is available separately for fans wanting the ultimate look into creating this Technic Ultimate car. It will be available from LEGO.com for around €80. Interviews with key personnel from The LEGO Group and Ferrari fill the book alongside a surprisingly intimate view into TLG's moulding and element design processes.

Those full-colour pages show a series of short shots (when the plastic does not completely fill the mould cavity) and the mould itself producing a new panel. This peek behind the curtain into TLG's manufacturing is a rare treat indeed.

With over a dozen copies included per set, that mould is certainly getting a workout.

• 5x Technic, Panel Curved #62 4 x 5 Tapered Right in Bright Red/ Red (6362557 | 80274)
• 5x Technic, Panel Curved #63 4 x 5 Tapered Left in Bright Red/ Red (6362558 | 80278)
• 1x Technic, Panel Curved #62 4 x 5 Tapered Right in Black (6400129 | 80274)
• 1x Technic, Panel Curved #63 4 x 5 Tapered Left in Black (6400130 | 80278)

This new triangular shape has much in common with other Technic panels, though this one seems best at adding a long diagonal edge using minimal space. The curved surface aligns with similarly-sized panels and the diagonal line is seen elsewhere in Technic pieces.

 

That diagonal angle measures 53° which might seem odd until examining the underlying geometry. Below you see a new triangle panel next to a new-for-2022 parallelogram panel (more on those later) and a bent liftarm, a stalwart of Technic building since the 1990s.

My measuring contraption shows the liftarm forms the hypotenuse of a 3-4-5 right triangle to which the panels' angled edges are parallel. Of course, this geometry could be built with straight parts only since it uses whole numbers.

There are liftarms with two bends (32009) as well, but those differ slightly with a 45° angle.

• 2x Technic, Panel Car Mudguard #42 Arched 13 x 2 x 5 with Pointed Bottoms (6362562 | 80284)

Element designer Esmee Kuenen shortened the fenders introduced on the Lamborghini Sián by one module on each end and reduced connections to create this new mudguard. This reduced size still matches the top curve of the 15-module-long fenders (67141), 3 x 13 curved panels (18944), and tapered 5 x 13 panels (67142, 68196).

• 2x Wheel 75.1mm D. x 40.4mm Technic Racing Large with 5 Spokes Left (6327540 | 80280)
• 2x Wheel 75.1mm D. x 40.4mm Technic Racing Large with 5 Spokes Right (6327546 | 80281)

The most specialised elements in the 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 are the car's blade-like symmetrical rims. These are Cool Silver Drum Lacquered/ Metallic Silver which is often used as a compromise for chrome, but in this case the lacquer is a dead ringer for the real rims' finish.

• 4x Tire 87.9 x 44 Directional Tread (6362559 | 80279)

The unique wheels pair with equally unique low-profile tyres. Both the rims and tyres are larger than those found on previous Technic Ultimate cars like the 42083 Bugatti Chiron.

The Porsche GT3 RS, Bugatti Chiron, and Lamborghini Sián have all worn 81.6 mm diameter tyres (23799) which was the largest LEGO street car tyre ever — until now. Few future sets will justify including this massive 87.9 mm tyre but 1:8 Technic MOC builders might fall in love with its proportions and tread pattern anyway. With no other compatible wheels available yet, the windmill Ferrari rim is those builders' only choice unless someone designs their own custom wheels.

• 2x Technic, Gear 14 Tooth Bevel Thick (6391160 | 69762)
• 1x Technic, Gear 22 Tooth Bevel (6391160 | 69761)

The final two moulds are mechanical rather than visual. These Bright Yellow/ Yellow single-sided bevel gears don't fit other gears as these teeth are larger, but they do combine with some existing parts. The three rectangular openings in the centre gear clip onto a differential housing (65414) which is usually a bundle of gears — but sometimes it's a spaceship engine as seen on Buzz Lightyear's XL-15.

In a mechanical context, the differential housing is usually capped by a 28-tooth double bevel gear. The 22-tooth gear takes its place and offers a different gear ratio and more strength at the cost of requiring the 14-tooth counterparts to complete the system.

These gears' incompatibility with smaller Technic gears has me wondering what it would mean if they became more common, though I'm certain the typical Technic gears are entrenched deeply enough to never be replaced. After all, these yellow gears are only three of the 54 gears present in the set.

New prints

Not a single sticker is present in 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3. Printing ensures perfect placement of every detail, keeps the car's lustre consistent, and ultimately makes the set feel like the premium experience it should be.

• Technic, Panel Curved #60 5 x 7 Tapered Right with Black and Dark Red Line Pattern (6346653 | 80268)
• Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 1 x 1 with Ferrari Emblem (6346651 | 89679)
• Technic, Panel Curved #61 5 x 7 Tapered Left with Black and Dark Red Line Pattern (6346654 | 80267)

The Ferrari Daytona SP3 features a unique retractable "eyelid" above each of its headlights, represented by these parallelogram panels' lines.

The 2 x 1 "comma" panel is new in red and it has received an updated mould. The LEGO Group frequently updates moulds in near-imperceptible ways, but thanks to The Sense of Perfection an explanation for this change to a (still-new) part is given.

"Some parts might look like they would take decoration, but when you run your finger across them, you can feel the parting line from the moulding process. The parting line was horizontal on the centre of the element. The mould engineers had another look at it, and now the parting line runs down one side."

- Andre Sang-Tae Stenbryggen, LEGO Graphic Designer

• 1x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 with Ferrari Shield Left Pattern in Bright Red/ Red (6346656 | 71682)
• 1x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 with Metallic Silver 'Ferrari' Pattern in Bright Red/ Red (6346647 | 71682)
• 1x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 with Ferrari Shield Right Pattern in Bright Red/ Red (6346655 | 71682)
• 2x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 with Metallic Silver 'Ferrari' Pattern in Black (6346648 | 71682)

Printed badges blend seamlessly with adjacent panels and yes, red is a new colour for 2 x 3 panels. More on that further down.

• 1x Technic, Panel Curved 7 x 3 with 2 Pin Holes through Panel Surface with Gas Filler Cap Pattern in Bright Red/ Red (6346658 | 24119)

Even as Ferrari hybridises their cars for performance and fuel economy, the Daytona SP3 is purely combustion-powered. Go-juice goes in here, a shapely gas cap flattened handsomely into silver ink.

• 2x Liftarm Thick 1 x 5 with Black Ferrari Prancing Horse Logo Pattern in Bright Blue/ Blue (6346649 | 32316)

This piece is the only mild disappointment I've found in the SP3's inventory. Sprue marks on each liftarm are right next to Ferrari's prancing horse. I prefer to orient my pieces to hide those rough specks when possible but the black horse is stitched into the car's headrests, so these tiny marks could be noticeable in the Daytona SP3's interior. It's unlikely any kind of orientation is done or even feasible on these parts for printing but I can hope other set copies might end up with two perfect seat headrests with their pockmarks on the reverse side.

• 5x (+1 spare)  Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Ferrari Logo, Black Horse Pattern in Bright Yellow/ Yellow (6346650 | 98138)

One yellow horsey tile for each wheel — including the steering wheel — and an extra for your DOTS collection.

• 2x Tile 1 x 2 with Groove with Metallic Silver Ferrari Prancing Horse Pattern (6346646 | 3069b)
• 4x Slope, Curved 4 x 1 x 2/3 Double with White 'Ferrari' Pattern (6346645 | 93273)
• 1x Tile 1 x 4 with White 'LT-F', Ferrari Prancing Horse, and Variable Code Pattern (6346657 | 2431)
• 1x Tile 1 x 4 with with Ferrari Dashboard Gauges Pattern (6346652 | 2431)

As with previous Technic Ultimate supercars, owners can enter their black tile's unique variable code on LEGO's website to access an "owners-only" site. Mine's not all aughts really — it's protected by a layer of Photoshop armor.

• Tile 8 x 16 with Bottom Tubes with Ferrari Daytona SP3 Pattern in Black (6346659 | 90498)

The final printed piece is an Ultimate Collector Series-style plaque. This isn't the first real-world vehicle to receive this style tile but it is the first Technic Ultimate car to receive the treatment. Other UCS plaques have all been stickered; this printed info card is a welcome relief from the pressure of aligning an 8 x 16 module sticker.

Recoloured elements

Just like a 24-hour race at Daytona, the new elements aren't stopping anytime soon. We've made it through new moulds and prints, but there are still several recoloured elements currently unique to 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3.

• 2x Technic, Panel Car Mudguard Arched 15 x 2 x 5 Rounded Top (6390259 | 67141)

The previous Technic Ultimate car, the 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 was the only car to use these massive mudguards. Now they're available in Bright Red/ Red in addition to Bright Yellowish Green/ Lime.

• 10x Technic, Liftarm, Modified L-Shape Quarter Ellipse Thick 2 x 3 (6381444 | 71708)

When New E interviewed Milan Reindl about this part in 2021, he mentioned "pretty much all the models are using it across the portfolio right now." Now a year later, over a dozen sets have included it but none in red. Between these ten red 71708s and ten more in black, the Daytona SP3 includes more than any set before.

• 4x Technic, Liftarm, Modified L-Shape Quarter Ellipse Thick 2 x 5 (6407068 | 80286)

While this part has appeared in four sets from earlier in 2022, this is the first time New Elementary has shared the 2 x 5 quarter ellipse liftarm. These are unique to the SP3 in red currently, although this part may be adopted as quickly as its 2 x 3 siblings above.

• 16x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 in Bright Red/ Red (6381442 | 71682)
• 4x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 3 x 1 in Medium Stone Grey/ Light Bluish Gray (6321713 | 71682)

If you were worried about the printed 2 x 3 panels being the only red ones, worry not. There are 16 unprinted red panels and four newly recoloured in light grey too. Between these, the printed versions, and some unprinted black and blue 2 x 3 panels too, 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 has the most copies of this mould ever.

• 10x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 1 x 1 in Black (6396456 | 89679)
• 4x Technic, Panel Curved 2 x 1 x 1 in Bright Red/ Red (6378122 | 89679)

Comma panels — or apostrophe, if you prefer — are new for 2022 so we're likely to see more colours coming. Alex Campos explored this tiniest of Technic panels in his review of 42141 McLaren Formula 1™ Race Car.

• 4x Technic, Shock Absorber 9L (6404005 | 79717)

The Daytona SP3 gives us four of the new coil-over-style shock absorbers wrapped in red faux springs. This mechanical eye candy was introduced this year with a blue coilover as the rear shock of the 42130 BMW M 1000 RR motorcycle.

• 2x Technic, Pin Connector Perpendicular 3 x 3 Bent with 4 Pins (6390258 | 55615)

This connector has been around since 2006 but only in Medium Stone Grey/ Light Bluish Gray. It finally comes in another colour thanks to rosso corsa.

• 42x Technic, Liftarm Thick 1 x 2 - Axle Hole (6392955 | 60483)
• 10x Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Hub with 1 Axle (6392886 | 22961)
• 12x (+1 spare) Technic, Liftarm Thick 1 x 1 (Spacer) (6392879 | 18654)

Racing red might be the signature exterior colour for Ferrari but the Daytona SP3's interior is filled with Elvis Presley's favourite: blue suede. 64 newly recoloured Bright Blue/ Blue elements complete the hypercar's seats.

• 4x Technic, Axle and Pin Connector Hub with 2 Axles (6396457 | 27940)

A subtle change for this connector which is vastly seen in Dark Stone Grey/ Dark Bluish Gray helps it blend into the carbon fibre portions of the Ferrari's bodywork.

We're only now getting to the recoloured LEGO System elements — this is an endurance race.

• 18x Tile, Round Corner 4 x 4 Macaroni Wide in Bright Red/ Red (6390262 | 27507)
• 2x Tile, Round Corner 4 x 4 Macaroni Wide in Transparent Brown/ Trans-Black (6400005 | 1939)

There's a full serving of macaroni in this Italian sports car. The distinctive ribs at the car's four corners are built extensively using the biggest quarter-circle tiles, and its taillights necessitated the creation of the first-ever translucent macaroni tile. Its visible intriguing internal support structure is slightly different from its opaque siblings.

• 8x Plate, Modified 2 x 4 with 2 Studs (Double Jumper) (6393344 | 65509)

The stepped nature of the Ferrari's ribs requires red jumpers to offset layers of plates. With 14 more in DBG, this set has the most 2 x 4 jumpers of any set to date.

• 2x Hose, Rigid 3mm D. 9L / 7.2cm in White (6392958 | 76324)
• 1x (+1 spare) Hose, Rigid 3mm D. 20L / 16.0cm in Bright Red/ Red (6396458 | 60677)
  

The last recoloured elements are rigid hoses which could have existed earlier, had someone cut down longer pieces to these lengths.

Other rare, recent, and notable elements

Plenty of red panels return from the 1:10-scale LEGO Technic 42125 Ferrari 488 GTE to live a free, un-stickered life and the latest Technic fundamentals are out in full force.

• 1x Technic, Panel Curved #51 5 x 13 Tapered Right (6334500 | 68196)
• 2x Technic, Panel Curved 3 x 13 (6334499 | 18944)
• 2x Technic, Panel Plate 3 x 11 x 1 (6224922 | 15458)
• 3x Technic, Panel Curved 7 x 3 with 2 Pin Holes through Panel Surface (6227232 | 24119)
• 3x Technic, Panel Curved #50 5 x 13 Tapered Left (6334504 | 67142)

The unequal amounts of the large triangular taper panels might be a bother to some MOC builders, but combining two of the same shape is a handy way to cover large rectangular areas like the centre of the hood on the finished model.

• 8x Technic, Gear 12 Tooth in Bright Blue/ Blue (6396479 | 69778)
• 7x Technic, Gear 20 Tooth in Dark Azure (6396480 | 69779)
  

These bevel-less versions of 12- and 20-tooth gears have the same dimensions as the familiar double-bevel gears (32270 and 32269) but they don't mesh together at right angles. In some cases the space savings could be a benefit, other times the straight gears will be interchangeable with bevel gears. These gears were introduced in LEGO Technic 42140 App-Controlled Transformation Vehicle earlier this year, while the Daytona SP3 has far more.

• 49x Technic, Pin with Friction Ridges and Pin Hole in Bright Red/ Red (6334505 | 65487)

Just the Technic Ferrari 488 GTE and one other set have red pin hole pins, and now the Daytona SP3 has a lot more.

• 14x Technic, Pin 3L without Friction Ridges with Stop (6338962 | 77765)

The new 3L frictionless pin is making its way through the Technic line quickly and this is its most numerous appearance yet. This long smooth pin's polar opposite — the friction 1/2 pin — also appears the most in 42143 Ferrari Daytona SP3 with 50 (+3 spares) in the set.

• 2x Technic, Liftarm, Modified Frame Thick 3 x 19 Open Center in Black (6377025 | 67491)

This new-for-2022 frame hasn't made its way into many sets yet, the Daytona SP3 being only the third.

• 41x Technic, Liftarm Thin 1 x 3 - Axle Holes (6364451 | 6632)

This part is common, so why mention it? The Technic Ferrari Daytona SP3 is tied with LEGO Racers 8653 Enzo Ferrari 1:10 for the most copies of this part and both sets were designed by Uwe Wabra.

Conclusion

Which of the Daytona SP3's parts, if any, catch your eye? With an inventory boasting dozens of new parts, the LEGO Technic 42143 Ferrari SP3 is living up to the Technic Ultimate name by making no compromises. After all, no compromises are expected at a price of £349.99 / $399.99 / 399.99€. Buying this set? Consider using our affiliate links, New Elementary may get a commission.

 

With heavy doses of new moulds and unstickered versions of useful red panels, 1:8 scale Technic MOCcers may be interested in this set or seeking its parts when Pick a Brick returns. For those interested in the actual build, I will return soon with New Elementary's build and finished model review.

READ MORE: LEGO The Muppets Collectible Minifigures, reviewed by TobyMac

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