If you’ve ever explored the early days of the LEGO System, you may already know that set 400—released in the mid-1960s—was a fascinating little box of creativity. Unlike modern sets with detailed booklets, these early kits offered only a handful of illustrated models on the packaging itself, encouraging builders to imagine, adapt, and rebuild endlessly.
Among the alternate builds shown on the original leaflet is a charming and somewhat unusual vehicle: a white UN-themed car, complete with red wheels and a compact body. This cute model reflects the style of the era—simple bricks, bold colours, and lots of personality—and it feels like a delightful snapshot of LEGO history, when even humanitarian vehicles found their way into children’s imaginations.
On this page, you’ll find step-by-step building instructions and a complete inventory of the bricks needed to recreate this vintage UN car exactly as it appears in the original set artwork. I have actually built it with original old bricks as I could find them in my stockroom ! See bellow.
You can find all the builds shown in this picture on that page.
Instructions
Inventory
| Quantity | Picture | Piece name |
|---|---|---|
| 4 |
|
Brick 2 x 4 |
| 2 |
|
Brick 2 x 3 |
| 1 |
|
Brick 1 x 1 with Blue Capital Letter N Pattern |
| 1 |
|
Brick 1 x 1 with Blue Capital Letter U Pattern |
| 1 |
|
Brick 1 x 4 |
| 1 |
|
Plate 4 x 8 |
| 3 |
|
Brick 1 x 2 without Bottom Tube |
| 1 |
|
Wheel with 4 Studs and Metal Axle |
| 4 |
|
Wheel with 4 Studs and Axle with Light Gray Tire Smooth – Small Solid (7039 / 132old) |
| 3 |
|
Brick, Modified 2 x 4 with Wheels Holder, Trans-Clear Bottom |
| 2 |
|
Brick, Round 1 x 1 – Solid Stud, No Bottom Lip |
| Total : 23 pieces | Total Weight : 50.46 g | |