In 1976 LEGO released 14 Basic sets across 2 subthemes. The largest Basic set from 1976 was
912 Advanced Basic Set with Motor with a piece count of 471 and a retail price of $36.99. The current estimated value of all these Basic sets from this year is about $3,581.85 which represents a 1750% growth.
The LEGO Basic theme, which began in the 1970s, was designed to be a more general, non-thematic series of sets. Unlike the themed sets that revolve around specific stories, characters, or concepts (e.g., space, city, or pirates), the Basic theme provided a collection of standard LEGO bricks and pieces, often in a variety of colors. The goal was to encourage free building and creativity without the confines of a specific theme or narrative.
1976 LEGO Sets
In 1976, LEGO released several new sets and themes, including the LEGO Police theme, which introduced models of police cars, motorcycles, and police stations. 1976 was also the year that LEGO introduced the LEGO Basic Building Set, which included a selection of basic bricks in various colors and shapes, as well as instruction booklets with ideas for building projects. Other notable sets and themes released by LEGO in 1976 included the LEGO Space theme, which expanded upon the Space sets released in previous years, and the LEGO Trains theme, which introduced new electric train models.