These are the LEGOLAND vehicle sets of the 1970s, the cars, lorries, fire engines, ambulances and tow trucks of LEGO town building before the minifigure. Most came without any figure at all. From 1975 a few included the first small LEGO figures, with a bare head and a body without arms, and these led to the minifigure of 1978. Some carried real brand names, Shell above all, as LEGO had a long partnership with the oil company, and 621 Shell Tanker Truck was one of the first. The later years added a hovercraft and a rally car to the usual mix of emergency services, building machines and transport trucks.
1973 LEGO Sets
1973 marked major structural and product milestones for LEGO. The company ended its U.S. licensing agreement with Samsonite and established LEGO Systems, Inc. in Brookfield, Connecticut, giving LEGO direct control over its American distribution. DUPLO was formally branded as a standalone preschool line, expanding on the larger bricks first introduced in 1969. Early Town sets began to appear with simple, posable figures—precursors to the modern minifigure—bringing more life and movement to everyday scenes. LEGO’s catalog continued to grow rapidly, reinforcing its position as a leading global toy brand.