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.
1975 LEGO Sets
1975 expanded Basic Building Sets and introduced more systematic, idea-led boxes. Proto-minifigures—small, faceless figures with single-piece legs—appeared in town and train sets, foreshadowing the 1978 minifigure. LEGOLAND-branded sets emphasized construction vehicles and realistic machinery, reinforcing everyday play before the arrival of dedicated Space and Castle themes.