1985 LEGO Sets

While 1985 proved overall to be a light year for long term investments, with the release of 134 sets, LEGO did see a number of highly sought after and collections that have experienced significant and steady growth for collectors overall.

Based on the 134 sets released for that year, the retail value was $1,406.39 with a current value of $53,681.76 for the combined new/factory sealed sets. As of present, the best performing theme for 1985 is currently Technic which has seen an average annual growth of upwards of 13% to date.

In 1985, LEGO continued to expand its product range, reinforcing its position as a global leader in creative play. This year saw significant growth across multiple themes, introducing innovations that would shape LEGO’s future.

One notable misconception is that the LEGO Paradisa theme debuted in 1985—this theme, known for its pastel-colored vacation settings, would not be introduced until 1992. However, LEGO did make strides in designing sets with broader appeal, including more everyday life elements within LEGO Town, which later influenced themes like Paradisa and LEGO Friends.

Meanwhile, LEGO's foundational themes, City (part of the LEGO Town theme) and Castle, continued to expand with new sets. LEGO Castle built upon the success of the Crusaders and Black Falcons, adding more detailed medieval fortresses and knight-based play scenarios. LEGO Town introduced more urban infrastructure, including transportation, emergency services, and civilian-focused sets, further enhancing the realism of LEGO cityscapes.

Additionally, LEGO Technic saw further advancements, with the introduction of more complex mechanisms, gears, and moving parts, pushing the boundaries of mechanical LEGO engineering.

Beyond product development, LEGO also continued its educational initiatives through its LEGO Dacta (later LEGO Education) division, which expanded into more schools and learning environments, reinforcing LEGO's role in hands-on education.