Set 080 Basic Set with Train

meiklelewis

Im a bit stuck and need help please I have the set above and it seems to be a rare set - its near complete with only one of the Pine Trees but two of the birch trees to make up for it and one of the boards is spilt in two other wise the rest is there. I also have the instructions for it but no box. Ive tried to see what the set is worth to sell it on but can't seem to find one that's been sold in near complete as mine. So wanted to ask you guys. Please help!!

LusiferSam

First off is this the Samsonite version or the European version?  They are not identical despite what Bricklink and others might tell you.  Not having the box hurts the value. 

drdavewatford

I picked up a complete, boxed example of this set from eBay a few years back for relatively little (around £50 - £60 if I remember rightly). Whether that was an amazing bargain, or if the set actually isn't especially desirable or valuable, I couldn't say. Apart from a few trees the elements it contains are pretty common, however, so without the box I'd guess that it's unlikely to be worth a huge amount - sorry!

LusiferSam

The baseplates are not common, they are unique to this set. 

madforLEGO

Paging @Istokg as well. I think if you could provide them, pictures may help some of the more experience vintage set collectors here tell what the value range may be.

madforLEGO

Not sure why it keeps adding garbage to the end of the @Istokg

Istokg

Sorry... been away for a while!!  The 080 set was sold in the USA as a FAO Schwarz luxury toy store exclusive known as the Ambassador Set... and in continental Europe as just 080 (train/town) set.

This set was not officially sold in Britain/Australia... and it's not found in UK or Aussie catalogs of circa 1968-70.  But an old time British LEGO collector knew of it in the 1960s and asked his UK retailer to special order it for him.  So I don't know the true nature of this set as far as British LEGO Ltd. goes... but on the continent it was sold in all EU countries.

@drdavewatford I do think you got a great price for that set.  It was rather obscure to UK/AUS/USA/CAN collectors... but is now much more popular, especially among LEGO Train System collectors.

drdavewatford

Istokg said:

@drdavewatford I do think you got a great price for that set.  It was rather obscure to UK/AUS/USA/CAN collectors... but is now much more popular, especially among LEGO Train System collectors.

Interesting - thanks, Gary. Maybe it deserves a bit more love than I've given it so far - I've not even taken full inventory of the set yet, just taken the word of the seller. I'll add it to the "to do" list....