LEGO Technic sets have gained immense popularity among builders of all skill levels, owing to their sophisticated designs and emphasis on engineering and mechanics. These sets cater to a broad audience, with options ranging from beginner-friendly models to advanced builds that can challenge even seasoned LEGO aficionados. Technic LEGO spans a wide array of themes, including construction machinery, aircraft, and robotics, offering something for everyone at various price points—from more affordable starter sets to elaborate, high-end models that demand greater time and investment. One of the standout categories within Technic is the collection of LEGO Technic cars, which allow fans to build incredibly detailed replicas of real-life supercars. From LEGO Bugatti, LEGO Mercedes to LEGO Technic Porsche, these sets capture the essence of high-performance engineering. Recently, LEGO introduced something entirely fresh with the LEGO Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht (42174), bringing an innovative and dynamic new build to the collection. We love a bit of a change at Investabrick, and this set certainly feels like it fits the bill, but will it also be a good investment, read on to find out.
Set Details
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of competitive sailing with the LEGO® Technic Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht (42174). This detailed set brings the thrill of the America’s Cup to life as you build a stunning replica of the AC75 racing yacht. With 962 pieces, the model features authentic elements like 3D skin sails, a rotating mast supported by rigging, and foil wings for stability and speed. The pneumatic function mimics the hydrofoil cant arms of the real yacht, allowing you to pump them up just like the race team would. You can also experiment with the mainsheet and jib sheet controls, adding to the yacht’s realism. Here at Investabrick, we love the size of this set, measuring over 68 cm high, this LEGO Technic model beautifully captures the essence of a high-performance sailing yacht, making it a standout build for sailing and LEGO enthusiasts alike.
| Model Name | Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht |
| Model Number | 42174 |
| Theme | Technic |
| Sub Themes | Licensed |
| Pieces | 962 |
| RRP | $120 / £105 / €120 |
| Price per Piece | 13c / 11p / 13c |
| Minifigures | N/A |
| Minifigures Value | N/A |
| Launch Date | August 2024 |
| Current Status | Available |
| Retirement Date | December 2026 |
Investment Potential
At times recently we have criticised the LEGO Technic theme for being a little bit samey, with a large dependence on LEGO car models, but LEGO 42174 is certainly something very different. LEGO Emirates Team New Zealand AC75 Yacht is a stunning LEGO model of the Americas Cup Yacht used by the New Zealand Team and comes with nearly 1,000 pieces (13c / 11p per brick).
There will definitely be a niche appeal to LEGO 42174, and we expect this to be both an excellent build and collectable LEGO set as well as having decent potential as a LEGO investment.
| Projected 5 Yr Value | $166 / £132 / €158 |
| % Increase ($) | 38% |
| Projected Future Annual Growth | 10% |
| Theme Growth | 6% |
| Sub-Theme Growth | 8% |
Theme Analysis
Nearly 50 years old and over 500 sets, the LEGO Technic theme is one of the most established LEGO themes and currently very popular with a large amount of recent new releases. The overall average annualised growth across this large sample is 6% making it solid if unspectacular from a LEGO investment perspective.
A few examples of the retired LEGO sets within the LEGO Technic theme below include LEGO Tow Truck (8285) which has more than quadrupled in value from its $120 RRP to its current value north of $500 (10% annualised growth) and LEGO Ocean Explorer (42064) which has seen over 80% growth from its $120 RRP since retiring in 2017 (11% annualised growth).
| Set Number | Set Name | Retired Date | RRP | Current Value | Total Growth | Annualised Growth |
| 42064 | Ocean Explorer | December 2018 | $120 | $217 | 81% | 11% |
| 8285 | Tow Truck | December 2008 | $120 | $515 | 329% | 10% |
| 42039 | 24 Hours Race Car | December 2016 | $130 | $180 | 38% | 4% |
| 42029 | Customized Pick-Up Truck | December 2015 | $100 | $183 | 83% | 7% |
Comparable Set Analysis
This really is a standout LEGO set and one where there aren’t any real direct comparators. We have taken a look at some of the sets within the Licensed sub-theme of the LEGO Technic theme at a similar price point below. LEGO Claas Xerion 5000 TRAC VC (42054) is close to doubling in value from its $180 RRP since retiring in 2017 (10% annualised growth), LEGO Volvo EW160E (42053) which has increased from its $120 RRP to its $195 value since retiring in 2017 (8% annualised growth) and LEGO Ford F-150 Raptor (42126) which has shown promising signs with a 30% increase in value since retiring at the end of 2022.
| Set Number | Set Name | Retired Date | RRP | Current Value | Total Growth | Annualised Growth |
| 42053 | Volvo EW160E | December 2017 | $120 | $195 | 63% | 8% |
| 42126 | Ford F-150 Raptor | December 2022 | $100 | $131 | 31% | 19% |
| 42078 | Mack Anthem | December 2019 | $180 | $298 | 66% | 12% |
| 42054 | CLAAS XERION 5000 TRAC VC | December 2017 | $180 | $330 | 83% | 10% |
Conclusion
Something very different from the LEGO Technic theme, which is very refreshing to see, it will be interesting to see how that translates in terms of being a strong LEGO investment. The general instinct at Investabrick is that we expect LEGO 42174 to outperform the wider LEGO Technic theme and it one that will be going on our watchlist, with how it performs at retail sale being the main deciding factor as to whether we will see this as a LEGO investment closer to its retirement. But for now, head to LEGO to get a set to build and display!
