Sign in
Set 8851 Excavator
Technic

Excavator

Excavator 8851 is a Technic construction machine from 1984. It contains 362 pieces across 68 part types, with no minifigures.

Set number
8851
Year
1984
Pieces
362
Minifigures
0
Theme
Technic
Different parts
68
What can I build with it?

Parts list 68

As BrickLink list (XML)

Import on BrickLink: Wanted → Upload, upload the file (or paste its content), pick a Wanted List and add the parts.

Spare parts (5)

These extra parts come with the set in case one gets lost.

Description

Mid-1980s Technic

In 1984 Technic was still built entirely around studded bricks with holes, together with plates, axles, gears and bushes. The studless beams that later changed the look of the line were years away. This excavator is a good example of that classic approach, where a model's shape comes from stacked bricks and its movement from axles running through them. For collectors of older Technic, set 8851 sits comfortably alongside the other construction machines of the decade and shows how the system worked before its big change in style.

Checking the colours

Black, light grey, red and yellow are the main colours in the catalogue. Yellow was the natural choice for a construction machine and appears across many Technic vehicles of the time, while red adds contrast. On a used copy, look closely at the yellow parts, which can yellow further or darken with age. The light grey is the older, warmer shade used until the mid-2000s, so modern bluish grey replacements will not match perfectly and are easy to spot on a finished model.

The inventory in brief

With 68 part types among 362 pieces, each type appears just over five times on average. Much of the total is made up of standard elements such as pins, axles, bushes and plates, all common in 1980s Technic and still easy to buy individually. A few specialised parts turn up only once or twice. The parts list on this page shows every element with its colour and quantity, which makes checking a second-hand copy straightforward and helps you judge whether an incomplete listing is still worth buying.

Bringing it back together

If you have a box of Technic from the 1980s, the What can I build? feature on this page compares it with the excavator and shows exactly what is missing. Often a short order of individual parts is enough to finish the model. Once complete, it makes a sturdy display piece next to other machines from the same era, and it is solid enough to be picked up and played with. The parts list also shows which colours you need.

FAQ

Is Excavator 8851 a studless build?
No, it dates from 1984 and uses the classic studded Technic bricks with holes.
What are the main colours?
The set is mainly black, light grey, red and yellow.
Are there any minifigures?
No, the excavator comes without minifigures. It consists of 362 pieces.

Similar sets