If you were stalking toy aisles back in 2013 or 2014, you probably remember the neon green boxes. LEGO had just snagged the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles license from Mega Bloks, and fans were losing their minds. Among the sewer lairs and glider bikes, one set stood out as the "must-have" for basically everyone: the LEGO Ninja Turtles Van. Officially known as the Turtle Sub Undersea Chase or the Turtle Lair Attack in different waves, the real star was always the Shellraiser or the classic Party Wagon-style builds. Honestly, looking back at set 79115, the Turtle Van Takedown, it’s a masterclass in how to do a licensed vehicle right without making it a fragile shelf queen.
The Shellraiser vs. The Nostalgia Trip
The 2014 version, set 79115, was based on the Nickelodeon animated series. It wasn't the boxy, yellow-roofed van from the 80s cartoon that millennials grew up with. Instead, it was this rugged, armored beast that felt like it belonged in a post-apocalyptic New York. It was chunky. It was heavy. You could tell the designers at LEGO actually cared about the playability. They didn't just slap some stickers on a generic van. They built in a flick-missile station on the roof and a computer bank inside that actually fit a minifig comfortably.
Most licensed sets nowadays feel a bit hollow. You buy them, you build them once, and they sit there gathering dust. But the LEGO Ninja Turtles Van was different because it was built like a tank. You could drop it from a coffee table, and maybe only a side mirror would pop off. That’s rare. Usually, licensed builds are so focused on accuracy that they forget kids actually want to "woosh" them around the living room.
Why the 79115 Set specifically?
Let’s talk about the minifigures for a second because, let’s be real, that’s why half of us buy these sets. In the Turtle Van Takedown, you got Michelangelo and Raphael. But the real kicker was the Vern Fenwick minifig and the Foot Soldier. Getting two turtles in a mid-range set was a huge deal at the time. Usually, LEGO would gatekeep the brothers across four different $60 sets to force you to spend $240 to complete the team.
The build itself used about 368 pieces. Not a massive count. But the way they used those pieces to create the curved roof and the sliding side door was clever. It felt bigger than it was. The color palette—that specific dark green mixed with lime and black—captured the "Nick Turtles" aesthetic perfectly. It wasn't just a toy; it was a vibe.
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The Aftermarket Reality Check
If you’re trying to find a LEGO Ninja Turtles Van today, prepare your wallet. It’s not cheap. Since LEGO lost the TMNT license back in 2014 (it went back to Mega Construx later), these sets have become "retired" gold. A sealed 79115 can easily fetch double or triple its original retail price on BrickLink or eBay.
Is it worth it? Sorta. If you’re a completionist, yeah. But if you just want a cool van, you might find yourself looking at MOCs (My Own Creations). A lot of fans have taken the base of the LEGO City vans and modded them to look like the classic 1987 Party Wagon. It's actually a fun challenge. You take the DNA of the official set and inject that old-school nostalgia that the 2014 set was missing.
Common Misconceptions About the Build
People often think the Shellraiser and the Turtle Van are the same thing. They aren't. In the 2012 series, the Shellraiser was actually a modified subway car. LEGO interpreted this by giving it those massive tires and a rugged chassis. Some critics at the time complained that it didn't look "van-like" enough. They wanted the Volkswagen-style bus. But if you watch the show, the LEGO designers were actually being incredibly accurate to the source material. It was supposed to be a repurposed piece of urban junk.
Another thing? The stickers. Oh man, the stickers. Everyone loves to hate on LEGO stickers, and this set was full of them. From the "Turtle Power" logos to the technical readouts inside, if you didn't have steady hands, your van ended up looking like it had a rough night in the sewers. But those stickers added detail that printed parts just couldn't achieve at that price point back then.
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Technical Specs and Hidden Features
- Set Number: 79115
- Piece Count: 368
- Release Year: 2014
- Features: Removable roof, fold-out computer station, spring-loaded shooters.
One detail most people overlook is the back door. It didn't just open; it swung wide to allow for easy access to the interior. You could actually stage a whole fight scene inside the van. Most modern LEGO cars are just shells with no interior space. This thing was a mobile playset.
Building Your Own Today
If you can't swing the $150+ for a vintage set, don't sweat it. The beauty of LEGO is that you can "piece it out." You can download the instructions for the LEGO Ninja Turtles Van for free on the official LEGO website. Then, go to a site like Rebrickable or BrickLink and buy the individual bricks. Most of the parts are common. You might have to skip the specific TMNT stickers or find third-party replacements, but you can build the core vehicle for a fraction of the collector price.
Honestly, it’s a better way to do it. You get the joy of the build without the "collector's anxiety" of opening a pristine box from 2014.
The Legacy of the Turtle Van
It’s weird to think it’s been over a decade since these hit shelves. Since then, we’ve seen dozens of Batman vehicles and Marvel jets, but the TMNT line had a soul that’s hard to replicate. The LEGO Ninja Turtles Van represented a time when LEGO was taking big swings with new licenses. They weren't just playing it safe. They were making chunky, weird, play-focused sets that honored the "Teenage" and "Mutant" parts of the name.
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The van remains the centerpiece of many collections because it bridges the gap between the gritty reboot and the fun of the original toys. It's a reminder that sometimes the best sets aren't the biggest ones or the ones with 4,000 pieces. Sometimes, it’s just a solid, green van that can survive a trip down the stairs and look cool doing it.
What to do next
If you're looking to add this to your collection or relive the 2014 glory days, start by checking your local Facebook Marketplace. You’d be surprised how many parents are selling "tubs of random LEGO" that contain the specific green and lime green parts for this van.
- Download the digital manual from the LEGO instructions archive to see which unique pieces you actually need.
- Search BrickLink for "Used" condition rather than New-In-Box (NIB) to save about 40% on the price.
- Check for "cracked" minifigure torsos in listings; the 2014 Turtle figures were notorious for small cracks under the arms, so ask for close-up photos before buying.
- Consider a "MOC" (My Own Creation) version if you prefer the 1987 classic look over the 2014 armored style; many fans sell digital parts lists for the iconic yellow-and-green bus.
Buying the parts individually is usually the smartest move for your wallet. It keeps the hobby fun without the "investment" pressure that ruins the point of toys in the first place.