Build your own muscle with this Holden Torana A9X ‘interlocking plastic bricks’ kit

Long story short, Lego no longer has the exclusive patent and licence for its 1958 'interlocking plastic brick' design, which has opened the door for other providers to supply the brightly-coloured building system.

Extending this further, fans of the construction toy are now able to develop their own models and sell the components and instructions as kits, providing they don't contain or refer to the Danish red-and-yellow logo.

So now that we're all caught up on 'not-Lego', check out this cool 3300-piece Holden Torana A9X Hatchback kit that you can purchase online.

Modelled at 1:8 scale, the Torana features opening doors, bonnet and boot, a detailed engine bay, gearbox and working steering.

It was created by designer LoxLego, and is available to buy in parts from The Block Zone for $322 (shipping included). A PDF manual must be purchased directly from the designer for a further £18 ($AU33), and stickers aren't included.

That said, it's a very nicely detailed and well-constructed kit, and just one of many available to extend your 'interlocking plastic brick' model collection.

The A9X option (based on the SS Hatch or SLR5000 sedan) was created by Holden as a homologation project which allowed the Holden Dealer Team to campaign one in the Australian Touring Car series from 1977 to 1979. Racing legend Peter Brock took the chequered flag at Bathurst in 1979 in an A9X, a whole six laps ahead of the car in second place.

The option pack included front and rear disc brakes, a strengthened differential and driveline, and a few aero additions, but maintained the SS and SLR5000's 5.0-litre V8 engine.

Less than 100 LX Torana A9X hatches were built for the road, with prices approaching $500,000 for road cars, and nearly $1 million for some competition and development variants.

So add some muscle to your mantle this Christmas, and build your own slice of Australian motoring history. Plus, you won't get in trouble for buying Lego because, well, it isn't!

View the 'Aussie A9X Classic' listing at The Block Zone here.