LEGO Mario Kart Mario & Standard Kart 72037 – 1972 Pieces

Theme: LEGO Super Mario · Minimum age: 18 years · Number of pieces: 1.972 · Reference: 72037

🏁 Mario, his Standard Kart and 1972 pieces of nostalgia

Some sets are bought for the character and some are bought for the model. The LEGO Super Mario Mario Kart: Mario y Kart estándar (72037), released in May 2025, wins in both categories at once. It is Mario at the wheel of the most recognisable kart in Nintendo history, rebuilt with 1972 pieces at a size that genuinely stands out on a shelf.

The first surprise when you open the box is the number of curved pieces. Recreating a cartoon head (round, with a prominent nose, chubby cheeks and a moustache) using a system of rectangular bricks is an exercise in sculpture, and here it is achieved with a build-up of sloped surfaces that only works when you step back and look at it from a metre away. That moment, when Mario's face suddenly appears out of what two steps earlier was a jumble of beige wedges, is probably the best part of the build.

It is a set from the LEGO Adults range, recommended for ages 18 and over. It is not a toy for the children's bedroom: it is a display piece designed for those who grew up racing on the Nintendo 64 or the Switch and now have a free shelf in the living room. If you are looking to buy LEGO 72037, that is exactly the profile it is aimed at.

📦 What's in the box

The set is organised into two large building sections (the Mario figure and the vehicle) plus the base on which everything rests. There are no minifigures: Mario himself is the figure, built brick by brick at a much larger scale.

Contents of set 72037:

• 1972 pieces with step-by-step instructions included in the box
• Buildable Mario figure with articulated head and arms
• Standard Kart, the most iconic vehicle in the Mario Kart series
• Special display base that lets you tilt the model at dynamic angles
• Access to the LEGO Builder app with digital instructions and 3D view
• Official Nintendo set within the LEGO Super Mario line

The LEGO Builder app deserves a special mention in a set with so much curved geometry. Being able to rotate the digital model in 3D and zoom in on a specific step saves quite a lot of backtracking, especially on the head, where several layers of pieces overlap and it is hard to see on paper what goes behind what.

🎮 The dynamic base: the detail that transforms the display

This is the cleverest design decision in the whole set. The Kart does not simply sit on the ground: it is mounted on a special base that lets you tilt it slightly, so that the model looks as if it is drifting round a bend or accelerating flat out.

It may seem like a minor trick, but it is not. A vehicle resting flat is a static object; a tilted vehicle is a scene. You notice the difference as soon as you put it on the shelf and someone walks into the room. What's more, you can change the angle whenever you like, so the piece does not stay frozen in a single pose for the next five years.

Mario's articulated head and arms complete the effect. You can leave him with both hands on the wheel, deep in concentration, or raise one arm in that victory gesture that anyone who has played Mario Kart recognises without any explanation. Turning the head slightly towards the outside of the bend completes the illusion of speed.

🔧 The building experience: 1972 pieces of sculpture

The build is particularly enjoyable because the two halves of the set are very different from each other. The Standard Kart is built the way a vehicle is built: chassis, wheels, bodywork, details. It is a logical, solid progression, with that mechanical satisfaction of watching a car take shape.

The Mario figure is something else entirely. Here you work in volumes: first an internal structure, then layers of sloped surfaces that gradually round off the shape, and finally the details that give it character: the moustache, the cap with the M, the eyes. It is more like modelling than building, and it is where a good part of the hours go.

With 1972 pieces, the build divides comfortably over several sessions. The difficulty is what you would expect of a LEGO set for adults: nothing impossible, but it is worth looking carefully at each step and not rushing the face area, where a piece turned the wrong way round is very noticeable in the final result.

Tips for an enjoyable build:

• Open only the numbered bag you need: with almost two thousand pieces, order is everything
• Use the LEGO Builder app to rotate the model in 3D for the head section
• Good lighting: there are quite a few red and brown pieces that look alike
• Set aside several sessions; the set is best built calmly and without watching the clock
• Decide on the base angle at the end, once the model is finished
• Keep the box: for Nintendo-licensed LEGO Adults sets it adds collector's value

🍄 Faithful to the video game

The Standard Kart is the vehicle almost everyone has raced with at some point: the default one, the one you do not need to unlock, the one that appears on the cover of half the Mario Kart catalogue. Choosing this model rather than an exotic one is a deliberate decision, and the right one: it is the one that triggers the shared memory.

The proportions are very well judged. Mario sits in the kart in that slightly comical way he does in the game, with his body large in relation to the vehicle and his hands spread on the steering wheel. The wheels, chunky and set wide apart, keep the cartoon silhouette instead of drifting towards automotive realism, which would have been the easy mistake.

As an official Nintendo set within the LEGO Super Mario line, the details have been approved by both sides, and it shows in the small finishing touches: the M on the cap, the exact colour of the blue overalls, the shape of the moustache. These are things a fan spots in two seconds, and here they are exactly where they should be.

📏 Dimensions and where to display it

The finished model measures approximately 22 cm high, 32 cm long and 19 cm wide. It is a size with real presence: it is not a discreet ornament, it is the piece that takes centre stage on whichever shelf you put it. It is worth allowing for those 32 cm in length before deciding where it goes.

It works particularly well at eye level and with some free space in front, because the angle of the base calls for it to be viewed from a three-quarter angle, not head-on. In a study, on a shelf next to the monitor, or in a display cabinet with other video game pieces, it more than does the job. And if you have other LEGO Mario Kart sets, such as Luigi and his Mach 8, displaying them together on the same shelf creates a starting grid that is quite hard to beat.

🎁 Who it's for

This is a gift for adult Nintendo fans, and that is where it hits the mark. For those who have been playing Mario Kart since the nineties, for those who build LEGO as a way to unwind after work, or for those who collect the LEGO Super Mario line and want the large display piece.

It is also one of those gifts that work very well for special occasions (milestone birthdays, Christmas, Epiphany) because they combine an attractive object with many hours of hands-on activity. With an official LEGO RRP of 169,99 €, it sits in the range of large sets for adults, and the hours of building it offers more than justify it.

🚚 Shipping and ordering

We work with original LEGO products, new and factory-sealed. With a set of this size the condition of the box matters, so we pack the shipment with extra protection so that it arrives without dented corners: if it is intended as a gift, this is much appreciated.

Shipping is free on orders from 49,99 €, a threshold this set comfortably exceeds, so you do not need to add anything else to your basket. Standard delivery on the Spanish mainland is 24 working hours if you order before 15:00 (barring unforeseen transport issues). Place your order and we will prepare it for dispatch as soon as it is confirmed.

Barcode (EAN): 5702017816548

Frequently asked questions

How many pieces does LEGO 72037 Mario Kart have?

It has 1972 pieces and is recommended for ages 18 and over, within the LEGO Adults range.

Does it include minifigures?

It does not include minifigures: Mario is a large buildable figure, with articulated head and arms, sitting at the wheel of the Standard Kart.

What is the included base for?

It is a special display base that lets you tilt the Kart slightly to display it at dynamic angles, as if it were drifting or accelerating in a race.

How big is the assembled model?

Approximately 22 cm high, 32 cm long and 19 cm wide.

How long does delivery take?

Express shipping to the Spanish mainland, free from 49,99 €: if you order before 15:00 on a working day, you will receive it the next working day, barring unforeseen transport issues.

Is it available for in-store collection?

Yes, at our physical shop on Avenida 28 de Febrero, Albox (Almería), by prior appointment.

What warranty does this product have?

Legal warranty in Spain of 3 years for manufacturing defects.

Is HiperOcio an official LEGO distributor?

Yes, we work directly with LEGO S.A. España; all sets are official, sealed products.