Comparing the 2023 Eldorado Fortress to the 1989 original

July 4, 2023 | 7

On 4 July 2023, one of the most anticipated sets of the year, 10320 Eldorado Fortress will be released for LEGO VIPs!

After revisiting Castle, Classic Space, Bionicle, Forestmen, and Blacktron, LEGO has now turned their eyes towards Classic Pirates, reviving one of the most legendary Pirates sets, 6276 Eldorado Fortress and gives it a modernised LEGO Icons treatment.

To celebrate the launch, let’s take a closer look at just how faithful of a remake is and compare the 2023 version of Eldorado Fortress with its 1989 predecessor.

For a more in-depth look at the 2023 Eldorado Fortress, be sure to check out my detailed review of 10320 Eldorado Fortress

See below for product pages and links if you’re planning to pick up 10320 Eldorado Fortress when it launches!

• 10320 Eldorado Fortress [US] – US$214.99
• 10320 Eldorado Fortress [AUS] – AU$329.99
• 10320 Eldorado Fortress [UK] – £189.99
• 10320 Eldorado Fortress [EU] – €214.99
• 10320 Eldorado Fortress [CA] – CAD$299.99

If you plan on purchasing 10320 Eldorado Fortress, please consider using the affiliate links in this post as I may receive a small commission with each purchase that goes a long way in supporting the work I do on the blog!

2023 vs 1989 Eldorado Fortress Packaging

Here’s a closer look at the packaging of the 2023 Eldorado Fortress vs the 1989 classic.

Despite being part of the LEGO Icons theme, just like  10305 Lion Knight’s Castle and 10497 Galaxy Explorer (and 40567 Forest Hideout), the box art doesn’t contain the LEGO Icons strip at the bottom, and instead, we get this glorious full-art shot of the set.

One of the things I really liked about the 2023 version is the packaging design, and just how faithful to many elements are to the original.

One of the downsides of the 2023 version (and really, all modern LEGO sets) is the lack of the flip open lid, which allowed you to peer into the box, and showcase interesting elements and minifigures through a plastic window.

But what the set does really well is mimic the box style so well, that it feels like a celebration of LEGOLAND boxes.

The typography and usage of teal font is also incredibly welcome, as are all the action shots that showcase the new Eldorado Fortress and its many features.

2023 vs 1989 Eldorado Fortress

6276 Eldorado Fortress is one of my favourite LEGO Pirates sets of all time, and I have a really strong affinity for the classic. There’s just something so cool about an Imperial Fortress constructed on a rocky island, and like so many Pirates sets from 1989 and later, captured the imagination of so many of us who were young kids at the time.

To prepare myself for the 2023 remake, I took apart and rebuilt my original Eldorado Fortress right before building it, and the one standout experience was how uncanny the 2023 version felt.

It’s incredibly faithful, and I found myself having some bizarre form of LEGO Dejavu as I assembled the modern version, acutely aware that so many of the angles, features and even proportions felt eerily similar.

If you enjoy indulging in LEGO Nostalgia, 10320 Eldorado Fortress will definitely scratch that itch, and so much more.

Just look at these side by side shots of the Eldorado Fortresses from each angle, and above to see what I mean.

Of course, the newer version does have some extra tricks up its sleeve, such as the ability to dramatically change the layout thanks to its modular design.

The Merchant Ship from 6277 Imperial Trading Post

A massive Imperial Merchant Ship wasn’t part of the original 1989 Eldorado Fortress, but designer Pierre Normandin decided to pay homage to another legendary Pirates set, 6277 Imperial Trading Post with the inclusion of the larger ship.

Much better than a dinghy!

2023 vs 1989 Eldorado Fortress Minifigures

And lastly, let’s take a look at the minifigure lineup of both sets.

The 2023 version benefits from modern prints, as well as expressive faces, as opposed to the default smiley faces of the Imperial Soldiers.

Did you know that the LEGO Pirates theme in 1989 first introduced minifigures with facial expressions? It was really groundbreaking at the time.

Do note: I couldn’t locate the proper head and plume for Governor Broadside, from the original set!

Alas, Captain Redbeard was omitted from the set, and we have a female Pirate, which isn’t necessarily a bad choice, but it does fill me with hope that LEGO does have some more plans for Captain Redbeard…

Again, it’s really nice to see small enhancements to the Imperial soldiers, such as the new string/sash detail on the torso print.

Unfortunately, it’s a shame that the white print on the blue base looks quite dull as opposed to the crisp white torsos on the 1989 soldiers.

I do think it’s really cool that their Shako hats are the same mould as the original! Crazy to think they’re over 30 years old by now.

I really hope you enjoyed this side by side comparison between the original 6276 Eldorado Fortress, and the new 10320 Eldorado Fortress!

10320 Eldorado Fortress goes on sale on 4 July 2023 for LEGO VIPs, and will be available from LEGO.com or your local LEGO store.

Be sure to check out my detailed review of 10320 Eldorado Fortress to see what I thought of the 2023 remake.

What do you think of how the 2023 Eldorado Fortress compares with the original?

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