How many pieces are in the Sphinx Secret Surprise?

Sphinx Secret Surprise contains 352 pieces.

What age is the Sphinx Secret Surprise recommended for?

This set is recommended for ages 18+.

When was the Sphinx Secret Surprise released?

Sphinx Secret Surprise was released in 1998.

🏛 Desert

Set #5978

Sphinx Secret Surprise

Name: Sphinx Secret Surprise
Brand: LEGO
SKU: 5978-1

Sphinx Secret Surprise is a nostalgic gem from the classic LEGO Adventurers line.

🏆 Best For: Great for LEGO fans of all ages who enjoy a bit of adventure and nostalgia ⏱ 4.5 hr build 🧩 352 pcs

★★★★☆ 4.2

Fans appreciate the nostalgic charm and extensive minifigure selection, but some find the building techniques outdated compared to modern sets. The set's high price on the secondary market is a common point of discussion.

MSRP

$49.99

Best Price

$44.99

You Save

10% OFF

View on eBay

Check price on Amazon

📝 Our Take

Sphinx Secret Surprise is a nostalgic gem from the classic LEGO Adventurers line. Released in 1998, this set perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of Johnny Thunder and his quest for hidden treasures in the Egyptian desert.

This set is perfect for LEGO enthusiasts who appreciate vintage sets and the Adventurers theme. The build is relatively straightforward, making it suitable for younger builders while still offering enough detail to satisfy adult collectors. The inclusion of numerous minifigures enhances the play and display value.

Skip this if you're solely focused on complex builds or modern LEGO sets. While charming, its building techniques and design aesthetics are dated. Consider the newer LEGO Ideas Egyptian-themed sets for a more contemporary building experience.

✨ New

Ask BlockTalk about this set

AI assistant with full set data

BlockTalk

Hi! I'm BlockTalk, your LEGO expert. Ask me anything about the Sphinx Secret Surprise - building tips, investment potential, comparisons, or anything else!

Try asking:

How does this set compare to other LEGO Adventurers sets in terms of rarity and value? What are some creative ways to display the Sphinx Secret Surprise with other Egyptian-themed LEGO sets? What are the key features and play functions of the Sphinx in this set? Is this set a good starting point for collecting vintage LEGO Adventurers sets?

🧱 Building Experience

🧩

352

Pieces

⏱

4.5h

Build Time

📊

Intermediate

Difficulty

Build Highlights:

Discovering hidden mechanisms and secret compartments within the Sphinx
Building the rugged desert vehicle for Johnny Thunder's expeditions
Assembling the iconic Sphinx structure with its detailed facade
Arranging the minifigures to create dynamic scenes of exploration and conflict

📈 Investment Analysis

↑ Trending up since release

A-

Investment Grade

⏳ Appreciating

The Sphinx Secret Surprise set presents a solid investment opportunity due to its age, rarity, and the enduring popularity of the LEGO Adventurers theme. As a retired set from 1998, its availability is limited, driving up its value on the secondary market. The set's complete minifigure collection, including Johnny Thunder and other key characters, further enhances its desirability among collectors. While the current price is relatively high, its value is expected to continue to rise, particularly for sets in excellent condition with original packaging. However, potential buyers should be aware of the risks associated with purchasing vintage LEGO sets, such as fading, yellowing, and missing parts.

Not Financial Advice: Content is for educational purposes only. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Full disclaimer

⚖ Compare Similar Sets

Pharaoh's Forbidden Ruins

Desert • 741 pcs

$89.99

Dragon Fortress

Orient Expedition • 508 pcs

$60.00

Temple of Mount Everest

Orient Expedition • 371 pcs

$50.00

The Sphinx Secret Surprise stands out from other LEGO sets due to its unique theme and vintage appeal. Compared to newer Egyptian-themed sets, such as those from the LEGO Ideas line, it offers a more classic LEGO building experience. While it may not have the advanced building techniques of modern sets, its nostalgic charm and exclusive minifigures make it a desirable addition to any LEGO collection. Collectors who appreciate the Adventurers theme and seek a valuable investment piece may prefer this set over contemporary alternatives.

7 Minifigures Included

Johnny Thunder (Desert)

Dr. Charles Lightning

4 parts

Miss Gail Storm with Red Legs

4 parts

Skeleton, Standard Face, Mummy Headdress, White

7 parts

This set boasts an impressive lineup of seven minifigures, including the iconic Johnny Thunder, the villainous Lord Sam Sinister, and the mysterious Pharaoh Hotep. The inclusion of Baron Von Barron, Dr. Charles Lightning, Miss Gail Storm, and a Skeleton Mummy adds further depth to the set's playability and collectibility.

📦 Full Parts Inventory - 124 unique parts • 317 total pieces

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 2341 1× Light Gray

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 2341 1× Black

Equipment Goblet ...

Part #: 2343 1× Yellow

Plate 2 x 2 Corner

Part #: 2420 1× Light Gray

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 1× Red

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 1× Light Gray

Tile 1 x 4 with G...

Part #: 2431 1× Yellow

Tile 1 x 4 with H...

Part #: 2431pr0021 1× Tan

Bracket 1 x 2 - 1...

Part #: 2436 1× Black

Bracket 1 x 2 - 1...

Part #: 2436 1× Light Gray

Brick 1 x 2 x 5 w...

Part #: 2454a 3× Tan

Brick 1 x 2 x 5 w...

Part #: 2454apr0001 1× Tan

Brick 1 x 2 x 5 w...

Part #: 2454apr0005 1× Tan

Brick 1 x 2 x 5 w...

Part #: 2454apr0006 1× Tan

Brick 2 x 6

Part #: 2456 2× Dark Gray

Plant, Palm Tree ...

Part #: 2536a 7× Brown

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 2540 2× Black

Tile Special 1 x ...

Part #: 2555 4× Black

Plant, Palm Tree ...

Part #: 2563 1× Brown

Bar, 4 Top Bars, ...

Part #: 2566 1× Green

Brick 2 x 4

Part #: 3001 1× Dark Gray

Part #: 3002 1× Dark Gray

Brick 2 x 3

Part #: 3002 4× Light Gray

Brick 2 x 2

Part #: 3003 1× Black

Brick 2 x 2

Part #: 3003 9× Light Gray

Part #: 3004 2× Light Gray

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 1× Yellow

Brick 1 x 2

Part #: 3004 3× Blue

Brick 1 x 1

Part #: 3005 4× Light Gray

Brick 2 x 10

Part #: 3006 2× Dark Gray

Brick 1 x 8

Part #: 3008 2× Black

Brick 1 x 8

Part #: 3008 1× Red

Brick 1 x 6

Part #: 3009 4× Dark Gray

Brick 1 x 4

Part #: 3010 1× Yellow

Brick 1 x 4

Part #: 3010 9× Dark Gray

Part #: 30132 3× Dark Gray

Weapon Rifle/Gun

Part #: 30141 1× Dark Gray

Grille 1 x 2 x 2 ...

Part #: 30147 1× Dark Gray

Equipment Camera ...

Part #: 30148 1× Black

Vehicle Base 6 x ...

Part #: 30149 1× Tan

Box / Crate with ...

Part #: 30150 2× Brown

Brick Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 30151a 1× Trans-Clear

Equipment Magnify...

Part #: 30152pat0001 2× Black

Rock 1 x 1 Jewel ...

Part #: 30153 1× Trans-Red

Equipment Sextant

Part #: 30154 1× Black

Wheel Spoked 2 x ...

Part #: 30155 4× Tan

Plate Special 2 x...

Part #: 30157 2× Dark Gray

Minifig Neckwear ...

Part #: 30158 1× Brown

Windscreen 1 x 4 ...

Part #: 30161pr0001 1× Trans-Clear

Equipment Binoculars

Part #: 30162 1× Black

Sarcophagus / Cof...

Part #: 30163 1× Black

Sarcophagus Lid 2...

Part #: 30164 1× Black

Animal, Scorpion

Part #: 30169 1× Black

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 1× Tan

Plate 2 x 4

Part #: 3020 1× Black

Part #: 3021 2× Brown

Plate 2 x 3

Part #: 3021 1× Black

Part #: 3022 1× Yellow

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 1× Black

Plate 2 x 2

Part #: 3022 7× Dark Gray

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 5× Black

Plate 1 x 2

Part #: 3023 1× Red

Plate 1 x 1

Part #: 3024 1× Light Gray

Plate 4 x 12

Part #: 3029 1× Light Gray

Plate 4 x 4

Part #: 3031 1× Red

Plate 4 x 6

Part #: 3032 1× Black

Part #: 3038 2× Light Gray

Part #: 3039 8× Light Gray

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 4× Red

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 2× Blue

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 2× Tan

Slope 45° 2 x 1 w...

Part #: 3040b 1× Light Gray

Slope 45° 2 x 2 D...

Part #: 3045 2× Red

Brick Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 3062b 4× Black

Tile 2 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3068b 1× Red

Tile 2 x 2 with O...

Part #: 3068bpr0378 1× Tan

Tile 2 x 2 with O...

Part #: 3068bpr0406 1× Tan

Tile 2 x 2 with O...

Part #: 3068bpr0421 1× Tan

Tile 2 x 2 with O...

Part #: 3068bpr9957 1× Tan

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 3× Light Gray

Tile 1 x 2 with G...

Part #: 3069b 1× Yellow

Tile 1 x 2 with D...

Part #: 3069bpr0021 1× Light Gray

Tile 1 x 2 with V...

Part #: 3069bpr0051 1× Tan

Tile 1 x 2 with W...

Part #: 3069bpr0052 1× Black

Tile 1 x 2 with M...

Part #: 3069bpr0056 1× White

Tile 1 x 1 with G...

Part #: 3070b 1× Light Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 3184 4× Brown

Slope 33° 3 x 2

Part #: 3298 1× Red

Slope 33° 3 x 2

Part #: 3298 6× Light Gray

Plate 1 x 8

Part #: 3460 3× Light Gray

Tyre Offset Tread...

Part #: 3483 4× Black

Brick 1 x 3

Part #: 3622 1× Dark Gray

Plate 1 x 3

Part #: 3623 2× Black

Slope Inverted 45...

Part #: 3665 2× Light Gray

Turntable 2 x 2 P...

Part #: 3679 1× Light Gray

Turntable 2 x 2 P...

Part #: 3680 1× Black

Slope 75° 2 x 2 x...

Part #: 3688 2× Tan

Plate 1 x 4

Part #: 3710 3× Black

Brick 1 x 6 x 5

Part #: 3754 2× Dark Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 3794a 1× Light Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 3794a 4× Yellow

Part #: 3829c01 1× Red

Plate 2 x 10

Part #: 3832 1× Tan

Weapon Axe

Part #: 3835 1× Light Gray

Equipment Shovel ...

Part #: 3837 1× Dark Gray

Tool Pickaxe

Part #: 3841 1× Dark Gray

Weapon Lance

Part #: 3849 1× Black

Equipment Cup / M...

Part #: 3899 1× Yellow

Part #: 3938 2× Light Gray

Hinge Brick 1 x 2...

Part #: 3938 1× Black

Plate Round 2 x 2...

Part #: 4032a 5× Green

Brick Special 1 x...

Part #: 4070 2× Yellow

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4081b 4× Light Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4085c 1× Blue

Tile 1 x 8 with G...

Part #: 4162 2× Red

Hinge Vehicle Roo...

Part #: 4213 1× Dark Gray

Slope 33° 3 x 1

Part #: 4286 1× Black

Slope 33° 3 x 1

Part #: 4286 2× Yellow

Plate 1 x 10

Part #: 4477 2× Black

Slope 33° 6 x 6 D...

Part #: 4509 1× Light Gray

Equipment Frying Pan

Part #: 4528 1× Black

Equipment Saucepan

Part #: 4529 1× Black

Cone 1 x 1 [No To...

Part #: 4589 3× Black

Cone 1 x 1 [No To...

Part #: 4589 2× Yellow

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4590 1× Yellow

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4623 2× Light Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 4623 1× Yellow

Hinge Tile 1 x 4

Part #: 4625 2× Light Gray

Slope 45° 3 x 4 D...

Part #: 4861 1× Tan

Money / Coin with...

Part #: 57503 1× Chrome Gold

Money / Coin with...

Part #: 57504 1× Chrome Gold

Money / Coin with...

Part #: 57505 1× Chrome Gold

Money / Coin with...

Part #: 57506 1× Chrome Gold

Plate Round Corne...

Part #: 6003 3× Light Gray

Plate Special 1 x...

Part #: 6019 2× Black

Brick Curved 1 x ...

Part #: 6091 5× Black

Baseplate Raised ...

Part #: 6092pr0002 1× Tan

Wave / Flame Roun...

Part #: 6126a 2× Trans-Neon Orange

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 1× Yellow

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 2× Red

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 4× Black

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 1× Trans-Clear

Plate Round 1 x 1...

Part #: 6141 1× Light Gray

Plant, Palm Leaf ...

Part #: 6148 4× Green

Tent, Adventurers...

Part #: 61880pr0002 1× Black

Technic Brick 1 x...

Part #: 6541 2× Light Gray

The Sphinx Secret Surprise set includes a variety of useful parts in classic LEGO colors, such as light gray, dark gray, and tan. The presence of palm tree trunk pieces and curved black bricks adds unique elements for MOC builders.

🛒 Where to Buy

eBay

✓ In Stock

$44.99 →

Walmart

✓ In Stock

$47.49

Target

✓ In Stock

$49.99

Amazon

Check price

→

💎 Notable Parts

Brown Plant, Palm Tree Trunk - Long Indented Connector (7x) $1.75

Black Brick Curved 1 x 2 x 1 1/3 with Curved Top (5x) $0.50

Dark Gray Brick 1 x 4 (9x) $0.90

Light Gray Brick 2 x 2 (9x) $0.90

Est. BrickLink Part Value

$4.05

💡 MOC Potential

🏛 Expanded Egyptian temple complex

🚗 Johnny Thunder's upgraded desert truck

🏰 Pharaoh's tomb interior

📰 Desert News

Community Insights

Real opinions from Reddit and YouTube

What Reddit Says

No Reddit discussions found for this set.

What YouTubers Say

1 video found

BlockTalk AI

Fun With Captain Starlight's video features an unboxing and building of the mini Sphinx Secret Surprise model, part of the LEGO 90 Years of Play set. The video is targeted towards children and focuses on the building experience.

LEGO VIDYO Candy Castle Stage 43111 Unbox And Play #LEGO #legounboxing #unboxingandreview

Fun With Captain Starlight • 1.0K views Unboxing

What the Community Says

1 YouTube reviews

BlockTalk AI Summary

Reddit Reviews

No Reddit reviews found

YouTube Reviews

1 video

LEGO VIDYO Candy Castle Stage 43111 Unbox And Play #LEGO #legounboxing #unboxingandreview

Fun With Captain Starlight

1.0K views Unboxing

Community Content: These reviews are from Reddit and YouTube users sharing their personal experiences. Opinions may vary.

Inventory Statistics

124

Unique Parts

317

Total Pieces

Minifigures

Inventory Version: 1

Unearth the Adventure!
Sphinx Secret Surprise Awaits!

Sphinx Secret Surprise

📝 Our Take

Ask BlockTalk about this set

🧱 Building Experience

📈 Investment Analysis

⚖ Compare Similar Sets

7 Minifigures Included

📦 Full Parts Inventory - 124 unique parts • 317 total pieces

🛒 Where to Buy

💎 Notable Parts

💡 MOC Potential

📰 Desert News

Random set of the day: Treasure Tomb