In 1964, Hess gas stations began its tradition of selling toy trucks (and other vehicles) for the Christmas season. Since I can remember, their sales begin in mid-November and sell out fairly quickly. They keep their new toys under wraps until the beginning of November and I see TV commercials about them around Thanksgiving and into December.
I received my first truck in 1984 as a present from my Uncle; cost $4.99. I sold it in 1992 for $20. Little did I know that it was worth about four times the price at which I sold it.
Today, Hess trucks are considered highly collectible, especially pre-1980s trucks. You can find boxed post-1981 trucks for under $100, depending on their condition. A loose 1980-81 training van can cost a little over a $100-200, boxed definitely near or over $200. A few years ago, I paid $40 for a loose training van missing a door and a little wear. But, once you reach 1979 and older, the prices really start to shoot up fast into the hundreds and thousands of dollars.
Retail Prices
I find it both interesting and fun to see how the original retail prices have increased and evolved. The first truck, in 1964, cost $1.29 – only $1.29! Wish I could go back in time and pick up a few hundred of these! I’m dreaming, I know. Now, $1.29 didn’t just get you a boxed truck, it also got you batteries! Since then, I believe all of their toys have come with batteries and some time in the late 80s or early 90s, Hess partnered with Energizer and use their batteries exclusively now. Few, if any, other toy trucks (from gas & oil companies, Coke, etc.) include batteries with their purchase. I find the added batteries a big bonus.
The retail price surpassed $2 with the 1977 Fuel Oil Tanker, $5 with the 1986 Fire Truck Bank, $10 with the 1991 Toy Truck and Racecar and the 2006 Truck & Helicopter passes the $20 mark at $21.99.
Designs
The designs are primarily trucks with a few exceptions, namely in recent issues. 1966 was an oil tanker ship. 1980 is a training van. 1993 is a police car. 1994 is a tow truck. 1996 is an emergency vehicle. 1998 is an RV. 2001 is a (helicopter. 2004 is a sports utility vehicle.
In the beginning and through the 80s, most toys are oil tanker trucks. Car (or other vehicle) carriers are popular in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995 (helicopter), 1997, 1999 (space shuttle), 2002 (bi-plane), 2003 & 2006 (helicopter). A few fire trucks have been done in 1970-71, 1986, 1989, 2000 & 2005.
The green/yellow/white color scheme is used from 1964-85, with the exceptions of the 1966 oil tanker ship (red), 1970-71 fire truck (red) and the 1980 training van (white). The red/black/white color scheme is used on the 1966 oil tanker ship and the 1970-71, 1986 & 2005 fire trucks. The white & green color scheme, with the exception of the 2005 fire truck) is used 1987-2006.
Accessories
The extra accessories with some vehicles are always a fun bonus/gimmick, for children as adults.
The 1964 truck comes with a funnel to put water inside the tank. The 1975, 1976 & 1987 trucks come with three barrels.
1988, 1991, 1992 trucks carry one car each. 1997, 2003 carry two cars. 1998, 2001 carry a car and a motorcycle. 2004 carries two motorcycles. 1995, 2006 carry a helicopter. 1999 carries a space shuttle (a great accessory!). 2002 carries a bi-plane. The 2005 fire truck comes with a rescue vehicle.
The ladders are great too. 1970-71, 1986, 1989, 1994, 1996, 2000 & 2005 toys come with ladders.
Other Special Features
The 1964 & 1965 Tanker Truck could be filled with water and drained by the attached hose.
The 1966 ship has propellers, anchors and a flag.
Every Hess toy has light up features but the 1989 fire truck is the first toy with sound, sirens in this case. Most toys since then feature sounds as well.
Most of the oil trucks come with rubber hoses.
Friction-powered accessory vehicles come with the 1988, 1991 toys. Friction-powered accessory vehicles with battery-powered lights come with the 1992, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003-2005 toys. 1995 and 2006 have a battery-powered helicopter. 2002 has a battery-powered bi-plane.
1999 has one of the most intricate extras, a space shuttle with working bay doors, lights and sound and an automatic satellite launching arm. The satellite has lights, sound and retractable solar panels.
Banks
Starting with the 1984 Hess toy, a few toys have included built-in coin slot banks. The toys with banks include the 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 & 1989. It’s a cool feature for children. Too bad they haven’t used this feature more often.
Specials
Occasionally, Hess creates special toys that are not offered for sale to the public. These toys have been produced to commemorate special events or new products. Very few of these trucks are produced so their value is high. A few are listed below.
In 1969, a special tanker truck was given as a gift to AMERADA HESS employees; only 10,000 produced. It was produced to celebrate the merger of Hess Oil and Chemical with Amerada Petroleum. The truck was mailed to the home of each and every Amerada Hess employee as a holiday gift.
In 1993, a special limited-edition (only 10,000 produced) tanker truck was distributed to commercial customers to commemorate that introduction of a new improved its diesel fuel.
In 1995, a special limited-edition (only 600 produced) Chrome Truck and Helicopter was produced.
In 2002, Hess created a truck which was given away at a stockholder meeting.
Most recently, in 2006, Hess created a truck which was given to New York Stock Exchange employees to commemorate the company’s name change from Amerada Hess Corporation to Hess Corporation.
Minis
Hess started producing miniature versions of some of their regular-sized toys. The first issue was sold in 1998; with only 225,000 toys produced, it’s the rarest of the miniature toys. I like them because they take up less space, come with battery-powered lights & motorized functions, a display stand, great display boxes, batteries and a great price of around $6-7. Not much collectibles value yet, except for the 1998.
The Jets Football Team
As an interesting side topic, The Jets football team colors match that of Hess gas stations. In 1960, the Jets began playing as the New York Titans, a charter member of the AFL. Due to low ticket sales, the Titans were ready to declare bankruptcy.
But, he team was saved by a group headed by MCA head Sonny Werblin and Leon Hess, who bought the team on March 15, 1963. Soon after, the team was renamed the New York Jets because of its planned relocation to the New York Mets’ Shea Stadium. Shea Stadium is so close to LaGuardia Airport that the sound of jets was a common sound heard during games played there. The team’s colors were also changed from blue and gold to green and white, which also were the colors of Hess’s gasoline stations.
Later, Leon Hess bought out his partners, and had sole ownership until his death. His estate sold the team to Johnson & Johnson heir Robert Wood Johnson IV in 2000.
Purchase & Storage
Upon purchase of a new or old Hess toys, check out the condition of the box (no writing on it) and the inserts. Make sure the toy has no cracks or breaks. Test the batteries out as soon as you can. Make sure all of the functions work properly. Do NOT leave the batteries inside the toy because they can leak & corrode the leads.
I suggest storing the toy and box inside an acid-free bag so as not to allow the box to deteriorate from the bag or air. Air-tight plastic containers might work as well. And store in cool, dry & dark areas as hot, cold and moisture can damage them. Also, dark because light can discolor the box and plastic.
If for children to play with, don’t worry too much about storage. Let them have fun with the toy. If you want a collectible, buy two or more and let the children play with the one toy and store the others.
Where to Buy
There are hundreds of websites that sell past and new Hess toys. I wouldn’t recommend most sites and none in particular because most sites are VASTLY over-priced. The best prices are found on auctions sites, especially eBay. Now, you need to be very careful and thorough in your searches. As usual, be sure to choose sellers with good feedback (98-99% positive feedback), a fair return policy, quality shipping options and good feedback comments (read them). Read the descriptions thoroughly and ask questions if you have any. You should ask a few questions, especially toys before the 1990s because many toys are reissues of previous toys with some minor but specific differences. These can oftentimes confuse buyers and sellers so ASK QUESTIONS first! And be sure the seller has a return policy because errors might be made.
Check the condition of the toy, battery compartment (in case of battery acid corrosion of the metal leads), the box and inserts too.
List of Toys (Year Released, Model, Original Retail Price, Quantity Produced)
Regular-Sized Toys (see photos #2-5)
1964 & 1965 Tanker Truck – $1.29, 150,000
Made in Hong Kong by the Marx Toy Company.
1965 was a reissue with no changes. 1966 Tanker Ship – $1.39, 150,000
Made in the US by Marx Toy Company. There was an optional stand as well. 1967 Tanker Truck – $1.39, 300,000
This is the only other US made toy. Made by Marx Toys. Red velvet lined box bottom. 1968-1969 Amerada Hess Tanker Truck – $1.49, 250,000
Made in Hong Kong by Marx Toys. Reissue of 1967. 1970-1971 Fire Truck – $1.69, 300,000
The last of the Marx toys. In 1971, some of the toys came in a rare Seasons Greetings box. 1972-1974 Tanker Truck – $1.79 (1972), $1.89 (1974), 400,000
The trailer feet were round on these years and square in ’68 & ’69. Box flap indicates “Amerada Hess Corporation”. These are reissues of the 1968. 1973 There was no issue. 1975 Box Trailer Truck – $1.99, 500,000 1976 Box Trailer Truck – $1.49, 500,000 1977 Fuel Oil Tanker – $2.39, 600,000 1978-1979 Fuel Oil Tanker – $2.49, 1980-1981 Training Van – $3.29, 600,000 1982-1983 First HESS Truck – $4.69, 1,000,000 1984 Tanker Truck with Bank – $4.99, 1,000,000 1985 First HESS Truck Bank- $3.99, 500,000 1986 Fire Truck Bank – $5.49, 1,000,000 1987 18 Wheeler Bank – $5.99, 1,000,000 1988 Truck and Racer – $6.95, 1,000,000 1989 Fire Truck Bank – $8.99, 1,000,000 1990 Tanker Truck – $9.99, 1,100,000 1991 Truck and Racecar – $10.99, 1,300,000 1992 18 Wheeler and Racecar – $11.99 1,300,000 1993 Patrol Car – $11.99, 1,500,000 1994 Rescue Truck – $14.95, 2,000,000 1995 Truck and Helicopter – $15.99, 1,800,000 1996 Emergency Truck – $15.99, 1,800,000 1997 Truck and Racers – $15.99 1,600,000 1998 Recreation Van – $16.99, 1,600,000 1999 Flatbed Truck with Space Shuttle and Satellite – $19.99, 1,600,000 2000 Fire Truck – $18.99, 1,600,000 2001 Helicopter with Motorcycle and Cruiser – $19.99, 1,600,000 2002 Truck and Airplane – $19.99, 1,600,000 2003 Truck – $19.99, 1,600,000 2004 Truck SUV – $19.99, 1,600,000 2005 Fire Truck and Rescue Vehicle – $19.99, 1,600,000 2006 Truck & Helicopter – $21.99, 1,600,000
Miniature-Sized Toys (see photos #6)
1998 Tanker Truck – $3.99, 225,000 1999 Fire Truck – $4.99, 850,000 2000 First Truck – $4.99, 850,000 2001 MINI Racer Transport – $4.99, 850,000 2002 Voyager Ship – $5.99, 850,000 2003 Patrol Car – $5.99, 850,000 2004 Toy Tanker Truck – $5.99, 850,000 2005 Helicopter – $5.99, 850,000 2006 Tractor Trailer Truck and Race Car – $6.99, 1,000,000
