You know the jingle. Even if you haven't seen the commercial in a decade, that "The Hess Truck’s back and it’s better than ever!" melody is probably hard-wired into your brain. It’s a strange phenomenon when you actually stop to think about it. Most gas station toys end up in a landfill or the bottom of a dusty toy box by New Year’s Day. But Hess? That’s different. People actually plan their entire holiday budget around the latest release.
It started back in 1964. Leon Hess, the guy who founded the Hess Oil and Chemical Corporation, wanted a way to thank his customers. He didn't want some cheap plastic trinket that would break in five minutes. He wanted something substantial. Something with working lights. Something that felt like a real piece of machinery.
The result was the 1964 Hess B-Mack Tanker. It sold for $1.29. Batteries included. That last part was a huge deal back then, and honestly, it still feels like a luxury today when most toy companies make you hunt for a screwdriver and four AAs.
The Early Days of Hess Trucks Year by Year
If you look at the Hess trucks year by year timeline, the first decade was pretty straightforward. They were trucks. Usually tankers. They were green, white, and yellow—the corporate colors. You had the 1966 Tanker Ship (the "Voyager") which was a massive departure from the road vehicles, and then the 1970 Fire Truck, which is basically the holy grail for a lot of serious collectors today.
The 1970 Fire Truck was actually based on the equipment used at the Hess refineries. It had a detachable ladder and working lights. It felt heavy. It felt real. That’s the secret sauce that kept people coming back. It wasn't just a toy; it was a miniature version of a working world.
Then things got a little more creative.
In 1975, we got the Box Trailer. This is where the "truck inside a truck" concept started to take root, though it wouldn't be perfected for a while. By the 1980s, the design team realized they couldn't just do tankers every year. People would get bored. So they gave us the 1980 Training Van. It looked like something a specialized technician would drive. It had a side door that opened and a pop-up sign. It was quirky, and it showed that the brand was willing to experiment.
When the "Plus One" Strategy Changed Everything
The real shift happened in 1988. That was the year of the Truck and Trailer with a small racer inside. Suddenly, you weren't just getting one vehicle; you were getting a set.
This changed the hobby forever.
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Collectors started obsessing over the "extras." One year it would be a helicopter on the back of a flatbed. The next, a motorcycle tucked inside a van. In 1993, they released the Patrol Car. It was sleek. It had sirens. It had a whopping 42 lights. For a kid in the early 90s, that was basically the peak of technology.
The 90s Boom and the Chrome Era
The 1990s were probably the golden age for the "more is more" philosophy. Look at the 1995 Truck and Helicopter. The helicopter had rotating blades and lights. It felt like a massive value for the price point.
Then came the 1998 RV with Motorbike and Cruiser. This one is a personal favorite for many because it’s just so... busy. There’s so much going on. You have an RV that opens up, a friction-powered motorcycle, and a little cruiser car. It was the ultimate "bang for your buck" gift.
But we have to talk about the 2000s, specifically the 2002 Truck and Airplane. This was a turning point. The airplane had motorized propellers. The truck had a hidden ramp. It was sophisticated. It showed that Hess was paying attention to what kids actually wanted to do with toys—they wanted action, not just something to sit on a shelf.
What Most People Get Wrong About Collecting
Most casual fans think every old Hess truck is worth a fortune.
I hate to break it to you, but they aren't.
Because Hess produced so many of these—literally millions in some years—the market is flooded with the common ones from the 80s and 90s. If you have a 1992 Truck and Racer sitting in your attic, it’s probably worth about twenty bucks. Maybe thirty if the box is pristine and the battery compartment hasn't corroded into a crusty green mess.
The real value lies in the "Short Run" years or the "First Edition" items from the 60s. A 1964 Tanker in a "Box Top" box? That’s a mortgage payment. A 1970 Fire Truck with the original "Red Cross" stickers? That’s a serious investment.
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Also, condition is everything.
Collectors are brutal. If the white plastic has turned slightly yellow from being in a sunlit room, the value drops by 50%. If the decals are peeling? Forget it. You’ve basically got a paperweight.
The Modern Era: Space Shuttles and Ambulances
In the last decade, Hess has really leaned into the "Emergency" and "Specialty" themes. We’ve seen the 2011 Truck and Race Car, which was cool, but then 2014 hit.
2014 was the 50th Anniversary. They released a heavy-duty truck with a smaller scout vehicle. It was a throwback to the original colors but with modern LED technology. It was a massive hit.
Then they went to space.
The 2021 Cargo Plane and Jet was a bit of a curveball. It was huge. It had foldable wings. It had sounds that actually mimicked a jet engine. It felt like the brand was finally acknowledging that "truck" is a loose term these days. Anything that carries something else is fair game.
And we can't ignore the 2023 Police Truck and Cruiser. It was heavy on the chrome and featured multiple sirens. It’s a return to the classic "heavy" feel that Leon Hess insisted on back in the 60s.
Why Do We Still Care?
Honestly, it’s nostalgia.
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It’s the smell of the plastic when you open the box on Christmas morning. It’s the tradition of going to the Hess station (which are mostly Speedways now, though the trucks are still sold online) to pick up the annual release. It’s a multi-generational thing. Grandfathers buy them for grandsons because their fathers bought them for them.
It’s one of the few holiday traditions that hasn't been completely ruined by corporate cynicism. Sure, it’s a marketing tool for a massive company, but the quality has remained remarkably consistent. They don't feel like "cheap" toys. They feel like they were made by people who actually like trucks.
The Small Details That Matter
- The Lights: Every year, the number of lights seems to go up. We're now seeing vehicles with over 50 individual LEDs.
- The Sounds: They’ve moved away from simple "beeps" to actual engine idles, sirens, and backup alarms.
- The Batteries: They still include them. Every. Single. Time. It sounds small, but it’s a hallmark of the brand.
How to Start a Collection Today Without Going Broke
If you’re looking to get into Hess trucks year by year collecting, don't start with the 60s. You'll spend thousands of dollars and probably get scammed by a reproduction.
Start with the "Modern Classics" from the early 2000s. You can find them at flea markets, estate sales, and eBay for very reasonable prices—often under $40. Look for "New in Box" (NIB) or "Mint in Box" (MIB) listings.
Most importantly, check the battery compartment. If a seller won't show you a photo of the battery terminals, walk away. Battery acid is the number one killer of Hess trucks. Once those terminals are corroded, the lights won't work, and the toy loses almost all its value to a collector.
The Future of the Fleet
What's next? Probably more electrification. We've already seen "hybrid" looking designs and more sleek, aerodynamic models. But as long as they keep the green and white color scheme and that heavy-duty feel, people will keep buying them.
It’s a weird hobby, sure. But in a world where everything is digital and fleeting, there’s something nice about a big, heavy plastic truck that lights up and makes noise.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors:
- Audit Your Attic: If you find old trucks, remove the batteries immediately. Even "leak-proof" batteries can fail over twenty years. Use a Q-tip with a tiny bit of white vinegar to clean any existing corrosion on the contact points.
- Verify the Year: Check the bottom of the chassis. Hess usually stamps the year right into the plastic, but sometimes the "Model Year" differs from the "Release Year" on certain transition models.
- Storage Matters: Store your boxes in a climate-controlled environment. Humidity is the enemy of cardboard. Use acid-free tissue paper if you're wrapping the trucks outside of their original plastic inserts to prevent the white plastic from "yellowing" over time.
- Join the Community: Websites like Ray’s Hess Toy Trucks or the various Facebook collector groups are invaluable for spotting fakes and getting fair market valuations before you buy or sell.
The history of these vehicles is a history of American toy manufacturing. From the simple tankers of the 60s to the multi-vehicle jet sets of today, they remain a weirdly consistent part of the holiday landscape. Whether you’re a serious investor or just someone who likes the lights, there’s always a place for one more truck on the shelf.