HESS Toy Trucks Guide

They're NOT Just for Kids!

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.

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I have a 1992 Hess truck that made of uniformly drakish yellow plastic. Every bit of the truck; including interior surfaces never exposed to light and the license plate and undercarriage; is yellow instead of white, as are all parts of the included racer. Why is this? This is not the typical discoloration you see when sun causes fading. This truck is made out of yellow plastic. Is this an error?

Posted on 07/05/2009 at 9:07:07 AM

Found what I wanted. Cost of each tk new Thanks

Posted on 06/13/2009 at 8:06:41 PM

keep ur trucks out of sun light when their faded nothing u can do to fix it

Posted on 06/12/2009 at 6:06:22 PM

I would like a price list for hess toys but cant find one on computer jvprimmar@hotmail.com Jacqueline Primmar

Posted on 06/01/2009 at 12:06:31 PM

does anyone know the value of a 1994 mobil chrome ?

Posted on 05/18/2009 at 9:05:08 PM

can some one please help me. over time three of my hess trucks have turned yellow. what should i do? email skrizzle92@yahoo.com thanks

Posted on 05/02/2009 at 11:05:18 AM

i am selling 1995-99-96-92-98 2000-01-02-03 all in box never been open, how do i find the worth to sell them?

Posted on 04/21/2009 at 8:04:56 PM

Where can I find the price guide?

Posted on 12/15/2008 at 9:12:45 AM

if anyone wants to buy the 2008 truck, I'm selling them on ebay as a pre-order. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=350119014005

Posted on 11/07/2008 at 4:11:09 AM

I am a collector and sell hess trucks vorldwide in nov-jan, so, if you want one and can't get it elsewhere, I can get you one. If you need the current truck, contact me through this site. Don't ask me in comments because I don't check this article often.

Posted on 03/18/2008 at 3:03:48 AM

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