Five Types of Hess Toy Trucks

For almost sixty years, the Hess Corporation has created top-quality toys of their vehicles.

by Rich Watson 

It doesn’t seem likely that toy vehicles used to promote an oil company would be a thing, but it is—and has been for sixty years. 

I should know: I loved Hess toy trucks as a kid. Every time we passed a Hess gas station, it seemed, I’d beg my parents to buy me a toy truck. I remember seeing the TV commercials, the photos in Sears catalogs, and something about these toys made me want them.

Knowing they’re still around today almost makes me want one again!

Hess in brief

The oil and gas company known as the Hess Corporation was a merger of two smaller businesses: 

• The Amerada Corporation was founded in 1919. They came to North America from England. They struggled during the Depression, then recovered after a reorganization. By 1955, sales grew to over $100 million.
• Leon Hess founded Hess Oil and Chemical in the  thirties. In 1966, they acquired ten percent of Amerada. Two years later, they merged.

Among Hess’ acquisitions include the New York Jets football team, in 1963. 

The toy trucks

The Hess toy trucks originated in 1964. They come out during the end-of-year holiday season. They’re no cheap knockoffs, either:

Inspiration images [for new toy trucks] are initially reviewed to hone in on the broad themes that might be considered. Then sketch drawings and feature concepts are reviewed. This is the point in the process where the toys really begin to evolve. Many truck ideas are developed but ultimately the top two or three designs go to the next round, where they can be evaluated they are transformed from drawings to 3D rotating images for functionality and playability. The next step is the handcrafting of models that are used for final design and decoration decisions. Eventually, one new Holiday Hess Truck is chosen.

I can attest to the quality that goes into these toys. The wheels, the doors, the points of articulation, everything is crafted with attention to detail and hold up to multiple uses. Even the head and tail lights work. Did I mention these toys come with their own batteries?

But don’t take my word for it. Here are five examples:

1. 1975 Hess Box Trailer Truck

This is the kind of model I tend to think of when I think of Hess toy trucks: the green, gold and red color scheme, the design of the cab, the wheels. The trailer has sliding doors on either side, and the rear doors open and close. It also comes with three oil barrels. 

The ‘75 actually had four different versions. They included differences in the writing in front of and underneath the trailer—including an intentional misspelling of “corporation” due to lack of space—and minor design variations.

The ‘76 version was similar to this, but also with some variations.

2. 1980 Hess Training Van

This one is designed after the motor home used to train Hess personnel. It has a pop-up TV antenna (but not an actual TV, ha ha ha) and side doors that open and close. It was sold in 1980 but it has the date 1978, in Roman numerals, on the bottom.

 It also has, for the first time, illuminated Hess logos, on both sides. Plus it uses two C batteries instead of one D.

In this commercial you can see not only the toy in use but the actual van upon which it was based. 

3. 1989 Hess Fire Truck Bank

This was similar to the 1986 model, which was red instead of white. It has sound: two different siren settings, in addition to an emergency light setting like that of an actual fire engine. The ladder comes in three sections and swivels.

It also functions as a bank: beneath the ladder there’s a slot to insert coins. You can open the truck in the rear to retrieve the coins.

4. 2002 Hess Truck and Airplane 

The plane included with this model is a biplane. The wings fold inward for easy storage within its box. When you take it out, the wings unfold to their full extension. There’s a pilot within the cockpit of the plane. The back wheel rotates.

It also has lights and sound. A battery allows the propeller to spin and the lights to go on.

As for the truck, it’s an eighteen-wheeler. It has side and top lights in addition to the front and rear ones. It even has lights inside the cab. A ramp in the rear allows the plane to go up and down.

5. 2011 Hess Flatbed Truck and Race Car

The race car has flashing lights and sound. You can also pull back on it to make it go forward on its own. 

When the ramp in the rear of the truck opens and closes, it comes with its own flashing lights and sound to accompany the car loading and unloading. Four buttons on the top of the cab control the sound. It also has side lights to go with the front and rear lights.

The tires have individual suspension, so if you push down on the truck, you can feel the “springs.”

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The 2023 model is a police truck with cruiser.

This is just to give you an example of the variety of Hess toy trucks available. There are also miniature trucks and even plush trucks.

Earlier this year, Chevron acquired Hess, but they announced Hess toy trucks would continue as before. 

@byrichwatson

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