Hess Limited Edition and Special Release Series

The Hess Toy Truck tradition is famous for its annual holiday releases, but a separate category of Limited Edition and Surprise Release toys exists that is highly valued by serious collectors due to extreme rarity, corporate exclusivity, or being a special commemorative piece.

The formal “Collector’s Edition” series began in 2014, while several ultra-rare, unannounced variants were created in earlier decades as corporate gifts.

Collector's Edition Series (Sold to the Public)

The Collector’s Edition line consists of highly detailed, limited-production models sold directly to the public, usually to commemorate a significant company or toy anniversary.

Year	Model	Significance & Key Features	Collectible Value (MIB)
2014	50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Tanker	The first-ever Collector’s Edition sold to the public. It’s a modernized green tanker truck with over 100 working lights and the first undercarriage lights. It carries a lighted replica of the original 1964 Hess Tanker inside. Individually numbered.	$60 – $150+
2018	Collector’s Edition First Hess Truck	Celebrated the 85th Anniversary of the Hess Corporation’s founding (1933). It is a highly detailed replica of Leon Hess’s original fuel oil truck. Features 31 lights and three vintage-inspired sounds (Ignition/Rev, Drive, Horn).	$90 – $150+
2023	Collector’s Edition Ocean Explorer	Celebrated the 90th Anniversary of Hess Corporation. This 2-in-1 set is only the second full-size boat released. The ship features an elevating helipad, nearly 60 lights, and five different sounds (including foghorn and cruising).	$180 – $300+

Ultra-Rare Corporate & Promotional Releases (Highest Value)

These items were not part of the standard annual holiday release but were instead limited-production variants or corporate gifts, making them the most challenging and valuable pieces for collectors.

Year	Model	Significance & Rarity Detail	Estimated Value (MIB)
1969	Amerada Hess Tanker Truck	Corporate Executive Gift. Released to mark the merger that formed Amerada Hess Corp. Features the name “Amerada Hess” on the side instead of “Hess.” Only 10,000 units produced.	$3,000 – $4,000+
1969	“Woodbridge” Tanker Truck	Packaging Error/Variant. Physically the same as the 1968/69 truck, but the box features the rare “Home Office: Woodbridge, New Jersey” instead of “Perth Amboy.” Rarity relies entirely on the pristine box.	$3,000 – $4,000+
1971	“Season’s Greetings” Fire Truck	Packaging Rarity. The company ran out of colorful boxes and used plain white boxes with an affixed “Season’s Greetings” sticker/tape. Most boxes were discarded, making a complete set extremely rare.	$2,500 – $3,500+
1975	“Made in USA” Barrel Truck	Manufacturing Variant. A handful of the Box Trailer models were manufactured in the USA instead of Hong Kong. Versions with the “Made in USA” marking and specific detailing (like no “Hess” logo on tires) are extremely scarce. Estimated 20–40 units made.	$3,500+
1993	Premium Diesel Tanker	Bulk Customer Gift. A special edition of the 1990 tanker truck given to bulk customers to promote new diesel fuel. Features a decal proclaiming “NEW! PREMIUM DIESEL WITH SUPER DETERGENCY!” on the side. Only 10,000 units produced.	$500 – $1,000
1995	Chrome Truck and Helicopter	Executive Gift/Factory Variant. A chrome-plated version of the 1995 holiday toy. It was given to a small group of employees. Only 600 units produced.	$3,000 – $5,000+
2006	Hess Corp. NYSE Truck	Corporate Event Gift. Distributed exclusively on the NYSE trading floor to mark the company’s name change to “Hess Corp.” Features “HESS CORPORATION” decals and racers with AHC/HES stock symbols. Only 3,000 units produced.	$700 – $1,500+

Disclaimer

Hess®, Hess Toy Truck®, and related trademarks are the sole property of Hess Corporation. We do not claim any ownership rights or affiliation with the Hess Corporation. All historical pricing and collectible valuations are estimates for informational and reference purposes only and do not constitute a guarantee of current market value.