Modernized Design and Tire Branding

The 1977 tanker featured a new, highly detailed cab design with significant chrome accents on the grill and headlights. For the first time in the collection’s history, the toy demonstrated a level of branding consistency that reached all the way down to the rubber: the company name was proudly marked on the tires.

Key Features and Specifications

Model: 18-Wheel Fuel Oil Tanker.
Color Scheme: Classic Hess white tanker trailer and dark green cab.
New Detailing: Features a modernized cab design with an updated chrome grill and headlight accents.
Lights: Equipped with working headlights and taillights.
Tire Branding: This was the first Hess toy to feature the company name marked on the tires (“Amerada Hess” was the corporate name at the time).
Accessories: Includes a removable fuel hose at the rear.

Collectible Rarity and Value: The Switch Variation

While the standard 1977 tanker is a solid collector’s piece, a rare factory error produced a highly valued variation:

Variation Type	Identifying Feature	Collectible Value (MIB, Reference)
Standard Retail	The battery compartment switch on the underside of the tanker is Red.	$100 – $250
Rare Variation	The battery compartment switch on the underside is Black.	Around $375

Original Price and Standard Value:

Metric	Detail
Original Retail Price	Approximately $2.49 (batteries included). N/A
Standard MIB Value	Mint condition, complete-in-box with Red Switch. $100 – $250

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.