Fascination over Hess’ toy trucks seemed to hold an ageless appeal at a recent and rare showing of the entire collection.
“The adults are more excited than the kids,” said Mark DiConzo, a Hess Toy Truck Mobile Museum manager.
Hess’ Mobile Museum stopped on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the company’s gas station located at 1358 New Scotland Road in Slingerlands to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its iconic holiday toy trucks. The mobile museum is the first — and possibly only — time a complete collection of toy trucks were showcased for the general public.
“It’s lasted 50 years because its been passed on as a tradition,” said Jamie Westberry, a museum manager.
There were even some longtime collectors that stopped at the museum.
“There was a couple today, it was their 50th wedding anniversary and the gentleman had been collecting the trucks,” Westberry said.
The Mobile Museum also featured activities for children outside of its collection space, which included a Kids’ Zone featuring a holiday card coloring area, prize wheel and toy truck computer games to play.
In honor of its 50th anniversary, Hess Corporation is releasing the first Collector’s Edition Hess Toy Truck — a green tanker truck with chrome detailing, and yellow and red accents — in a commemorative display box. The truck includes more than 100 working lights and a hinged back door to access to the 1964 replica.
The collector’s edition is being sold alongside its traditional holiday toy truck offering.
“They actually listened to fans and collectors on what they wanted, and what a lot of people wanted was a more classic tanker truck,” said Westberry.
The collector’s edition will have a limited production and is being sold exclusively on its website at www.hesstoytruck.com. DiConzo wasn’t aware exactly how many would be made, and said he’s only been told “they will sell out.”
Collectors might want to get familiar with the website, too, because next year it will be the only place trucks can be purchased.
“The trucks will continue, but they will not be sold in stores anymore,” said Westberry. “We’re trying to get people acclimated and get used to buying them online this year, so next year will be an easier transition.”
The reason trucks will not be sold in stores anymore is because next year there will not be any Hess retail locations to sell the toys. Hess Corporation in May agreed to sell its retail business to Marathon Petroleum Corporation for $2.6 billion. Marathon owns and operates Speedway gas stations.
