Okay I promised this a while ago but have been to busy until
now for this undertaking. I have been documenting my Hess Truck collection for a series of blogs I publish on another toy collectors site. I will be
documenting these as three installments and would like to share these with you. For more complete information on these go to www.gohess.com . Their online Hess Truck archive is the best I have seen. As previous visitors will notice, I
have made some corrections of dates and order of pictures
All of these vehicles have working lights and a lot of them have sounds also.
This is a 1981 Hess Training Van, one of the more popular ones. An MIB version usually go's for about $250.00 on Ebay.
1982/1983 was a 1938 fuel tanker. Hess Oil's first tank truck. This has a retractable hose under the tank.
Here is the 1984 Tank Truck with hose.
This is a 1987 T/T with sliding doors and three oil drums. please note this box van has a small bank vault type of wheel mounted on the rear door for locking the bank compartment.
This one is a total enigma to me. I picked this up on Ebay because I have never seen a yellow Hess truck before. Extensive research has failed to turn up any documentation and I have been told that Hess experts say there never was one but here it is. I have only heard of one more like this from a fellow collector. Now I would stake my reputation that this is not a repaint, nor has it yellowed over the years like a lot of them do. This piece has been cast in yellow plastic. The color separation from the chrome plating and green stripes and lettering is no less then perfect. Maybe a factory prototype or test run I dont know.
I have made a very stupid error describing this truck. 
I have neglected a basic rule of checking authenticity which I must fess up to.
The first time i looked at the truck i neglected to look in the rear door
which is missing. 
There is obvious overspray visible which proves this vehicle
was cast in white plastic and then painted. 
However given the quality of the
paint job as compared to all the other Taylor Made Trucks in my collection I do feel this was done at the factory and this vehicle can be classified as either
a factory prototype or a preproduction sample. You be the judge! I apologize for misleading anyone by giving the wrong information. I have staked my
reputation on the origin of this vehicle and now must eat crow so please pass the salt!
Okay now here is an update on this vehicle so don't pass the salt quite yet. As you can see by the following pictures there is clear evidence of overspray. I sent and inquiry to the Hess Retail Department about this vehicle. Their opinion is that it is quite possibly a piece that has been color corrected for an ad campaign. These pictures piqued their curiosity and they said they would be kind enough to follow up with more research with their ad agency and manufacturer. More information on this vehicle will be posted when available.
The dark spots are my fault.
I do have a replacement windscreen and grille in my parts box. but as you can see the front of the cab roof is damaged.
1989 is one variation of their various fire trucks with an extending ladder and stabilizer.
1990 brought us a white tanker with green lettering. It also has a newer cab design then the earlier green ones.
1991's entry was a race car hauler with a nice Lamborghini Countach on the back.
1992 brought us a Box trailer with a nice porsche with pullback action.
1993 was the year they issued thier first automobile. A police cruiser in Hess livery.
1994 saw the company produce an emergency truck with extending ladder.
Here we have the 1995 flatbed with helicopter. The helicopter has operating lights and both rotors spin.
for 1996 we have an emergency rescue vehicle with operating lights/sound and extending ladder.
1997 brought us a T/T combination with two friction drive cars. The green loading ramp you see in the trailer runs the full length and slides out the back.
Here is the 1998 Hess recreational van. opening side doors on both side hodling a motorcycle and the rear compartment with a dune buggy. this also has a loading ramp.
this 1999 is a fav of mine. A flatbed with a space shuttle. the shuttle doors open to launch a satellite and it all flashes lights.
Another fire truck for the millenium. This one a tractor trailer with rotating operating ladder, removable side ladders anda seat for the rear tiller. Again with lights and sound.
2001 saw a large helicopter also with a motorcycle and a Hummer in the rear compartment. Again with lights, sounds and rotating rotors.
My next and final installment will include 2002-2008 plus the minis
All of these vehicles have working lights and a lot of them have sounds also.
This is a 1981 Hess Training Van, one of the more popular ones. An MIB version usually go's for about $250.00 on Ebay.
1982/1983 was a 1938 fuel tanker. Hess Oil's first tank truck. This has a retractable hose under the tank.
Here is the 1984 Tank Truck with hose.
This is a 1987 T/T with sliding doors and three oil drums. please note this box van has a small bank vault type of wheel mounted on the rear door for locking the bank compartment.
This one is a total enigma to me. I picked this up on Ebay because I have never seen a yellow Hess truck before. Extensive research has failed to turn up any documentation and I have been told that Hess experts say there never was one but here it is. I have only heard of one more like this from a fellow collector. Now I would stake my reputation that this is not a repaint, nor has it yellowed over the years like a lot of them do. This piece has been cast in yellow plastic. The color separation from the chrome plating and green stripes and lettering is no less then perfect. Maybe a factory prototype or test run I dont know.
I have made a very stupid error describing this truck. I have neglected a basic rule of checking authenticity which I must fess up to.
The first time i looked at the truck i neglected to look in the rear door
which is missing. There is obvious overspray visible which proves this vehicle
was cast in white plastic and then painted. However given the quality of the
paint job as compared to all the other Taylor Made Trucks in my collection I do feel this was done at the factory and this vehicle can be classified as either
a factory prototype or a preproduction sample. You be the judge! I apologize for misleading anyone by giving the wrong information. I have staked my
reputation on the origin of this vehicle and now must eat crow so please pass the salt!
Okay now here is an update on this vehicle so don't pass the salt quite yet. As you can see by the following pictures there is clear evidence of overspray. I sent and inquiry to the Hess Retail Department about this vehicle. Their opinion is that it is quite possibly a piece that has been color corrected for an ad campaign. These pictures piqued their curiosity and they said they would be kind enough to follow up with more research with their ad agency and manufacturer. More information on this vehicle will be posted when available.
The dark spots are my fault.
I do have a replacement windscreen and grille in my parts box. but as you can see the front of the cab roof is damaged.
1989 is one variation of their various fire trucks with an extending ladder and stabilizer.
1990 brought us a white tanker with green lettering. It also has a newer cab design then the earlier green ones.
1991's entry was a race car hauler with a nice Lamborghini Countach on the back.
1992 brought us a Box trailer with a nice porsche with pullback action.
1993 was the year they issued thier first automobile. A police cruiser in Hess livery.
1994 saw the company produce an emergency truck with extending ladder.
Here we have the 1995 flatbed with helicopter. The helicopter has operating lights and both rotors spin.
for 1996 we have an emergency rescue vehicle with operating lights/sound and extending ladder.
1997 brought us a T/T combination with two friction drive cars. The green loading ramp you see in the trailer runs the full length and slides out the back.
Here is the 1998 Hess recreational van. opening side doors on both side hodling a motorcycle and the rear compartment with a dune buggy. this also has a loading ramp.
this 1999 is a fav of mine. A flatbed with a space shuttle. the shuttle doors open to launch a satellite and it all flashes lights.
Another fire truck for the millenium. This one a tractor trailer with rotating operating ladder, removable side ladders anda seat for the rear tiller. Again with lights and sound.
2001 saw a large helicopter also with a motorcycle and a Hummer in the rear compartment. Again with lights, sounds and rotating rotors.
My next and final installment will include 2002-2008 plus the minis
