Hess Toy Trucks (No. 11)
First introduced by Hess gas stations in 1964 as an affordable, high-quality holiday toy with working lights and batteries included, Hess Trucks quickly evolved into a beloved American holiday tradition. For decades, fathers and grandfathers lined up at gas stations every November to buy the newest model, often purchasing multiple copies so they could keep at least one pristine, unopened, and sealed in its original box as a guaranteed future investment.
This exact hoarding behavior is precisely why 1980s and 1990s Hess Trucks are practically worthless today. Because almost every single collector kept their trucks in immaculate, mint-in-box condition, there is absolutely no scarcity on the secondary market. The supply of unopened trucks vastly outweighs the dwindling number of active collectors. When adjusted for decades of inflation, standard vintage Hess Trucks from the late 20th century typically sell online for just $10 to $15—which means they are actually worth less today than their original retail purchase price.