The Hess Truck‘s back and this year it’s got hot rods!
In 1964, Leon Hess first began offering a Holiday Toy Truck (not always a truck, specifically) as an affordable, high-quality gift option for families visiting his gas stations. The Hess Toy Truck quickly caught on and became an East Coast tradition that eventually hit the road to win fans in families from coast to coast. While the Hess gas stations no longer exist, the tradition of the truck lives on and this year it’s kicking into high gear.
The Hess Flatbed Truck with Hot Rods is rolling into action with tons of play value and some cool design elements that borrow from the past to pay tribute to the legacy of Leon Hess.
At a glance, the elongated twin-axle Flatbed Truck looks modern, but upon closer inspection, the cab is inspired by a second-hand fuel truck that Hess purchased when he started his company back in 1933. The free-wheeling vehicle for kids ages 3 and up is decked out in chrome accents and packed with LED lighting. The illuminated rear license plate reads “HESS 2022.”
When it comes to play features, the Flatbed Truck includes many of the elements that families have come to expect from the Hess Toy Truck releases each year. It features real rubber tires, a working rear ramp that activates sounds, and the cab includes four buttons that kids can press to activate flashing lights, engine sounds, and more.
Perhaps the coolest part of this year’s set is the pair of Hot Rods that come in the seasonally appropriate (and very festive) red and green. These are quintessential hot rods akin to the “little deuce coupe” that The Beach Boys once sang about.
The curved lines of their bodies give way to open engine compartments that bare chromed-out V-8s with blowers on top and side exhaust pipes that sweep toward flame graphics on the sides of each car. With racing stripes down the top, you know that these Hot Rods are built for speed, which kids can tap into thanks to a pull-back friction motor in each car. They can even pop a wheelie if you tilt them while pulling ’em back and letting ’em go!
Like the Flatbed Truck, the Hot Rods include bright LED lights for added flair.
When the holiday shopping season gets going, you always hear that old saying: “Don’t forget the batteries!” Well, gift-givers won’t have to worry about that with this year’s Hess Toy Truck, as this set comes with Energizer batteries included, so kids can play right out of the box!
Is it too early for Christmas music? There’s a song by The Brian Setzer Orchestra called “Santa Drives a Hot Rod,” and I’m listening to it right now. Vroom, vroom!
P.S. Could there be a hint about the future hidden in plain sight? Next year marks 90 years of the Hess Corp. and the bottom of the box for this year’s Holiday Toy Truck features a tantalizing clue to what will be hitting the road next fall. What is it? You’ll have to get your own to find out!
