1988 Hess Toy Truck and Racer

For the first time in the Hess Toy Truck series, the 1988 edition offered two toys in one package. The Hess Truck and Race Car combination featured a trailer truck carrying a friction-powered racecar on the trailer. Racecar could be removed and played with separately. The toy had working marker lights, headlights, and taillights which were controlled by a switch on the truck. There were two editions that year, 500,000 made in Hong Kong, and 500,000 made in China. Another first for the 1988 Hess Truck was the addition of the year of issue on the truck’s license plate so it was easier for collectors to identify the model year.