LEGO -- Christmas Wreath -- 40743 -- December 30, 2025

Gift from the grandchildren, Christmas, 2025, for very, very low price -- it is a seasonal item. I think it was released in 2024; will be retired next year (?). Christmas wreath with candle. 

 

NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Bought at local Lego store, Euless, TX, Christmas, 2025, for $30. Listed for $25 if one can find it. Retired, I believe, or retiring soon and out of stock at Lego. 

Speed Champions series.

 

Hess

 Not Lego but something of the same ilk. 

I bought this August, 2025. I'm sure it's a very, very old item no longer made by Hess, but still available through Amazon for a very affordable price. 

I should have had it sent directly to Judah and Levi but I guess I thought they already had too many cars and trucks! Regardless, I hope to get this to them for this Christmas or next.

Of the many oil companies operating out of North Dakota when I was growing up, Hess was the one that was "closest" to North Dakota. It began operating as Amerada Hess with headquarters in New York City. 

The mentor for the high school newspaper which I edited, Ms Jo Ashmore, was married to an engineer who worked for Amerada Hess. She had three daughters: Nancy, Susan, and Mary. Susan was two years younger than I, and was the photographer for the newspaper. We spent a lot of time together, and I particularly enjoyed working with her in the dark room developing her photos. LOL.

Over time Amerada Hess changed its name simply to Hess.

The company "build" the city of Tioga, ND, about forty miles to the east of Williston, including the small hospital, and was probably the source of 90% of the income for that small town.

Tioga was truly a "company town."

Hess made one of the largest oil discoveries ever in Guyana, South American, in the early 2020s, and was acquired by Chevron (CVX) shortly after that. I owned stock in Texaco Oil Company back in the 1990s. Texaco was bought by Chevron, and initially known as ChevronTexaco before shortening its name simply to Chevron.

Chevron and Exxon (which acquired Mobil about the same time Chevron acquired Texaco) were the two largest and most prominent oil companies in the US during my adult years as an investor. I bought shares of XOM (Exxon) years ago for Kiri's portfolio. 

I never bought XOM for my personal portfolio but ended up with a large amount of CVX which will go to the five grandchildren.

Volkswagen -- T2 Camper Van -- Something Really Special -- Lego #10279 -- July 15, 2025

Lego 10269 Volkswagen T2 Camper Van was retired at the end of 2022. It was released in August, 2021, and, according to Brick Fanatics, had a relatively short production run of just over a year.

I'm not sure how I got one of these in 2025 -- I ordered it from Amazon so maybe had some in stock and had raised the price. I paid about $200 for this brand new Lego set. 

Based on number of pieces in the set, one estimates the original price of around $220.

From Lego:

My photos:

Sherlock Holmes: Book Nook -- June 3, 2025

Link here.

$129.99.

Ordered direct from Lego.

Emirates Fly Better New Zealand AC 75 Boat

 

1969 Camaro Z28 -- Acquired August 2, 2024

Used, built. Only missing the original box.

$120 but 15% off as a promotional offer.

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Will Likely Retire in Mid-2024