Wienermobile

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Wienermobile
Oscar Mayer Frankmobile.jpg
Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, seen in its "All Beef Beef Frank Frankmobile" variation, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2023

A fleet of brandmobiles shaped like a hot dog on a bun, called "Wienermobile", are used to promote and advertise Oscar Mayer products in the United States. The first Wienermobile was created by Oscar Mayer's nephew, Carl G. Mayer, in 1936. [1] For a brief time in 2023, it was renamed the "Frankmobile" but due to popular demand, it was changed back to "Wienermobile." [2]

Contents

History

The 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at the 2005 North American International Auto Show Wienermobile-NAIAS-2005.jpg
The 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at the 2005 North American International Auto Show
An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 2022 Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.jpg
An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Royal Oak, Michigan, in 2022

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has evolved from Carl Mayer's original 1936 vehicle [1] to the vehicles seen on the road today. Although that first Wienermobile was scrapped for metal in the 1940s to aid the US Army during World War II, [3] Oscar Mayer and the Gerstenslager Company created several new vehicles using a Dodge chassis or a Willys Jeep chassis in the 1950s.[ citation needed ] The 1952 model is on display at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. These Wienermobiles were piloted by "Little Oscar" (portrayed by George Molchan) who would visit stores, schools, orphanages, and children's hospitals and participate in parades and festivals. [4] Noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens is also credited with a "new look" 1950s design, taking advantages of the possibilities of modern molded fiberglass construction [5] "to put the wiener in the bun" in 1958. [6]

In 1969, new Wienermobiles were built on a Chevrolet motor home chassis and featured Ford Thunderbird taillights. The 1969 vehicle was the first Wienermobile to travel outside the United States.[ citation needed ]

In 1976, Plastic Products, Inc., built a fiberglass and styrofoam model, again on a Chevrolet motor home chassis.[ citation needed ]

In 1988, Oscar Mayer had a fleet of six Wienermobiles using converted Chevrolet van chassis.[ citation needed ]

In 1995, a new version increased the size of the Wienermobile to a length of 27 feet (8.2 m) and a height of 11 feet (3.4 m). [7] This version also included the upgraded large parallelogram windows which could now open, as designed by Sheldon Theis.[ citation needed ]

In 2004, the Wienermobile included a voice-activated GPS navigation device, an audio center with a wireless microphone, a horn that plays the Wiener Jingle (in 21 different genres from Cajun to Rap to Bossa Nova), according to American Eats,[ clarification needed ] and sports fourth generation Pontiac Firebird taillights.[ citation needed ]

Following mechanical problems with the Isuzu Elf, Oscar Mayer decided to adopt a larger chassis to accommodate an increase in the size of the signature wiener running through the middle. While the Wienermobile was not as long as the 1995 version, it was considerably wider and taller. Craftsmen Industries went through numerous overhauls of the truck including a flipped axle and a leveling kit. This version held a record for numerous suspension problems, most leading to the chassis not being able to hold the large weight of the Oscar Mayer Wiener.[ citation needed ]

In 2004, Oscar Mayer announced a contest whereby customers could win the right to use the Wienermobile for a day. Within a month, the contest had generated over 15,000 entries.[ citation needed ]

In June 2017, the company introduced several new hot-dog-themed vehicles, including the WienerCycle, WienerRover, and WienerDrone. [8]

In May 2023, Oscar Mayer announced that it was renaming the Wienermobile to the Frankmobile, to promote a new recipe for its all-beef franks. It was suggested that the name change would not be permanent. [9] [10] The name was changed back in September 2023. [11]

YearManufacturer/BuilderChassisEngine
1936 General Body Company  Chicago, Illinois Purpose-built chassisN/A
1952 Gerstenslager  Wooster, Ohio Dodge chassisN/A
1958 Brooks Stevens Willys Jeep chassisN/A
1969 Oscar Mayer  Madison, Wisconsin Chevrolet chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillightsV6 engine
1975 Plastics Products  Milwaukee, Wisconsin fibreglass/styrofoam replica of 1969V6 engine
1988 Stevens Automotive Corporation  Milwaukee, Wisconsin Chevrolet van chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillightsV6 engine
1995 Harry Bentley Bradley for Carlin Manufacturing  Fresno, California Purpose-built chassis with Pontiac Grand Am headlights, Pontiac Trans Am taillightsN/A
2000 Craftsmen Industries  St. Charles, Missouri GMC W-series chassis5700 Vortec V8
2001 Craftsmen Industries - San Antonio, Texas RAM 1500-series chassis, flipped axle5.2L Magnum V8
2004 Prototype Source  Santa Barbara, California GMC W-series chassis with Pontiac Firebird taillights6.0L 300–6000 Vortec V8
2008 ("mini" version) Prototype Source  Santa Barbara, California MINI Cooper S Hardtop 1.6L Supercharged I-4

Source: Oscar Mayer [12]

Wienermobile drivers

Six Wienermobiles operate throughout the United States. [13] [14] [15]

The driver of a Wienermobile is called The Hotdogger. The Hotdogger job is to "meat" and greet people around the country. [16] The duties of a Hotdogger include:

"...sharing photos and videos on social media, answering questions about the brand and the vehicle (the most frequently asked question is if there’s a bathroom in the back, to which they respond: 'No, it's not a Weenie-bago'), and distributing swag." [13]

Only college seniors who are about to graduate are eligible to be Hotdoggers. Applicants should be getting their BA or BS, preferably in public relations, journalism, communications, advertising, or marketing. [17] A Hotdogger's assignment is for only one year. Recruiting for each year's new Hotdogger cadre involves current Hotdoggers and Oscar Mayer recruiters visiting college campuses across the country. In 2018, 7,000 people applied to be Hotdoggers. As each Wienermobile carries two Hotdoggers, only 12 Hotdoggers are selected each year. [13] Notable Hotdoggers include former US House Speaker Paul Ryan. [18]

Models

Toys and scale replicas of the Wienermobile have been made over the years, with Hot Wheels issuing die-cast versions of the vehicle.[ citation needed ]

Notable incidents

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2006 Weinermobile yummy.jpg
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2006

In June 2007, a Wienermobile with the Wisconsin license plate of YUMMY made headlines after being stopped by an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer for having an allegedly stolen license plate. Officer K. Lankow had observed the Wienermobile slowing traffic and checked the license plate to determine if the vehicle was street legal. The license plate came back as being stolen out of Columbia, Missouri, [19] so the officer stopped the Wienermobile and detained the driver. Oscar Mayer had not notified police that they had obtained a duplicate replacement plate after the previous one was stolen, and that it should be considered stolen only if not on a Wienermobile. The Wienermobile was released soon after the error was discovered. [20] [21] [22]

On July 17, 2009, a Wienermobile on a cul-de-sac in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, was attempting to turn around in a residential driveway. The driver, thinking the vehicle was in reverse, accelerated forward, lodging the Wienermobile under a house and destroying the house's deck. [23]

On January 26, 2020, a Wienermobile was pulled over by a Waukesha, Wisconsin, sheriff's deputy for violating the Move Over Law, which requires motorists to switch lanes to pass an emergency vehicle with its warning lights on. The driver was issued a warning. [24]

In February 2023, during the Super Bowl LVII weekend, an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Las Vegas had its catalytic converter stolen. [25] PETA offered to pay for the replacement part and maintenance for one year if Oscar Mayer converted the vehicle to a vegan hot dog mobile. [26]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot dog</span> Sausage in a bun

A hot dog is a dish consisting of a grilled, steamed, or boiled sausage served in the slit of a partially sliced bun. The term hot dog can refer to the sausage itself. The sausage used is a wiener or a frankfurter. The names of these sausages commonly refer to their assembled dish. Hot dog preparation and condiments vary worldwide. Typical condiments include mustard, ketchup, relish, onions in tomato sauce, and cheese sauce. Other toppings include sauerkraut, diced onions, jalapeños, chili, grated cheese, coleslaw, bacon and olives. Hot dog variants include the corn dog and pigs in a blanket. The hot dog's cultural traditions include the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest and the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catalytic converter</span> Exhaust emission control device

A catalytic converter is an exhaust emission control device which converts toxic gases and pollutants in exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine into less-toxic pollutants by catalyzing a redox reaction. Catalytic converters are usually used with internal combustion engines fueled by gasoline or diesel, including lean-burn engines, and sometimes on kerosene heaters and stoves.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manual transmission</span> Motor vehicle manual gearbox; stick shift

A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission, or stick shift, is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission system, where gear changes require the driver to manually select the gears by operating a gear stick and clutch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscar Mayer</span> American meat production company

Oscar Mayer is an American meat and cold cut producer known for its hot dogs, bologna, bacon, ham, and Lunchables products. The company is a subsidiary of the Kraft Heinz Company and based in Chicago, Illinois.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Molchan</span> American spokesman

George A. Molchan was an American spokesperson, most famous for his work as Little Oscar for the Oscar Mayer meat company.

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References

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