Wienermobile
{{Short description|Sausage-shaped promotional vehicles}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Wienermobile
| image = Oscar Mayer Frankmobile.jpg
| caption = Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, seen in its "All Beef Beef Frank Frankmobile" variation, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2023
| production =
| designer =
| related =
| engine =
}}
A fleet of brandmobiles shaped like a hot dog on a bun, called "Wienermobiles", 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. For a brief period in 2023, it was renamed the "Frankmobile", but due to popular demand, the name was changed back to "Wienermobile."{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Hot dog! The Wienermobile is back after short-lived name change |url=https://apnews.com/article/wienermobile-oscar-mayer-frankmobile-5f46ec0d6b35a32ca7d1f4f48075a971 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=AP News |language=en}}
History
File:Wienermobile-NAIAS-2005.jpg]]
File:Oscar_Mayer_Weinermobile.jpg, in 2022]]
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has evolved from Carl Mayer's original 1936 vehicle{{cite web |url=http://www.newtondowntowncarshow.com/OscarMayer_Wienermobile1936.jpg |title=1936 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013103630/http://www.newtondowntowncarshow.com/OscarMayer_Wienermobile1936.jpg |archive-date=2010-10-13 |access-date=2014-02-18}} to the vehicles seen on the road today. Although the first Wienermobile was scrapped for metal in the 1940s to aid the US Army during World War II,{{Cite news|last=Berg|first=Bailey|date=2020-10-20|title=Six Enormous Hot-Dog-Shaped Vehicles Travel America, Spreading Only Brand Awareness and Joy|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/style/inside-oscar-mayer-wienermobile.html|access-date=2021-11-17|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-11-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117185503/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/style/inside-oscar-mayer-wienermobile.html|url-status=live}} Oscar Mayer and the Gerstenslager Company created several new vehicles using a Dodge chassis or a Willys Jeep chassis in the 1950s.{{cn|date=December 2023}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-may-02-me-molchan2-story.html|title=George Molchan, 82; Toured the Nation as 'Little Oscar'|author=Oliver, Myrna|date=2 May 2005|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=16 September 2011}} Noted industrial designer Brooks Stevens is also credited with a "new look" 1950s design, taking advantages of the possibilities of modern molded fiberglass construction[https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/07/19/brooks-stevens-reimagined-wienermobile-future-and-american-classic-born/1778810001/ "Brooks Stevens reimagined the 'Wienermobile of the Future' and an American classic was born"], Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 19, 2019 "to put the wiener in the bun" in 1958.{{cite web | url = http://www.1377731.com/modern | title = The Modern Hygiene Vacuum Cleaner | access-date = 2011-04-12 | archive-date = 2011-06-03 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110603030445/http://www.1377731.com/modern/ }}
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.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
In 1976, Plastic Products, Inc., built a fiberglass and styrofoam model, again on a Chevrolet motor home chassis.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
In 1988, Oscar Mayer had a fleet of six Wienermobiles using converted Chevrolet van chassis.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
In 1995, a new version increased the size of the Wienermobile to a length of {{convert|27|ft}} and a height of {{convert|11|ft}}.{{cite magazine|title=This Car Is One to Relish|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=70|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=May 1995|page=136}} This version also included the upgraded large parallelogram windows which could now open, as designed by Sheldon Theis.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
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,{{clarifyme|date=April 2021}} and sports fourth generation Pontiac Firebird taillights.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
Following mechanical problems with the Isuzu NPR, 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.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
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|date=October 2008}}
In June 2017, the company introduced several new hot dog-themed vehicles, including the WienerCycle, WienerRover, and WienerDrone.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Planes-Trains-and-Wienermobiles-431093183.html|title=Oscar Mayer Adds New Vehicles, Drone to WienerFleet|work=NBC 10 Philadelphia|access-date=2017-06-27|language=en|archive-date=2017-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629213819/http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Planes-Trains-and-Wienermobiles-431093183.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Valinsky |first1=Jordan |title=Oscar Mayer's Wienermobile is getting a new name |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/17/business/oscar-mayer-wienermobile-new-name/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=17 May 2023 |language=en |date=17 May 2023 |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517130205/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/17/business/oscar-mayer-wienermobile-new-name/index.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Oscar Mayer Is Changing the Name of the Wienermobile |url=https://jalopnik.com/oscar-mayer-changes-name-of-wienermobile-to-frankmobile-1850445115 |access-date=17 May 2023 |work=Jalopnik |date=17 May 2023 |language=en |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517183734/https://jalopnik.com/oscar-mayer-changes-name-of-wienermobile-to-frankmobile-1850445115 |url-status=live }} The name was changed back in September 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Hot dog! The Wienermobile is back after short-lived name change |url=https://apnews.com/article/wienermobile-oscar-mayer-frankmobile-5f46ec0d6b35a32ca7d1f4f48075a971 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007234334/https://apnews.com/article/wienermobile-oscar-mayer-frankmobile-5f46ec0d6b35a32ca7d1f4f48075a971 |archive-date=2023-10-07 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}
For Carb Day, prior to the 2025 Indianapolis 500, all six Wienermobiles took part in the inaugural Wienie 500. Slaw Dog won the 2 lap race around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. https://www.jalopnik.com/1867653/oscar-mayer-wienie-500-how-to-watch/
| class="wikitable" |
| valign="top"
! Year ! Manufacturer/Builder ! Chassis ! Engine |
| 1936
| General Body Company – Chicago, Illinois | Purpose-built chassis | N/A |
| 1952
| Gerstenslager – Wooster, Ohio | Dodge chassis | N/A |
| 1958
| Willys Jeep chassis | N/A |
| 1969
| Oscar Mayer – Madison, Wisconsin | Chevrolet chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillights | V6 engine |
| 1975
| Plastics Products – Milwaukee, Wisconsin | fibreglass/styrofoam replica of 1969 | V6 engine |
| 1988
| Stevens Automotive Corporation – Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Chevrolet van chassis with Ford Thunderbird taillights | V6 engine |
| 1995
| Harry Bentley Bradley for Carlin Manufacturing – Fresno, California | Purpose-built chassis with Pontiac Grand Am headlights, Pontiac Trans Am taillights | N/A |
| 2000
| Craftsmen Industries – St. Charles, Missouri | GMC W-series chassis | 5700 Vortec V8 |
| 2001
|Craftsmen Industries - San Antonio, Texas | RAM 1500-series chassis, flipped axle | 5.2L Magnum V8 |
| 2004
| Prototype Source – Santa Barbara, California | GMC W-series chassis with Pontiac Firebird taillights | 6.0L 300–6000 Vortec V8 |
| 2008 ("mini" version)
| Prototype Source – Santa Barbara, California | 1.6L Supercharged I-4 |
Source: Oscar Mayer[https://web.archive.org/web/20090203075502/http://brands.kraftfoods.com/oscarmayer/omm_cbit.htm Cruising in Time (web archive)]
Wienermobile drivers
Six Wienermobiles operate throughout the United States.{{cite news
|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/style/inside-oscar-mayer-wienermobile.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage
|title=Six Enormous Hot-Dog-Shaped Vehicles Travel America, Spreading Only Brand Awareness and Joy
|last=Berg
|first=Bailey
|work=The New York Times
|date=October 20, 2020
|quote=A pandemic cannot stop either marketing or human emotions
|access-date=2020-10-20
|archive-date=2020-11-01
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101003302/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/20/style/inside-oscar-mayer-wienermobile.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage
|url-status=live
|title=Looking For The Wienermobile?
|url=https://www.oscarmayer.com/wienermobile
|website=Oscar Mayer
|access-date=October 20, 2020
|archive-date=October 15, 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015014820/https://www.oscarmayer.com/wienermobile
|url-status=live
The driver of a Wienermobile is called The Hotdogger. The Hotdogger job is to "meat" and greet people around the country.
{{cite news
|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2020/01/06/oscar-mayer-hiring-next-class-hotdoggers-drive-wienermobile/2824362001/action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage
|title=Want to get paid to travel? Oscar Mayer is looking for 12 people to drive the Wienermobile cross country
|last= Noennig
|first=Jordyn
|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
|date=January 6, 2020
|quote =If you've ever dreamed of seeing the country through the windshield of a 27-foot hot dog on wheels, this might be your #dreamjob.
|access-date=2020-10-20}}
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."
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.{{cite web
|title=Be A Hotdogger - Recruitment Brochure for Wienermobile Spokesperson - Hotdogger - Official Job Description Handout.
|url=https://d167y3o4ydtmfg.cloudfront.net/367/studio/assets/v1549000605042_1991586937/OM_hotdogger_WMB_013119.pdf
|website=Oscar Mayer
|access-date=2020-10-20
|archive-date=2020-11-12
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112003158/https://d167y3o4ydtmfg.cloudfront.net/367/studio/assets/v1549000605042_1991586937/OM_hotdogger_WMB_013119.pdf
|url-status=live
}} 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. Notable Hotdoggers include former US House Speaker Paul Ryan.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-21 |title=Hot dog! The Wienermobile is back after short-lived name change |url=https://apnews.com/article/wienermobile-oscar-mayer-frankmobile-5f46ec0d6b35a32ca7d1f4f48075a971 |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=AP News |language=en |archive-date=2023-10-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007234334/https://apnews.com/article/wienermobile-oscar-mayer-frankmobile-5f46ec0d6b35a32ca7d1f4f48075a971 |url-status=live }}
Models
Toys and scale replicas of the Wienermobile have been made over the years, with Hot Wheels issuing die-cast versions of the vehicle.{{fact|date=April 2021}}
Notable incidents
{{stack|Image:weinermobile yummy.jpg Wienermobile in Omaha, Nebraska, in August 2006]]}}
In June 2007, a Wienermobile with the Wisconsin vanity 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,{{cite web|url=http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/06/30/cop-pulls-over-wienermobile-as-stolen/|title=Cop pulls over Wienermobile as stolen!! « Dvorak News Blog|website=www.dvorak.org|access-date=2010-11-16|archive-date=2010-11-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113053947/http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/06/30/cop-pulls-over-wienermobile-as-stolen/|url-status=live}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.myheraldreview.com/police-officer-stops-wienermobile/article_2138633f-9aab-5a20-85a0-24ec220cadf9.html|title=Police officer stops Wienermobile|date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=2023-03-05|archive-date=2023-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305163753/https://www.myheraldreview.com/police-officer-stops-wienermobile/article_2138633f-9aab-5a20-85a0-24ec220cadf9.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=All the Latest Frankfurter Developments|url=http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/all-the-latest-frankfurter-developments/|newspaper=New York Times|date=June 29, 2007|access-date=November 16, 2010|archive-date=November 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127205942/http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/all-the-latest-frankfurter-developments/|url-status=live}}[http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/24758 Cops ketchup with Wienermobile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928152021/http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/24758 |date=2007-09-28 }}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/51050767.html|title=Oscar Mayer Wienermobile loses control, crashes into Racine home|date=July 17, 2009|access-date=December 5, 2012|archive-date=September 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910171132/http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/51050767.html|url-status=live}}
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.{{cite news| last= Koran| first= Mario| url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/28/oscar-mayer-wienermobile-police-stop-wisconsin| title= World's wurst driver: Oscar Mayer Wienermobile gets frank warning from officer| date= 29 January 2020| website= The Guardian| access-date= 2020-01-29| archive-date= 2020-01-29| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200129045212/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jan/28/oscar-mayer-wienermobile-police-stop-wisconsin| url-status= live}}
In February 2023, during the Super Bowl LVII weekend, an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in Las Vegas had its catalytic converter stolen.{{cite web | last=Clayton | first=Abené | title=Wienermobile in a pickle after falling victim to catalytic converter thieves | website=the Guardian | date=February 14, 2023 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/13/weinermobile-in-a-pickle-after-falling-victim-to-catalytic-converter-thieves | access-date=March 3, 2023 | archive-date=February 28, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228232201/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/feb/13/weinermobile-in-a-pickle-after-falling-victim-to-catalytic-converter-thieves | url-status=live }}
In July 2024, a Wienermobile on I-294 near Chicago collided with a passenger sedan and flipped onto its side. No injuries were reported.{{Cite news |date=2024-07-22 |title=Oscar Meyer Wienermobile crashes; flips on its side on busy Chicago-area roadway |url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/oscar-meyer-wienermobile-crashes-flips-on-its-side-on-busy-chicago-area-highway/3497299/ |access-date=2024-07-22 |work=NBC Chicago |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Wienermobile}}
- [https://www.instagram.com/oscarmayer Wienermobile Instagram]
- [https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/2019/07/19/brooks-stevens-reimagined-wienermobile-future-and-american-classic-born/1778810001/ Wienermobile photo retrospective, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]
- [http://www.roadtripamerica.com/wheels/oscar.htm Road Trip America Wienermobile article]
- [http://carpeperdiem.blogspot.com/2006_01_01_carpeperdiem_archive.html Jon Stewart Wienermobile story]
- {{cite web|url=http://www.ifindkarma.com/attic/BARRY/dorks|title=Wienermobile|author=Barry. Dave|author-link=Dave Barry| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120227033313/http://www.ifindkarma.com/attic/BARRY/dorks | archive-date = 2012-02-27}}
- [https://archive.today/20070804070620/http://www.curbside.tv/review_single.php?rid=26 Curbside Wienermobile Review] by Tony Barthel
- [http://www.wisconsinlife.org/story/you-must-be-hotdogger-drive-wienermobile You Must Be A Hotdogger To Drive The Wienermobile] Video produced by Wisconsin Public Television