The Wienermobile
No, this isn't about that Weiner.
I live in a small, rural, farming community in Southern, Minnesota. That means many of the locals talk a lot about $300,000+ vehicles with great regularlity - but most of those are made by John Deere or Case IH. We don't have a lot of exciting vehciles here, most everything is functional, and most of it isn't all that remarkable on a day to day basis.
So when the Wienermobile was spotted in town a while back, it caused quite a stir. Facebook
exploded with conversation (and photos!) of the famed Wienermobile.
Not familiar with the Wienermobile? Imagine a motorhome sized vehicle shaped like an Oscar Meyer hot dog on a mustard colored base. You can't miss the thing, it's HUGE! The Wienermobile measures 27 feet long and 11 feet high!
The original Wienermobile was created in 1936 by Carl G. Mayer - Oscar Mayer's nephew. There have been ten total variants of the Wienermobile created over the years using various models and brands as the base chassis. In the 50's a Wienermobile was constructed with a Willys Jeep chassis providing the support. In the late 60's the Wienermobile platform moved to a Chevy motorhome base with Ford Thunderbird tailights. Most recently the Wienermobile has found its motivation on top of a GMC-W platform. As you read through the list of the transformation of the Wienermobile, there are parts from all sorts of vehicles over the year that have been grafted onto these sweet rides.
College Students wanted
There are currently seven Wienermobiles assigned to different segments of the country. The "hotdogger" position of driving the Wienermobile is open to U.S. citizens, and the job lasts from the
first of June until the following first of June. Only college seniors who are about to graduate are eligible. I missed my true calling in life. Candidates are screened from an average of 2000 applicants. Every March a pool of thirty final-round candidates are brought to Kraft and Oscar Mayer headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, for interviews. Each vehicle can hold two hotdoggers, and twelve people are chosen. Currently there are about 300 hotdogger alumni.
The first photo is from my cell phone. Second photo comes from Wikipedia user Scottfamily5.
Bryce on June 16, 2011 at 03:39 AM
Your shittin me people actually ask to drive that? iwouldnt be seen dead in it.
Mike Myers on June 16, 2011 at 05:04 AM
Congressman Paul Ryan--Chair of the House Budget Committee--is a wienemobile alumn.
JKoerner on June 16, 2011 at 07:19 AM
Just saw one of the original ones at the Ford Museum this past weekend in Detroit while up there for the Hot Rod Power Tour. Of course, the comments were interesting from the guys in the group.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on June 16, 2011 at 07:26 AM
I've had the privilege of seeing a Wienermobile on the highway, and a Goldfish Crackers Fishmobile. (Not at the same time, though.)
Anthony Cagle on June 16, 2011 at 08:24 AM
When I was a kid (Wisconsin) we called it the Oscar Mayer Wiener Wagon.
That Car Guy on June 16, 2011 at 08:48 AM
I saw the one at The Henry Ford also; it was the 1952 version. The vehicle was more amazing in person that I had imagined.
davidt on June 16, 2011 at 01:08 PM
Maybe Hillshire Farms could counter with the Bratmobile.
sorry
Sigivald on June 16, 2011 at 01:31 PM
The interesting part to me is that they also have a smaller one now, based on a Mini Cooper S.
Patrick on June 16, 2011 at 06:59 PM
lol Wienermobile....
Rokem on June 18, 2011 at 05:01 PM
Here is the Henry Ford Museum's vintage Wienermobile, their most popular exhibit. The post covers some other productmobiles, like Kellogg's Tony The Tiger Mobile, and the Hershey's Kissmobile.
http://www.carsindepth.com/?p=597
[Deleted] on June 19, 2011 at 06:58 PM
[Off topic - political]
Cookie the Dog's Owner on June 22, 2011 at 02:47 PM
I've finally mustard the courage to comment, and I just want to say how much I relished this post. A job well bun.
CJinSD on June 24, 2011 at 12:40 AM
About a decade ago, a girl that was a Hotdogger stayed with me while her Wienermobile was touring Manhattan. She was a big hit with my niece and nephew who lived a few blocks away from me, as she had plenty of promotional toys for the kids including Matchbox Wienermobiles. About all I remember about her job was that they had to insert hotdog related terminology into most of the pat phrases they used when speaking to the public without saying anything that might be misconstrued as phalic. I didn't actually see the Wienermobile during her visit though.
Chris Meirose on July 11, 2011 at 12:23 PM
I was in Detroit this past week and stopped by the Henry Ford Museum & got photos of their Wienermobile and memorabilia in the gift shop. The Matchbox cars of the Winermobile are especially cool.