By Robert Farago
March 18, 2008 -
Since 1936, Oscar Mayer's hot dog-shaped vehicle has been keeping the company's weiners in the automotive limelight. (We're talking MECHANICALLY SEPARATED TURKEY, PORK, MECHANICALLY SEPARATED CHICKEN, WATER, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF SALT, FLAVOR, SODIUM LACTATE, CORN SYRUP, SODIUM PHOSPHATES, DEXTROSE, SODIUM DIACETATE, SODIUM ERYTHORBATE (MADE FROM SUGAR), SODIUM NITRITE on wheels.) And during that time, the Wienermobile has always ridden on an American chassis. As The New York Times reports, the previous gen was no exception, sitting on a Chevy W-4 series truck platform. No more. As you can see here, the new Weinermobile is a based on the German-owned, British-built MINI Cooper (S no less). It's a change that didn't escape the attention of NYT scribe Robert Peele. "I asked [spinmeister] Big Dog Bill if the smaller vehicle was a signal that Oscar Mayer was adjusting to concern over gas prices and fuel efficiency. Was this an attempt at a greener Wienermobile? The answer was slightly disappointing. While the Mini Wiener will indeed be more fuel efficient, he said, its true raison d’être was to celebrate Oscar Mayer’s 125th anniversary." (Way to press the point, Mr. Peele.) Too bad the Weinermobile doesn't sit on an old Subaru platform. Then they could could take it international as a Bratwurstmobile. [thanks to starlightmica for the link]
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March 18th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I’ve seen the real Wienermobile a few times in my travels. The sheer size of the vehicle was one of the things that made it stand out (aside from the huge hot dog on top).
I am disappointed in OM. A frickin’ Mini? C’mon. It just looks wierd now. They should now change it to the Li’l Smokey mobile.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:55 am
So, does the MINI make it a greener wiener?
March 18th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Holy moly…is Bill O’Riley aware of this? I can see mechanically seperated meat product being dumped in the gutters! Indignation!!!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
It’s a wiener for the 21st century! Maybe it can help us build that old bridge that disappeared right after Clinton handed the reins to the current occupant.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
It’s not as impressive as the old one. Somehow, a proper weinermobile ought to be BIG. I saw the old one in Ocean City — a very appropriate place for it — when I was writing about Rusty Haight, the human crash test dummy, and he was doing his demos there. see http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_classic_cars/the_crashmeister_feature
March 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am
The weinermobile spun out in the snow in feburary on Route 15 in north central PA this year. Pulling a rather large hotdog out of a snowdrift is a chance of a lifetime for a tow truck driver.
March 18th, 2008 at 10:52 am
I bet the guy who does the marketing for Li’l Smokies sausages just slapped a new bruise to his forehead.
March 18th, 2008 at 11:15 am
It’s the cocktail weinermobile!
Vienna sausage, anyone?
March 18th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Thanks GS for my best laugh of the week so far
March 18th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I guess size really doesn’t matter.