At 27-feet long and sporting a 5700 VORTEC engine, this overgrown hot dog on wheels really has what it takes to cut the mustard when it comes to hauling buns down the highway.
While most folks look forward to retiring at age 65, the Oscar Mayer WienerMobile shows no sign of slowing down.
As part of the famed frank's 65 anniversary, the manufacturer of lunch meat, bacon, and hot dogs is placing special emphisis on this year's nationwide tour of their fleet of six vehicles.
The original 1936 WienerMobile as dreamed-up by Carl G. Mayer, nephew of the company's founder, started out as mearly a way to set the brand apart from the competition. At just 13-feet long, the all-metal constructed hot dog featured an open cockpit in the center for the driver and became a common sight on the streets of Chicago.
Since those simple beginings the motorized wiener has become a symbol of Americana, not to mention a licensing giant for Oscar Mayer, which has given the nod for the car's image to appear in the form of everything from banks and beanies to Hallmark christmas tree ornaments.
As the company expanded following World War II, the fleet of WienerMobiles grew with it, with each one making the rounds in their respective regions throughout the country, along with two in Canada, one in Japan, and two in Spain.
The two newest vehicles, produced in 2000, come with the works - hot dog shaped instrument panels, 27-inch color video monitors, state-of-the-art audio systems, seating for six and even a removable "bun" roof.
The lucky few to whom the responsibility falls of putting the WienerMobiles through their paces are a select group of college graduates chosen from hundreds of applicants with a BA or BS in public relations, marketing, journalism or communications who possess a sense of adventure and a fondness for the open road.
Those picked to become "Hotdoggers" are enrolled in Hot Dog High at Oscar Mayer in Madison, Wisconsin to learn the finer points of the company and it's history as well as special events planning and instructions on driving their dogs in traffic.
Upon commencement, and before grabbing the keys to their "wienerbagos", graduates are sworn in by reciting the official (and pun-packed) Hotdogger oath:
"As official Hotdogger of the celebrated Oscar Mayer WIENERMOBILE, I salami swear to uphold the dogma set forth here, and promise to:
Encourage wiener lovers nationwide to relish the delicacy, ketchup on the great taste of hot dogs, and give in to the craving once it's mustard.
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