Editing Wienermobile (section)

==History==
[[File:Wienermobile-NAIAS-2005.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The 1952 Oscar Mayer Wienermobile at the 2005 [[North American International Auto Show]]]]
[[File:Oscar_Mayer_Weinermobile.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|An Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in [[Royal Oak, Michigan]], in 2022]]
The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile has evolved from Carl Mayer's original 1936 vehicle<ref name="wienermobile1936">{{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}}</ref> 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]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> Oscar Mayer and the [[Gerstenslager|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Noted industrial designer [[Brooks Stevens]] is also credited with a "new look" 1950s design, taking advantages of the possibilities of modern molded fiberglass construction<ref>[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</ref> "to put the wiener in the bun" in 1958.<ref>{{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/ }}</ref> 

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}}.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=This Car Is One to Relish|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=70|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=May 1995|page=136}}</ref> 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 [[Oscar Mayer wiener jingle|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref> The name was changed back in September 2023.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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]]. <ref>https://www.jalopnik.com/1867653/oscar-mayer-wienie-500-how-to-watch/</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
! Year
! Manufacturer/Builder
! Chassis
! Engine
|-
| 1936
| [[General Body Company]]&nbsp;– [[Chicago, Illinois]]
| Purpose-built chassis
| N/A
|-
| 1952
| [[Gerstenslager]]&nbsp;– [[Wooster, Ohio]]
| [[Dodge]] chassis
| N/A
|-
| 1958
| [[Brooks Stevens]]
| [[Willys Jeep]] chassis
| N/A
|-
| 1969
| [[Oscar Mayer]]&nbsp;– [[Madison, Wisconsin]]
| Chevrolet chassis with [[Ford Thunderbird]] taillights
| V6 engine
|-
| 1975
| [[Plastics Products]]&nbsp;– [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
| fibreglass/styrofoam replica of 1969
| V6 engine
|-
| 1988
| [[Stevens Automotive Corporation]]&nbsp;– [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
| Chevrolet van chassis with [[Ford Thunderbird]] taillights
| V6 engine
|-
| 1995
| [[Harry Bentley Bradley]] for [[Carlin Manufacturing]]&nbsp;– [[Fresno, California]]
| Purpose-built chassis with [[Pontiac Grand Am]] headlights, [[Pontiac Trans Am]] taillights
| N/A
|-
| 2000
| [[Craftsmen Industries]]&nbsp;– [[St. Charles, Missouri]]
| [[Isuzu Elf|GMC W-series]] chassis
| 5700 Vortec V8
|-
|2001
|[[Craftsmen Industries]] - [[San Antonio, Texas]]
| [[ram (truck)|RAM 1500-series]] chassis, flipped axle
| 5.2L Magnum V8
|-
| 2004
| [[Prototype Source]]&nbsp;– [[Santa Barbara, California]]
| [[Isuzu Elf|GMC W-series]] chassis with [[Pontiac Firebird]] taillights
| 6.0L 300–6000 Vortec V8
|-
| 2008 ("mini" version)
| [[Prototype Source]]&nbsp;– [[Santa Barbara, California]]
| [[Mini Hatch|MINI Cooper S Hardtop]]
| 1.6L Supercharged I-4
|}
Source: Oscar Mayer<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090203075502/http://brands.kraftfoods.com/oscarmayer/omm_cbit.htm Cruising in Time (web archive)]</ref>