trucks

Oscar Mayer

USA · Founded 1883

A meat company that accidentally created the most recognizable promotional vehicle in history.

Heritage

Oscar Mayer is a hot dog company, not a car company. But when your promotional vehicle becomes more famous than most actual cars, you've earned a spot in automotive history. Carl Mayer (Oscar's nephew) commissioned the first Wienermobile in 1936 — a 13-foot metal hot dog on wheels. The idea was simple and ridiculous: drive a giant hot dog around to promote hot dogs. Somehow, it worked. The Wienermobile became an American icon, spawning generations of vehicles built on everything from Dodge chassis to custom motorhome platforms. There's even a competitive Hotdogger program where recent college grads drive Wienermobiles cross-country. Peak Americana? Peak Americana.

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Oscar Mayer Vehicles (1)

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

Oscar Mayer Wienermobile

Priceless (not typically for sale) Truck
Engine: Varies by generation (Chevy V8 typical)
Power: Varies by generation
Trans: Automatic
Years: 1969-present

The Wienermobile is proof that corporate America occasionally has a sense of humor. First built in 1936 by Carl Mayer (Oscar's nephew), it's survived every trend in marketing because it works on a primal level: a giant hot dog on wheels makes people smile. The 1969 generation marked the transition to a more sophisticated build on a motorhome chassis. Each generation since has gotten more elaborate, but the core absurdity remains intact. It's the most recognizable promotional vehicle in history, and probably the only one with its own fan club.