THE ORIGINAL GREAT AMERICAN HOT DOG MACHINE

Before I built this in 1976, I'd never changed a spark plug. The engine was a 750 Honda mated to a Harley police trike rear axle in an AEE custom frame. The front end was a 36 inch over-stock Harley Wide Glide unit. The hot dog steamer and condiment rack were custom made stainless steel. Other features included an ice chest, air horn and AM/FM/Cassette player (for playing hot dog music). This photo was shot in a local park while I stood watch in case a Park Ranger came by (it was meant for "Easy Riders" but... ). Unfortunately, it was wrecked after only a few days and there were only a few photos.

THE GREAT AMERICAN HOT DOG MACHINE II

After the Honda trike (1978), we bought 4 Datsun pickups, a 76, 77, 78 & 79. Features: 2 custom built deep stainless steel hot dog steamers, 3 large ice chests, shelves for supplies, stereo & opaque plastic roof panel. Side and rear doors flip up, with sandwich board menus inside. NOTE: Hot dog & bun on roof is a photo mock up (never finished it). Photo features Senior Frankette Amy Wheeler.

THE GREAT AMERICAN HOT DOG MACHINE III

The Beast aka The Great American Hot Dog Machine III (1984). Sunroof would have been smoked plexiglass, model "T" rear fenders, brass carriage lamps, signs would have been 4 inch brass letters applied to the hand made polished aircraft aluminum body, rear compartment holds huge ice bin for sodas and 3 steamers for hot dogs, hot links & Polish sausages, flip-up doors, fold-out butcher block shelves, stereo, air horn, show-quality powder coat & chrome Type III motor & transaxle, dual 'baby' Weber carbs, polished distributor, polished stainless steel Allen head bolts, custom wiring, etc. We abandoned this concept when we realized we had to build Lamborweenie. We still use the trike to break in our new motors and may finish it one day, just for the heck of it...

THE GREAT AMERICAN HOT DOG MACHINE V

This (No. 5) is also one we never finished (1986). We bought a new Honda CB 650 Custom, assembled the costume and were looking for a side car frame when we realized that we no longer wanted to go mobile. We traded the bike (with only a few thousand miles on it) for a new compressor for the garage. We may eventually buy another bike and complete a similar sidecar version, but it would be used as a promo vehicle only. Rendering by Joe Rocha.

THE WOODIE WEENIE WAGON

Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we had to cancel this project but it would have featured a VW Bug pan, front beam & transaxle, Type III motor, show quality powdercoated and chromed mechanicals, Big-N-Little wheels & tires, aftermarket Model T fiberglass hood, fenders & grill shell, chrome carriage lamps, custom upholstery, trick aftermarket steering wheel, shifter, gauges, stereo, air horn, custom made stainless steel hot dog steamer & soda bin, butcher block fold-out counters, etc. Sketches above by Vinnie Blanco.

Note: We had planned plan to offer these units for sale as well as establishing our own local, San Diego area routes & territories. Capacity would have been approximately 500 sausages, sodas and all other essential items such as chips, buns, etc. At a later date, we would have offered pocket doors (which could be retrofitted to older units) and allow for year round operation beyond the SoCal area.



Notice motor's split ceramic coated exhaust system, custom chromed engine sheet metal, everything else has been powder coated red or black, dual baby Dell Orto carbs with powder coated red air cleaners & polished fins (matching valve covers to follow), polished 009 distributor, chrome coil & fuel pressure regulator will be mounted on the firewall with billet breather box. Includes all of our standard tricks such as custom chrome, billet and stainless steel goodies, black anodized Allen head bolts, hand applied paint accents, etc.

And obviously, we've rethought the whole mobile weenie vending concept since we moved to Southern California as many restaurants down this way don't have any inside seating at all.