Hitting The Road With Marketing Mobiles

Summary

Podcast Summary: Under the Influence with Terry O’Reilly

Episode: Hitting The Road With Marketing Mobiles

Release Date: October 18, 2025
Host: Terry O’Reilly
Podcast Network: Apostrophe Podcast Network

---

Overview

In this episode, Terry O’Reilly explores the fascinating history and enduring appeal of “Marketing Mobiles”—custom vehicles created and deployed as moving advertisements for brands. With stories dating back a century, O’Reilly connects the dots between pop culture vehicles that shaped television and the iconic product-mobiles that grabbed attention on roads (and even in the sky). The episode blends humor, ad industry insight, and memorable pop-culture trivia, giving listeners an entertaining look at how brands hit the road—literally—to stay top of mind.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Television’s Influence on Car Culture (03:20–09:47)

• Pop-Culture Car Icons:
  • The Beverly Hillbillies’ Clampett Truck:
    Designed by George Barris from a 1921 Oldsmobile, it became as famous as the show's quirky hillbilly family.
    • “The Clampet mobile was created by George Barris. He became known as the king of customizers for his incredible ability to customize cars for Hollywood television shows.” (04:00)
  • The Munsters’ “Munster Coach” was a gothic hot rod built from three Model Ts and a hearse.
  • Batman’s Batmobile (1966 TV Series):
    • Designed and built on a tight 21-day deadline by George Barris, featuring wild gadgets like a bat-zooka and self-driving capability.
    • “While I loved Batman and Robin, I was fascinated by the Batmobile first… In 2013, that Batmobile sold at auction for $4.6 million.” (07:51)

The Birth of Marketing Mobiles (09:47–16:30)

• Early Examples:

  • Thermos Mobile (1909):
    The first recognized product-mobile—a giant thermos bottle built on a Model T—toured to promote the vacuum flask.
    • “In 1909...he created what was one of the very first marketing mobiles. It looked like a giant silver thermos bottle on a Model T frame.” (10:01)
  • Lifesavers Mobile (1918):
    A giant roll of Lifesavers on wheels (the driver peered through the mint’s “O” shape).
    • “The driver sat in the middle of the vehicle looking out two round side windows where the O in the Peppelmint logo was located.” (11:15)

• Marketing in the Sky:

  • Goodyear Blimp (1925):
    Origin story, technical trivia, and how the blimp became a floating billboard with zero sponsorship fees paid by TV networks.
    • “Goodyear imagined airships mooring at country clubs and private estates, and even saw a future for airship regattas.” (13:13)
    • “By the way, TV networks provide no compensation to Goodyear for aerial coverage of sporting events. In return, networks show the Goodyear blimp on camera…” (15:25)

Iconic Ground-Based Marketing Mobiles (19:21–24:56)

• Oscar Mayer Wienermobile:

  • Originated in 1930—a hot dog on wheels meant to make people smile during the Great Depression.
  • Redesigned in 1958 to put the “wiener in a bun”; grew 27 feet long by the ’90s and even inspired an RV-Weeniebago version and an app.
  • “There’s nothing more aerodynamic than a wiener.” (20:53, quoting the designer)
  • Memorable mishaps: such as a hot dogger accidentally driving a Wienermobile into a Wisconsin home.
  • "Currently, there are a total of six motorized wieners on the road, making over 1400 stops per year. How important is the wiener mobile to Oscar Mayer? Well, it has its own app and the mobile wiener is incorporated into all the company's packaging.” (22:38)

• Planters Nutmobile:

  • Dating from 1937, a motorized peanut with a Mr. Peanut mascot riding on top; carried 300 lbs of nuts for giveaway and could reach 80 mph.
  • “The Nutmobile was a highly visible promotional vehicle that made appearances at hundreds of events... and they ran on biodiesel that can be made from peanuts.” (23:45)
  • Retired in 2021 after 85 years of promotional service.

Civic & Modern Product-Mobiles (26:38–31:00)

• Elmer the Safety Elephant and Blinky the Talking Police Car (Canada):

  • Elmer taught traffic safety in Toronto, reducing child accidents dramatically.
  • Blinky, a Metro Police car with giant eyes and a blinking mechanism, was beloved by schoolchildren and even inspired a short film and toys.
  • "Elmer was so Effective traffic accidents involving children dropped a whopping 44% in the years immediately after the safety elephant was introduced.” (26:45)

• Red Bull Can Cars:

  • Fleet of over 500 Mini Coopers with a giant Red Bull can on the back—deliberately small to defy marketing convention for promotional vehicles.
  • “Most brands choose big long vehicles to attract attention. But Red Bull went against the grain by choosing the smallest cars possible.” (29:58)
  • Key to Red Bull’s strategy: Promoting the brand experience, not just the product itself.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's hard to believe, but the studio only gave Barris 21 days to build it. He chose to customize a 1955 Lincoln Futura... filled with neat gadgets like a red bat phone.” (07:51, on the Batmobile)
• “If attention is the oxygen of a brand, marketing mobiles are an even more valuable asset in our always on Instagramable world.” (33:55)
• “There’s nothing more aerodynamic than a wiener.” (20:53)
• “The Nutmobile… could reach speeds of up to 130km or 80mph and had enough power to pass on the highway—which must have been alarming for some motorists.” (24:15)
• “Red Bull's strategy is to push its brand, not its drinks. By doing that, it now commands a 43% market share in the energy drink category.” (30:38)

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:20: Pop culture’s impact on Terry’s love of marketing cars: Clampett Truck, Munster Coach, Batmobile
• 09:47: The dawn of the marketing mobile: Thermos bottle truck & Lifesavers truck
• 12:55: Goodyear Blimp: from luxury travel experiment to brand icon
• 19:21: Oscar Mayer Wienermobile history and cultural legacy
• 22:41: The Planters Nutmobile: specs, green credentials, and lore
• 26:38: Canadian marketing mobiles: Elmer the Safety Elephant and Blinky the Talking Police Car
• 29:20: Modern fleet marketing: Red Bull Can Cars
• 32:30: Conclusion and reflections on the power and persistence of marketing mobiles

---

Conclusion

O’Reilly demonstrates that marketing mobiles, whether flying blimp, peanut-shaped van, talking police car, or a Red Bull truck, are much more than novelties. They are memorable, mobile brand ambassadors with a long history of delighting audiences, turning heads, and embedding themselves—and their brands—firmly in popular imagination. In an era of Instagram and “attention as oxygen,” these rolling (and floating) icons show no signs of slowing down.

---

Fun Fact to End

“Oscar Mayer created a smaller wienermobile out of a Mini Cooper. It’s more of a cocktail weenie.” (34:45)

---

Summary prepared based on the detailed episode transcript.

Transcript

[Terry O'Reilly]

Did you know that if you subscribe to our But Wait, There's More option, you get a bonus story in every episode of under the Influence. But Wait, There's More. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you get early access so you hear every episode a full week before everybody else. Plus you enjoy that episode ad free. Tsk tsk. And by subscribing you support our podcast. Just go to Apple Podcasts and subscribe to under the Influences. But Wait, There's More.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI enterprise solutions for from local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly, stay protected and keep growing every day, speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail] Enterprise Did I talk too much?

[Terry O'Reilly]

Can I just let it go? Wish I would stop. Thank you so much.

[BetterHelp Narrator]

Take a breath, you're not alone. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals. Get matched with a therapist online based on your unique needs and get help with everyday struggles like anxiety or managing tough emotions.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[Momentous Advertiser]

A lot of supplement brands chase trends, but if you're serious about your health, we know research backed science is what actually moves the needle. Momentous works with the best brains in human science to create every formula and every batch is made of pure ingredients tested for safety and does not contain fillers so you get the best long term results possible. Creatine isn't just for muscle gains, it's essential daily fuel for your brain, body and long term performance. Momentous Creapure Creatine is backed by leading performance experts like Dr. Andrew Huberman and Dr. Stacey Sims. Sourced exclusively in Germany, Creapure sets the gold standard for creatine, delivering the purest form creatine monohydrate that's rigorously washed and never cut with fillers. With over 2,000 five star reviews, over 112,000 customers have seen the results firsthand with Momentous. The fundamentals are done right. Right now Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first subscription order with promo code Acast. Go to livemomentous.com and use promo code Acast for up to 35% off your first Subscription Order. That's livemomentous.com promo code Acast.

[Terry O'Reilly]

This is an apostrophe podcast production you sell keen.

[Knox from the Podcast with Knox and Jamie]

It.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Oven in an instant. Your teeth look whiter than no. No good on you.

[Momentous Advertiser]

When you're hungry.

[Terry O'Reilly]

You'Re in good hands with Aust. You're under the influence with Terry O'Reilly. Growing up in the 60s and early 70s, I was part of the first TV generation. Sitcoms were very popular around my house. One of my favorite shows began in 1962 and had one of the most memorable theme songs of all time. Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed. A poor mountaineer barely kept his family fed. And then one day he was shooting at some food and up through the ground come a bubbling crude oil that is black gold Texas tea. Don't think there's a boomer alive that doesn't know every word to that theme song. The premise was hilarious. A poor family of hillbillies named the Clampets strike oil on their land, are paid $30 million, then moved to Californy Beverly Hills, that is swimming pools, movie stars. And the comedy ensued. But one of the interesting aspects of the show was the Clampett's truck. It was old fashioned with wooden spoked wheels, was loaded with pots and pans and wooden barrels secured with rope and had a rocking chair for granny high up behind the back seat. The Clampet mobile was created by George Barris. He became known as the king of customizers for his incredible ability to customize cars for Hollywood television shows. When the call came to build a hillbilly truck for the new sitcom, Barris looked around and found a 1921 Oldsmobile behind a feed store in Fontana, California. It was old and rusty and perfect. So Barris created the classic hillbilly truck and the Clampets drove it around Beverly Hills for the entire nine year run of the show, never buying a new car, even though their fortune would grow to $100 million by the time the show ended. When the sitcom went off the air, the truck disappeared too. Then a car collector found it years later in a wrecking yard in New Jersey. He refurbished it back to its proper deplorable state. Ha ha. And it now resides in a museum in the Ozarks. Another high concept TV show I loved as a kid was the Munsters. The munsters ran from 1964 to 1966. The premise, a family of monsters live in a normal residential neighborhood and try to fit in. Father Herman looked like Frankenstein, Mother Lily looked like the bride of Frankenstein. Grandpa was a vampire. Son Eddie was a miniature wolfman. And in a funny twist, niece Marilyn is actually normal. And the Munsters consider her the ugly duckling of the family. The Munsters drove around in a gothic crazy looking hot rod. Again, designed and built by George Barris, it was made from three Model Ts and a hearse body. The Munster Coach featured a pearl black exterior, a blood red velvet interior made to look like the inside of a coffin. It had creepy lanterns instead of headlights, spider webs on the glass and twin casket handles on the fenders. While the Munster Coach was fun, it was another TV show that really got me interested in cars. Oh, how I loved Batman. It only ran from 1966-68, but was one of the biggest pop culture hits of the decade. They say the 60s had the big three Bs, Beatles, Bond and Batman. While I loved Batman and Robin, I was fascinated by the Batmobile first. I loved the sound it made when it started up.

[Knox from the Podcast with Knox and Jamie]

Here.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Ready to move up. The famous Batmobile was also designed and built by the Amazing George Barris. It's hard to believe, but the studio only gave Barris 21 days to build it. He chose to customize a 1955 Lincoln Futura. Barris made the front of the car look like a bat's face. The rear sported a pair of 15 foot bat wings and the two bubble windshields came from an airplane. The sleek black car was filled with neat gadgets like a red bat phone, internal mounted bat rockets, twin bat parachutes, a super powered bat magnet, a bat zooka, a bat radar scope, a bat laser beam and the ability to emit a smoke screen. A slippery oil slick and it could spit out tire puncturing nails onto the road. And long before there was a Tesla, it had a self driving feature. What more could a kid ask for? In 2013, that Batmobile sold at auction for $4.6 million. That incredible car and George Barris other creations are some of the most memorable customized cars of all time. The marketing industry has customized quite a few cars of its own too. Starting 100 years ago, companies began building customized vehicles to promote their brands. The vehicles were designed to look like giant sized versions of the products themselves and roamed the country giving out free samples. These marketing mobiles not only attracted attention wherever they went, they created a brand new advertising medium.

[Under the Influence Announcer]

You're under the influence.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Novelty product vehicles have been around longer than you think. Way back in 1892, a Scottish scientist named Sir James Dewar needed a way to keep a chemical at a stable temperature when placed in a flask. So he put a glass bottle inside a bigger glass bottle and evacuated the air between the Two that kept the chemical at a constant temperature. And in doing so, Dewar had invented the first vacuum flask. The remarkable feature of the flask was that it could keep a chemical hot or cold. Then Dewar hired a German glassblowing company to make a sturdier flask. That company then developed a commercial version in 1903 and held a contest to name the product. The winning entry was Thermos, which was derived from the Greek word thermae, meaning heat. Next, an American businessman bought the rights to the Thermos brand and brought it to the US then in 1909, long before public relations became a big business, he created what was one of the very first marketing mobiles. It looked like a giant silver thermos bottle on a Model T frame. The words Thermos the bottle were written on the side of the truck. The hubcap said, keeps hot, keeps cold. The truck's thermos, like bodywork, was made out of aluminum. Even the threads on the spin off top situated on the nose of the vehicle were carefully reproduced. The truck drove around the country promoting the brand's unique thermal qualities. In 1912, a man named Clarence Crane invented a round candy with a hole in the middle. He had previously been in the chocolate business, but found chocolates sold poorly in the summer because they melted in the heat. One day, he saw a machine pharmacists used to make round pills that could also punch holes in the center. That gave Crane an idea. Why not make mints instead of chocolate? The resulting mints looked like life preservers, so Crane named them Lifesavers. He eventually sold the formula to a man named Edward Noble in 1913, who started the Peppelmint Lifesavers Company five years later. In 1918, the Peppelmint Lifesaver Company created a marketing mobile to promote its candy. Similar in shape to the thermos truck. It looked like a giant roll of lifesavers on wheels. The driver sat in the middle of the vehicle looking out two round side windows where the O in the Peppelmint logo was located. I can only assume the driver then had to look down the long barrel of the giant Lifesaver's roll in order to see where he was going. That marketing mobile and the brand's unique advertising helped Lifesavers thrive for more than 100 years. Not all marketing mobiles are on terra firma. The first Goodyear blimp took to the sky in June of 1925. The airship was essentially a balloon filled with non flammable helium. Propelled by an engine, it is said that someone at Goodyear flicked his finger against the airship's surface one day, and it made a sound that he pronounced as a blimp. The word stuck. The car or compartment that hung below the original blimp was small but luxurious. The inside was appointed with polished mahogany, and the seating was covered in blue mohair velour upholstery. There was one seat for the pilot, two seats for passengers, and a small cockpit at the rear for a mechanic who attended to the engine. Goodyear had big hopes for their blimps. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company firmly believed blimps could be sold as air yachts. In other words, that blimps could serve as yachts for wealthy people who lived inland, just as seagoing yachts did for rich folks living on the coast. Goodyear imagined airships mooring at country clubs and private estates, and even saw a future for airship regattas. By the 1930s, the Goodyear Blimps had three main to develop technology for the military, to build public awareness and confidence in the Goodyear brand, and, interestingly, to arouse public and government support for transoceanic travel. At the time, Goodyear also believed blimps were a more viable option for overseas travel than airplanes. By the time the first blimp was retired in 1931, it had made 4700 flights, carrying over 5300 people. Since then, many Goodyear blimps have come and gone as technology progressed. In 1955, NBC approached Goodyear to ask if a camera could be installed on the blimp to provide aerial shots of the Rose bowl parade. From that point on, Goodyear blimps have soared high above many sporting events, including the Super Bowl. By the way, TV networks provide no compensation to Goodyear for aerial coverage of sporting events. In return, networks show the Goodyear blimp on camera, make verbal references to it during the broadcast, and pop an animated Goodyear logo on the screen. Here's some blimp trivia. The original blimps were about 192ft long. They typically flew 1500ft above the ground. They moved very slowly, about 56 kilometers, or 35 miles per hour. That means it sometimes took two days for a blimp to reach its destination. In 2014, Goodyear produced newer blimps that are much faster. They cost over $20 million to build and contain a lavatory. For the first time. Thousands of LED lights on the blimps create signage that can display words or animated images that can be seen up to 1 mile. If a blimp is punctured. The worst that will happen is that it will just slowly lose altitude, which is good since Goodyear says a blimp is shot at about 20 times a year. And yes, Goodyear Blimps have two tires. It is estimated that 60 million people see a Goodyear blimp every year. It has become one of the most recognizable marketing mobiles and in the world. And so has a certain Wiener Mobile. Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go? I wish I would stop thinking so much.

[BetterHelp Narrator]

Take a breath. You're not alone. Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals. Get matched with a therapist online based on your unique needs and get help with everyday struggles like anxiety or managing tough emotions.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI Enterprise Solutions. From local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly, stay protected and keep growing, growing every day. Speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail] Enterprise hi, this is Knox.

[Knox from the Podcast with Knox and Jamie]

From the podcast with Knox and Jamie and maybe like us at the podcast you also know people who have been smokers or vapers and Zen is the one product it seems like everyone is talking about because there are many good reasons to make a change to Zen nicotine pouches. Reasons like Zyn Nicotine pouches are still America's number one choice for smoke free hands free nicotine satisfaction and you can choose between 10 varieties, each variety available in either 3 or 6 milligrams. Check out zyn.com find to find Zyn at a store near you. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Terry O'Reilly]

One day in 1930, Oscar Mayer's nephew Carl came to him with an idea. It was the depths of the Depression and Carl thought people needed something to make them smile. He said, uncle Oscar, we need a Wienermobile. Surprisingly, Uncle Oscar agreed and the first Oscar Mayer marketing mobile rolled out of the factory. It was a giant wiener on wheels, 13ft long. Originally, the Wienermobile was just used to drive Oscar Mayer spokespersons to events in the Chicago area. When World War II started and gas rationing went into effect, the Wiener Mobile was parked. But after the war, Oscar Mayer launched five automotive wieners that roamed the country. In 1958, Oscar Mayer hired a top industrial designer to revamp the fleet and he unveiled the wiener of the future. The main design change was to put the wiener in the bun. That gave the wienermobile its signature look. A 27 foot wiener in a bun with a cockpit. I had to say that sentence very carefully. As the designer said at the time, there's nothing more aerodynamic than a wiener. In the 1980s, Oscar Mayer began hiring college students to drive wienermobiles around the country. Called hot doggers, they're usually students studying public relations or advertising. It's a pretty desirable gig. 2,000 people apply every year for just 12 positions. In the mid-90s, the Wienermobile grew to 27ft long and 11ft high and weighed a beefy 10,500 pounds, which can make it a bit unwieldy. A hot dogger once tried a failed attempt at turning around in a cul de sac, put it in the wrong gear, and drove that wiener right through a Wisconsin home. In 2004, the wiener wagons were updated with a voice activated GPS system, an audio center with massive speakers and and a horn that plays this jingle in 21 genres from rap to bossa nova. Oh, I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer wiener. That is what I truly like to be. Cause if I were an Oscar Mayer wiener Everyone would be in love with me. In 2016, Oscar Mayer merged a Wienermobile with an RV to create a weenie bago. You can even airbnb it. Currently, there are a total of six motorized wieners on the road, making over 1400 stops per year. How important is the wiener mobile to Oscar Mayer? Well, it has its own app and the mobile wiener is incorporated into all the company's packaging. Around the same time the Wienermobile was born, so was the Nutmobile. Back in 1906, two Italian immigrants started the Planters Peanut Company. In 1916, the company held a contest to create a mascot. That contest was won by a 14 year old kid who came up with Mr. Peanut. A peanut with a monocle, a top hat and a walking cane just like Oscar Mayer. Planters wanted to create something that would make people smile during the depression. So in 1937, the Nutmobile was rolled out. A planter's salesman designed it to look like a giant peanut on wheels with a shell like exterior. And the giant Mr. Peanut mascot sat straddling the trunk. The Nutmobile was a highly visible promotional vehicle that made appearances at hundreds of events around the country every year. Over time, the Nutmobile expanded to a fleet of three. They were 26ft long, 11.5ft tall, and weighed as much as 3 million peanuts, which is about 6,600 pounds each. Nutmobile had a sunroof so Mr. Peanut could poke his head out to, say, shilo. They each carried about 300 pounds of nuts to give away, and they ran on biodiesel that can be made from peanuts. The vehicle was actually street legal. It could reach speeds of up to 130km or 80mph, and had enough power to pass on the highway, which must have been alarming for some motorists. Whoa. After nearly 85 years of driving across the nation for peanuts, the nutmobiles were finally retired in 2021. Don't go away. We'll be right back.

[Ericsson Advertiser]

Is your business struggling to keep up when the world moves fast? Relying on yesterday's technology will slow you down. Ericsson powers your business with 5G and AI Enterprise Solutions. From local franchises to global companies, Ericsson helps businesses like yours to operate smoothly, stay protected and keep growing every day, speed up and stay ahead. Visit [e-mail] Enterprise Did I talk too much?

[Terry O'Reilly]

Can't I just let it go? I wish I would stop. Thank you so much.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Take a breath.

[BetterHelp Narrator]

You're not alone. Let's talk about what's going on.

[BetterHelp Advertiser]

Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals and online therapy makes it convenient. See if it's for you. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[Knox from the Podcast with Knox and Jamie]

Hi, this is Knox from the podcast with Knox and Jamie and maybe like us at the podcast you also know people who have been smokers or vapers and Zen is the one product it seems like everyone is talking about because there are many good reasons to make a change to Zen nicotine pouches. Reasons like Zen nicotine pouches are still America's number one choice for smoke free hands free nicotine satisfaction and you can choose between 10 varieties, each variety available in either 3 or 6 milligrams. Check out zen.com find to find Zen at a store near you. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Back in 1947, the Toronto Telegram newspaper and the Toronto Traffic Safety Council got together to create a safety mascot. It was called Elmer the Safety Elephant and was designed by an ex Disney cartoonist. Elmer taught kids how to stay safe in traffic because an elephant never forgets. You must always watch where you're going then you won't get hurt in traffic. I'll remember that Elmer. Good. Remember all my six safety rules. They'll help you see and be seen. Elmer was so Effective traffic accidents involving children dropped a whopping 44% in the years immediately after the safety elephant was introduced. But after 20 years of flying solo, Elmer needed the help of a sidekick. In the late 1960s, Toronto Police Sgt. Roy Wilson approached radio station Chum to sponsor a new safety mascot. He called it Blinky, the talking police car. Blinky was a standard issue Metro Police Plymouth Fury that was modified to incorporate two large eyes and a long nose. And Blinky did just that. Its eyes blinked, much to the delight of kids. Soon, Blinky was able to not just blink, but wink and was given a voice with the addition of speakers connected to a microphone at the driver's seat. Through those speakers, kids were taught safety rules. Blinky couldn't be driven because it didn't have an engine, so it was towed to schools and events and took part in the annual Toronto Santa Claus parade. By the 1970s, Blinky was so popular, Irwin Toys and Tonka got into a bidding war to license Blinky toys, T shirts and collectibles. But the Toronto Metro Police, who were Blinky's guardians, rejected the offers. In 1975, the Toronto Star paid for a short 10 minute blinky safety film. The voice of Blinky was performed by the late great Len Carlson, who I did many commercials with back in the day. Hi, my name is Blinky. That's part of my name. My whole name is Blinky, the talking police car. Over 100,000 students saw that film when visiting schools, Blinky had two different presentations depending on the age of the school kids. Kindergarteners got a song and a poem. Great aiders got a frightening demonstration where Blinky slowly backed over a doll filled with red paint. But by 2005, Blinky was in a sorry state. His speakers had been removed, his blinking system had broken down and he had one malfunctioning eye. I feel you, Blinky. These days, the once famous talking police car is mostly retired, but Blinky still makes an appearance at the annual Toronto Santa Claus parade. If you live in a major city, there is no doubt you've seen the Red Bull product mobiles. They are modified Mini Coopers painted in the Red Bull colors and sport giant Red Bull cans over their trunks and roofs. The rise of Red Bull is a remarkable story. An Austrian entrepreneur went to Thailand and spotted an energy tonic there. It was supposed to keep drinkers awake and alert. Recognizing its commercial potential, the entrepreneur then struck a deal to take it to Europe, then North America. To compete against established soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi would be hopeless. So Red Bull decided to create an Entirely new category it could own. That category was energy drinks, and it sold Red Bull in unique, slim cans. It made another savvy decision. It would not market its product in the usual ways. The company began by leaving empty Red Bull cans all over popular bars, prompting people to ask, what is that Red Bull stuff? Instead of spending money in traditional media, it spent its marketing dollars sponsoring extreme sports music festivals, Formula one teams and publicity stunts, including the skydiver who parachuted down from Earth's stratosphere. And a big element of its marketing is the fleet of Red Bull Mini Coopers. There are reportedly over 500 Red Bull can cars roaming the planet. To promote the energy drink, every Mini has been converted to be a kind of tiny pickup truck. The entire rear end has been modified to accommodate a giant Red Bull can. And two flaps open up to fill the refrigerated tailgate with cans of Red Bull. Most brands choose big long vehicles to attract attention. But Red Bull went against the grain by choosing the smallest cars possible. Most brands have less than half a dozen mascot mobiles. Red Bull has hundreds. Introduced to North America in 1997, the company sold its billionth can by 2001. Red Bull's strategy is to push its brand, not its drinks. By doing that, it now commands a 43% market share in the energy drink category. Having a big photogenic presence at fun events is a key social marketing tactic. Red Bull, like all the companies we talked about today, understands the secret of a roaming fleet of marketing mobiles. It gives you wing. Marketing mobiles have been around for more than 100 years. They are powerful promotional vehicles that make you smile while imprinting the shape and design of the product on your mind. Back in the early 1900s, automobiles were an exciting new innovation. And product mobiles became an exciting new advertising medium. Their novel design featured products in a larger than life size. They roamed the nation giving away free samples and their mobility truly made them. Rolling billboards. The Oscar Mayer wiener car became so popular, Hot Wheels even released a toy version. Today you can even Airbnb a Wienermobile. Hundreds of Red Bull Mini Coopers fan out all over the world. And the Goodyear blimp still floats above the biggest events of the year. If attention is the oxygen of a brand, marketing mobiles are an even more valuable asset in our always on Instagramable world when you're under the influence. I'm Terry O'Reilly. This episode was recorded in the Tear Stream Mobile record recording studio producer Debbie O'Reilly, sound engineer Jeff Devine research Abby Forsyth and Patrick James Aslan under the Influence Theme by Ari Posner and Ian Lefever Music provided by APM Music. You can follow me erryoinfluence if you liked this episode, you might also enjoy Same Bat Time Same bat Channel Marketing TV shows Season 9 Episode 1. You'll find it in our archives. You can also find our podcasts on the New Apostrophe YouTube channel. See you next time. Fun fact Oscar Mayer created a smaller wienermobile out of a Mini Cooper. It's more of a cocktail weenie.

[Knox from the Podcast with Knox and Jamie]

Hi, this is Knox from the Popcast with Knox and Jamie and maybe like us at the podcast you also know people who have been smokers or vapers and Zyn is the one product it seems like everyone is talking about because there are many good reasons to make a change to Zen Nicotine Pouches reasons Like Zyn, Nicotine Pouches are still America's number one choice for smoke free hands free nicotine satisfaction and you can choose between 10 varieties, each variety available in either 3 or 6 milligrams. Check out zen.com find to find Zyn at a store near you. Warning. This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Grainger Advertiser]

If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Grainger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible. So when a conveyor motor falters, Grainger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem. With Grainger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickgrainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Done.

[Earnin Advertiser]

You know what's faster than your paycheck?

[Terry O'Reilly]

Literally everything.

[Earnin Advertiser]

It's time to get your pay up to speed with Earn in. You can access your pay as you work instead of waiting days and weeks for a paycheck. Get up to $150 a day with a max of $750 between paydays. No interest, no credit checks and no mandatory fees because hey, it's your money. Downlo the Earnin app now to get it and join millions of people making any day payday. That's Earnin. Earnin is not a bank. Access limits are based on your earnings and risk factors. Available in select states. Expedited transfers available for a fee. Terms and restrictions apply. Visit Earnin.com for full details.

[Under the Influence Announcer]

Every idea starts with a problem. Warby Parker's was simple. Glasses are too expensive, so they set out to change that. By designing glasses in house and selling directly to customers, they're able to offer prescription eyewear that's expertly crafted and unexpectedly affordable. Warby Parker glasses are made from premium materials like impact resistant polycarbonate and custom acetate, and they start at just $95, including prescription lenses. Get glasses made from the good stuff. Stop by a Warby Parker store near you.