Hipster

I'm still trying to piece this all together via the interwebs. From what I can gather, Kabaya is a Japanese candy company that makes cool weird Japanese candy like Green Tea Chocolate."Kaba" also seems to be Japanese for Hippo. So if your candy company was named after a Hippo and you wanted a promotional vehicle...well, you can see where this is going.

So the Kaba Car is a hippo shaped ambassador for the candy company. One of the first pictures I found of it is a bit of a downer:
This is the Kaba Car in front of the Hiroshima "Atomic Dome" which is the central area where the atomic bomb was dropped at the end of World War II. I'm not sure if this is meant to be ironic juxtaposition or if there is a cultural significance that is lost on the Western world.

A slightly cheerier picture is below:
I don't know if this vehicle is still touring but it is now officially on my radar in the way that only a bright red hippo car could be. For more wacky internet fun check out Kabaya's surreal website:

http://www.kabaya.co.jp

And what appears to be the car's web page:

http://www.kabaya.co.jp/kabacar

We'll leave you today with a fairly disturbing Kabaya commercial which may or may not include a cartoon hippo:

See the Zippo Car Next Month

Flicking Fans will get a chance to see their favorite product mobile next month when the Zippo Car makes an appearance at the 2010 Case & Zippo Swap Meet South at Smoky Mountain Knife Works in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Here are the details from Zippo's website:

Smoky Mountain Knife Works and the National Knife Museum are hosting the 2010 Case & Zippo Swap Meet South at Smoky Mountain Knife Works retail showroom in Sevierville, Tennessee on September 24, 25 and 26.

Weekend-long activities include Case and Zippo collectors/dealers from across the country displaying their treasures under the tents, the traveling Case Event Trailer and the Zippo Car. There will also be one-of-a-kind Zippo and Case exhibits, raffles, and giveaways.

There will be limited edition Swap Meet products available at the event including a Smoky Mountain Knife Works Click Zippo lighter available on a first come, first served basis. Sale tables in the showroom will feature Case and Zippo red tag items.

More details, including registration and table reservation information, are available at http://www.eknifeworks.com/events/SWAP_MEET_SOUTH.html

Make Your Own Kissmobile

It's still a little irritating that the Kissmobile is staying put at the Antique Auto Museum in Hershey, PA instead of traveling. Kissmobile fans have to take what they can get when they can get it.
(Picture courtesy of The Hershey Insider)

So it's no surprise that some people try to fill the kiss shaped void in their hearts any way they can. This is a video of the museum's "Make Your Own Kissmobile" activity from 2008 from WHP-CBS. It was a part of "Chocolate Covered February."

Now go grab some candy and a glue stick and get to work.

"Not a Product Mobile" Part 6: Mr. Softee Strikes Back

The "Not a Product Mobile" Series Rolls On!

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

Most people are happy to see the Mister Softee Truck pull up because it brings sweet creamy goodness to a hot summer's day.
Recently, however, Mister Frostee brought a two scoops of pain, sprinkled with fists of fury and a cherry on top! And it was all directed at the deceptively named "Softy Cream Man." The two left their good humor at home and came to blows in the street over a disputed parking space.

A local ice cream enthusiast caught it all on tape:


Softy Ice Cream Man, you got soft served!

The Making of the Pfizer Revolution Mobile

Found some more video that we just now got around to uploading to YouTube. This time it's the making of the Pfizer Revolution Mobile:

This is another clip from our 2003 documentary Fast Food.

Some Pig

Nothing's better than a product mobile that that's functional. The people of Seattle know what I'm talking about since their streets are home to the Maximus/Minimus catering truck.
This little piggy serves up piled high pulled pork sandwiches to hungry patrons squealing with delight. It was designed by Seattle artist Colin Reedy and is known for its signature sandwich and home made barbeque sauce.
If you are in the area, keep an eye out for this saucy swine or track its movements on its website.
Special thanks to "Uncle Frank" from The Hot Dog Hall of Fame for the heads up on this one!