Buddy, the Dog Who Drove a Model T

September 10, 2026

Buddy, the Dog Who Drove a Model T

In Carson City, Nevada, a golden retriever named Buddy helped out at a service station, joined the parades, and became famous for getting behind the wheel.

At a gas station in Carson City, Nevada, Bill Williamson had a pretty unique employee. Buddy was a golden retriever who could fetch tools, keep customers entertained, and drive the Model T when needed. That last one was especially impressive.

Williamson taught Buddy to sit up in the driver’s seat, paws on the steering wheel, with his eyes on the road. While Williamson sat next to him, Buddy took the wheel, and they quickly became a popular sight around Carson City.

Old news clips show Buddy working at the service station before hopping behind the wheel and cruising down Highway 395. When people asked if Buddy knew what he was doing, Williamson kept it simple: "He thinks he's doing something special." He probably wasn't wrong.

Buddy earned his nickname, Buddy the Wonder Dog, and started showing up at events all over Nevada. He drove in the Nevada Day Parade and participated in the Christmas tree lighting in Carson City, usually rolling in while behind the wheel of Williamson’s old car.

People were curious, especially about how a golden retriever could reach the pedals. Williamson had a standard answer: Buddy had long legs.

Their fame spread beyond Carson City, landing Buddy on national TV, including three seasons of Hee Haw, where he drove a car for comedian Junior Samples. There’s a funny story that goes around about how a highway patrol officer once pulled them over just to give Buddy an unofficial warning for shedding too much.

Buddy passed away in November 1983 at 15. By then, Williamson had already trained Buddy’s son, Beaver, to drive. And Beaver wasn’t the last dog to take the wheel. Over four decades, Buddy, Beaver, Budd, and Beauregard all took turns driving Williamson's Model T in the Nevada Day Parade while he rode along for the ride. So, the sight of a golden retriever behind the wheel in Carson City didn’t end with Buddy. It became a family business.