It’s Thursday. Most people spend $25,000 on a sensible vehicle. British inventor Steve Braithwaite spent his turning a pickup truck into a giant banana.
Originally from Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and now living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Braithwaite spent more than two years bringing his fruity vision to life. The result is the Big Banana Car, a 23-foot-long, 10-foot-tall rolling piece of produce powered by a 302ci Ford V8. Despite looking like something that escaped from a grocery store, the banana can reach speeds of up to 85 mph.
The idea first peeled its way into Braithwaite’s mind back in 2009, and since then the giant banana has racked up more than 250,000 miles while attracting attention everywhere it goes. Especially from police officers.
“I would see a police car going the other way and get my documents ready,” Braithwaite said. “I knew they were going to loop around and pull me over.”
After 15 years behind the wheel of the world’s most conspicuous fruit, he’s learned that driving a giant banana is basically an open invitation for roadside conversations. According to Braithwaite, officers always seem to find a reason to stop him.
His latest encounter was sparked by a question about the license plate, but after taking a closer look, officers ultimately sent him on his way without a ticket. Just another day in the life of a man piloting a giant potassium joke down America’s highways.
That’s Bananas
It’s Thursday. Most people spend $25,000 on a sensible vehicle. British inventor Steve Braithwaite spent his turning a pickup truck into a giant banana.
Originally from Woodstock, Oxfordshire, and now living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Braithwaite spent more than two years bringing his fruity vision to life. The result is the Big Banana Car, a 23-foot-long, 10-foot-tall rolling piece of produce powered by a 302ci Ford V8. Despite looking like something that escaped from a grocery store, the banana can reach speeds of up to 85 mph.
The idea first peeled its way into Braithwaite’s mind back in 2009, and since then the giant banana has racked up more than 250,000 miles while attracting attention everywhere it goes. Especially from police officers.
“I would see a police car going the other way and get my documents ready,” Braithwaite said. “I knew they were going to loop around and pull me over.”
After 15 years behind the wheel of the world’s most conspicuous fruit, he’s learned that driving a giant banana is basically an open invitation for roadside conversations. According to Braithwaite, officers always seem to find a reason to stop him.
His latest encounter was sparked by a question about the license plate, but after taking a closer look, officers ultimately sent him on his way without a ticket. Just another day in the life of a man piloting a giant potassium joke down America’s highways.
-keep