Public go bananas for wacky car

A giant banana car is continuing to wow people around the world years after becoming a record-breaker.

The 6.97m-long creation was hand-built by British fabricator and adventurer Steve Braithwaite, who now lives in Michigan, United States.

It holds the title of the world’s longest custom banana car and Braithwaite has been driving it across North America since completing it in 2011

Passengers in the four-seater have included the judges of America’s Got Talent and in September this year it was parading through New York City. 

The fruity contraption has now crossed the borders of 42 US states and travelled to Mexico and Canada.

The one-of-a-kind ride is officially named the “Braithwaite, Cavendish, Four Seat, Velos-a-Nana”, which contains the creator’s surname, the variety of banana the vehicle is based on and the number of seats, reports Guinness World Records.

An avid hot rod builder, Braithwaite says it took two years to build the car that has a top speed of 137kph, is powered by a V8 engine and uses a disassembled 1993 Ford F-150 for its base. Chicken wire and insulating polyurethane spray foam provide the banana shape, which is covered in fibreglass. 

The eye-catching vehicle does pose some problems, such as difficulty finding suitable parking and people being unable to peel their eyes off it.

“A simple trip, such as getting gas, could take a lot longer than it should because of people asking questions and taking photos,” says Braithwaite.

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