Back in the days when I was messing around with old cars, the oddest custom vehicle I ever saw was a 1975 Cadillac Fleetwood body mounted on a 3/4 ton Chevrolet 4x4 truck chassis, jacked up with big mudder tires. The guy who built it had a custom place reading BAD CAD, and he routinely drove the beast around while wearing a chauffeur's cap.
Now, were I to run into that guy and his bad Cad today, I'd have to tell him he's out of the top spot for weird custom vehicles. Why? Because of a guy who was pulled over in Montana for driving a banana.
We cover lots of hard news here at The Drive. Y’know, the stuff that keeps you updated on the automotive industry and enthusiast scene. Other times, we don’t. Other times, we write silly car-related stuff because it’s fun. This is one of those times. A giant banana recently got pulled over in Montana, and as the Cowboy State Daily put it, it wasn’t its first time.
According to the Montana State Police, the giant banana car and its driver, Steve Braithwaite, were pulled over near Billings because part of the license plate was blocked. He did not receive a ticket. Also, the plate reads “SPLIT.”
“We’ve stopped speeders, distracted drivers, and even a few unusual vehicles… but this one definitely stands out.
The Big Banana Car was stopped cruising near Billings today. While it may be apPEALing, traffic laws still apply to fruit. 😎 🍌
It really is a banana. Look:
Uh, what? pic.twitter.com/rBruKCuIxs
— Ward Clark (@TheGreatLander) June 24, 2026
I suppose some people would find something like this a-peel-ing, while others might think this guy's a couple of fruits short of a smoothie. Personally, I can't com-plantain.
The bananamobile is, it seems, based on a Ford F-150 chassis.
According to the report, Braithwaite has been pulled over hundreds of times over the decade he’s been driving his banana car across the country. In fact, he believes that during the first few years he had the thing, he was one of the most frequently pulled-over men in America.
“Driving around in a banana and having all these people, all these smiles and waves, affects me. It actually does something fantastic,” he told the outlet.
He even claims to have been pulled over once for “peeling out,” which was, of course, a joke.
Another report claims that Braithwaite began working on the fiberglass banana in 2008 and finished it in 2011. It’s based on a 1993 Ford F-150 and is about 23 feet from tip to tip.
Yes, driving around in a banana would seem to attract attention. Still, it's not the wurst choice for a road trip:
Read More: On Your Mark! Watch the Wondrous Wienie 500
Wurst-Case Scenario: The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile Crashes in Chicago
Driving a 12-foot banana has to be interesting. I bet a bunch of people would show up to watch a banana-mobile pass by, although Mr. Braithwaite would seem to have learned not to slip up and let anything obscure the license plate.
So, you car people out there, see this as a challenge. This would seem to be the strangest custom ride out there at the moment, but this is an area that's ripe with opportunity. If a banana truck is possible, why not a rutabaga? A radish? A kiwi fruit? The possibilities are endless. Who will be the next custom car world's top banana? Who knows?
Editor's Note: Do you enjoy RedState's conservative reporting that takes on the radical Left and woke media? Support our work so that we can continue to bring you the truth.
Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member