As a dapper man about town, Mr. Peanut needs a suitable set of wheels to go with his spiffy image. Along comes the Planters Nutmobile.
A costumed Mr. Peanut is about to tour the nation, and the folks at Kraft Foods decided to outfit an Isuzu diesel truck as a giant fiberglass peanut. These being the times they are, the Nutmobile runs on biodiesel, has solar panels and has a floor made out of reclaimed wood from an 1840s barn. The inside is fairly sparse for the moment, or least compared to the competition, the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.
Needless to say, the Nutmobile isn't proving particularly tough to crack when it comes to figuring out its popularity. Across the country, driver James Zolnowski, 34, of Tampa says everyone honked or waved, and some kids even held up a sign saying they loved it. The Nutmobile will show up at parades and other promotional events. The inside of the vehicle is still a work in progress, but there is a hatch for Mr. Peanut to pop out and wave at the crowd.
Mr. Peanut didn't come along with his vehicle, but we're told he wasn't commenting.
Chris Woodyard is an auto writer for USA TODAY who covers all aspects of motoring. He revels in the exhaust note of a Maserati and the sharp creases of a Cadillac CTS. Chris strives to live a Porsche life on a Scion budget. More about Chris