In Pixar's 2006 film Cars, what type of vehicle is Mater?

In Pixar's 2006 film Cars, Mater is a tow truck.

Mater lives in Radiator Springs and becomes Lightning McQueen's closest friend after McQueen is stranded there. His full name is Sir Tow Mater, a pun on “tomater,” matching the film's playful vehicle-based naming style. Mater is rusty, dented, and missing some parts, but he is cheerful, loyal, and remarkably knowledgeable about the town.

The character is voiced by comedian Larry the Cable Guy, whose Southern-inflected delivery helped define Mater's personality. Mater's role is larger than that of a comic side character: he helps McQueen understand friendship, humility, and the value of Radiator Springs' community.

Viewers sometimes describe Mater simply as an old truck, but the specific vehicle type is a tow truck. His job is towing cars, and his tow equipment is central to several scenes in the first film and later Cars stories.