In Pixar’s Cars, Doc Hudson was the famous Piston Cup champion known as the Hudson Hornet.
Doc is based on the real Hudson Hornet, a car celebrated for its success in early stock-car racing. In the film, he hides his racing past while working as Radiator Springs’ town doctor and judge.
Doc reveals that he won three Piston Cup championships, in 1951, 1952, and 1953. His career ended after a serious crash, and he became bitter when the racing world moved on without him. This history explains his initial reluctance to help Lightning McQueen.
Doc eventually becomes McQueen’s crew chief and mentor. The character’s design combines the look of a 1951 Hudson Hornet with fictional details created for the film. Paul Newman provided Doc’s voice in Cars, one of the actor’s final major film roles.