Doc Hudson is the retired race car who becomes Lightning McQueen’s mentor in Pixar’s Cars.
Doc is a 1951 Hudson Hornet and a former champion of the Piston Cup. He initially hides his racing history while serving as Radiator Springs’ doctor and judge, but Lightning eventually learns that Doc was once known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet.
The character’s story is connected to the real Hudson Hornet, a car celebrated for its racing success in the early 1950s. Doc’s “step-down” design reflects the real vehicle’s low center of gravity, which helped it compete effectively on stock-car tracks.
Paul Newman voiced Doc Hudson in Cars. Because Newman died in 2008, Doc does not have a major speaking role in Cars 2, although the character remains important to Lightning’s development and appears through memories and references.