What real car model is Doc Hudson based on?

Doc Hudson is based on a 1951 Hudson Hornet.

Doc is modeled after the real Hudson Hornet, an American full-size car introduced for the 1951 model year. In Cars, he is not merely styled like the vehicle: his character is the fictionalized racing legend known as the Fabulous Hudson Hornet.

The real Hornet became famous in early-1950s stock-car racing. Its low “step-down” chassis gave it a lower center of gravity and helped it handle well, contributing to an impressive competition record. Those racing credentials form the historical foundation for Doc’s hidden past as a champion.

The number 51 on Doc also points to the car’s model year. Fans sometimes choose another 1950s American classic because Doc has the rounded, substantial shape associated with that era, but the Hudson Hornet is the specific and canonical inspiration.