What real vehicle is Mater based on in Pixar’s Cars?

Mater is based on a 1951 International Harvester boom truck in Pixar’s Cars.

Mater is Radiator Springs’ rusty tow truck and Lightning McQueen’s closest friend. His design draws on a 1951 International Harvester boom truck, a type of work vehicle equipped with a lifting arm. Pixar artists also gave him visual traits associated with old rural tow trucks, including weathered paint, mismatched panels, and a broad, friendly shape.

The character’s name is a shortened form of “tomater,” reflecting the speech and personality of comedian Larry the Cable Guy, who provides Mater’s English voice. In the story, Mater considers himself the world’s greatest backwards driver and becomes unexpectedly important during the international events of Cars 2.

Mater is not based on a Volkswagen Beetle, Chevrolet Bel Air, or Dodge Charger. Those are recognizable vehicles from automotive history, but they do not describe his source design. The exact vehicle reference is less obvious than Lightning McQueen’s racing silhouette, which is why Mater’s inspiration is a harder Cars question.