Which real car model inspired Mater's design in Pixar's Cars?

Mater's design in Pixar's Cars was inspired by a 1951 International Harvester boom truck.

Mater is Radiator Springs' rusty tow truck and Lightning McQueen's closest friend. His unusual appearance was developed from observations of old working trucks, especially a 1951 International Harvester boom truck. The design combines a worn body, exposed mechanical details, a missing headlight, and a friendly, expressive face.

Mater is not intended to be an exact restoration of one production vehicle. Pixar artists adapted real automotive features to make the character readable and animated. His tow equipment also communicates his job immediately, which is important because his role in Radiator Springs is practical as well as comic.

The character's name is a playful form of “tomater,” a pronunciation associated with the phrase “tomato.” Larry the Cable Guy provides Mater's voice in the feature films. Because Mater's appearance mixes parts and visual ideas, he is sometimes incorrectly identified as a Chevrolet or Ford pickup.