Mater, the rusty but lovable tow truck from Disney Pixar’s Cars franchise, is a character that resonates with audiences of all ages. His down-to-earth charm and unwavering loyalty have made him a fan favorite. But have you ever wondered, “What Type Of Truck Is Mater From Cars” actually based on? The answer lies in a fascinating blend of automotive history and creative movie magic.
To bring Mater and other Cars characters to life for promotional purposes, Pixar enlisted Eddie Paul, a renowned Hollywood car builder. Paul, known for his incredible work on vehicles for films like Grease and Taxi, was tasked with creating real-life versions of Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera, and of course, Mater. Pixar knew that Mater was the hook, the character that Eddie Paul was most excited to build. However, to get to Mater, Paul first had to construct Lightning McQueen from a Trans Am and Sally Carrera by modifying a Porsche.
Once those initial builds were complete, the Mater project began in earnest. Pixar provided Eddie Paul with animation files of Mater, which he then scaled to full size to begin the physical construction. The foundation for Mater was a 1977 Chevrolet dually pickup truck. This robust vehicle provided the perfect starting point, but it needed significant modifications to truly embody the animated character.
To achieve Mater’s distinctive proportions, Eddie Paul shortened the Chevy dually’s frame by two feet. The rear end also had to be narrowed by approximately one foot to get the stance just right. Furthermore, to give Mater that signature bouncy and comfortable ride, some leaves were removed from the rear spring.
One of the most challenging aspects of recreating Mater was his unique mouth and buck teeth. To accommodate this, Eddie Paul ingeniously relocated the radiator inside the cab. This unconventional move freed up space at the front of the truck, allowing for the creation of Mater’s prominent, crooked teeth. Roll bar tubing was used to reroute the water to the relocated radiator within the cab, a testament to the clever engineering involved in bringing this cartoon character to life.
The body of Mater’s wrecker was fabricated from steel, while the truck cab itself was constructed from ¼-inch thick ABS plastic. Eddie Paul’s company utilized a specialized system, previously developed for the movie Taxi, to shape the plastic. This process began by converting the animation files into CNC design data. This data was then fed into a custom router that carved wooden forms precisely matching the fenders and doors of the animated Mater.
These wooden forms were then used on a vacuum-forming table. Large sheets of ABS plastic were heated until pliable and then lowered over the wooden molds. A vacuum was applied to remove all air, pulling the softened plastic tightly against the form and creating the desired shapes for Mater’s body panels. Once cooled and hardened, these plastic parts were cut out and attached to the Chevy truck chassis using rivets and epoxy glue. Body filler was used to smooth the seams and refine the shape, ensuring a seamless finish.
Another key element of the Cars characters is their expressive windshield “eyes.” Mater’s windshield was crafted from clear acrylic and then given a vinyl wrap by Ape Wraps to create the eyelid effect with white “corneas” and colored “irises.” This clever technique allowed for visibility from inside the truck while maintaining the illusion of Mater’s animated eyes from the outside.
Finally, to capture Mater’s signature rusty and aged appearance, Eddie Paul employed a special “aging” paint technique. Strategic dings and dents were added using a torch and hammer to further enhance the time-worn aesthetic. In total, the construction of Tow Mater took approximately four to five weeks, utilizing around 20 sheets of ABS plastic, six sheets of steel, and six gallons of SEM paint.
In conclusion, Mater from Cars is based on a 1977 Chevy dually pickup truck, meticulously customized and brought to life by Eddie Paul and his team. The real-life Mater truck is a testament to the creativity and skill involved in translating an animated character into a tangible, drivable vehicle, answering the question of “what type of truck is Mater from Cars” with a fascinating story of automotive artistry.
