We all must have heard of the Cars franchise. For some of us, it might be one of the highlights of our childhood. The bright cars, the fast races, and the friendship between cars that can talk How can we forget that? The Cars movies will always remain the best of all time. If you have ever looked at those cars and just wondered, "Do these cars exist?" Then here is something for you. While some cars, like Lightning McQueen, were original designs, most were also inspired by real-life car models.
If you have watched the movies, you know just how amazing Tow mater was. For many Cars fans, Tow Mater is their favourite character. Tow Mater was a rusted old model with a missing hood. Still, the similarities couldn't be kept from a keen eye. This much-loved character gets its design from the 1951 International Harvester L-170 Boom Truck. Some of the designs are also from car models like the Chevrolet 3800 and the 1957 Dodge truck.
Sarge was an important part of the Cars movies. If you have noticed, the number plate reads 41WW2. This tough car was a part of World War 2 and is based on the 1942 Willys MB Jeep model. When the US entered World War II, Willys Jeep won the military contract, leading to these rugged models entering the war zone. Currently, an original model of a Willy Jeep can go for as much as $130,000 in auctions.
Lewis Hamilton was one of the most dashing car models in the Cars Universe. This beautiful black car was based on the McLaren MP4-12C GT3. Both Lewis Hamilton and McLaren are fast cars that could win races.
The voice-over of the Lewis Hamilton character was done by a Formula One racer also named Lewis Hamilton.
The Junior Moon was an icon, and for a car this iconic, the inspiration must have been iconic as well. This car was based on the model 1940 Ford Standard Coupe. The real-life car is a classic and is beloved among collectors. Junior Moon's design was heavily inspired by the standard coupe, even to the point of mixing wheel colours. These small details added extra toughness to the final model.
Based on the 1977 Chevy Monte Carlo, Darrell Cartrip had some flamboyant upgrades. The difference in the resemblance between the two cars was that Darrell Cartrip was a racing car, unlike the usual Monte Carlo model. The character, Darell Cartrip, later retired and took the job of announcing. Any car fan will remember the fun speeches by Cartrip. These speeches were actually an ode to a commentator who raced with this model in 1977.
The design of the lovely Sally Carrera comes from a 2002 Porsche 911 model. Sally was created in close collaboration with a real-life model. Both cars have a solid 320-horsepower engine speed of more than 60 in five seconds. The original Porsche's subtle touches in Sally's design, like the logo's display on her hood, were also written under the spoiler.
Cruz Ramirez appeared in Cars 3 with the hefty task of getting McQueen prepared for the race. The design of this car is not based on one model, but some inspiration was taken from various places. The resemblance can be noticed in the 2017 Toyota 86/Scion Fr-S and the 90s Honda Civic Del Sol.
The character of Doc Hudson is the definition of class. much like its real-life-based model, the 1951 Hudson Hornet. A 1951 Hudson Hornet is a classic and a precious model for collectors. The Hornet used to be a track champion, much like Doc Hudson.
The happy-go-lucky vibes we get from Filmore are thanks to the original design of the VW Type 2 bus. This model was nicknamed the "Hippie bus." The moviemakers gave credit to Volkswagen for this and perfectly copied each detail to provide us with this character.
Mach is one of the oldest characters in all three Cras movies. A Mack is a transport truck, and a 1985 Mack Super-Liner inspired the design. Mach is a significant, clumsy character with the warmest vibes. It sounds fitting for the Mack super liner. The Mack super liner is also the truck model that the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) has used to transport cars for years.
