What Kind of Truck Is Tow Mater?

Tow Mater is an iconic character from the Pixar movie, Cars. He is a character that has become beloved by many children, and his truck design is one of the main features that makes him so endearing.

Tow Mater is a rusty old tow truck who lives and works in Radiator Springs, a small town in the middle of nowhere. He spends his days helping out other cars, both good and bad. His big heart and enthusiasm for helping others have made him a fan favorite.

Tow Mater’s design is based on the 1951 International Harvester L-170 tow truck. The L-170 was produced by International Harvester between 1951 and 1955, making it an antique even when the movie was made in 2006.

It has a distinctive look with its rounded cab, flat nose, and tall grill. The L-170 also featured a big V8 engine, which gives it plenty of towing power.

The actual truck used for Tow Mater’s design was specially built for Disney\Pixar by Robert Gaffney of California. It was constructed from several different parts including an old Chevy pickup frame and body panels from a 1950 Chevy 3100 half-ton pickup truck.

The cab is made from fiberglass, and the engine comes from a 1975 Chevy Nova. The rear axle came from a 1956 Chevrolet sedan.

In conclusion, Tow Mater is based on the 1951 International Harvester L-170 tow truck. However, the actual vehicle used for Tow Mater’s design was specially built by Robert Gaffney using parts from several different vehicles including an old Chevy pickup frame and body panels from a 1950 Chevy 3100 half-ton pickup truck, fiberglass cab and engine from a 1975 Chevy Nova as well as rear axle from a 1956 Chevrolet sedan. This makes Tow Mater an incredibly unique kind of tow truck to be featured in this beloved Pixar movie!

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Stephen Dunn