Mater's Inspiration

Route 66 News posts news that the truck that the rusty, old tow truck that was the inspiration for the creation of Mater, has been found.

The Art of Cars, as R66N points out, describes what happened…

In Galena, Kansas, we found a lonely old tow truck that most folks would pass by without a second glance. Our Head of Story Joe Ranft, however, saw beyond the rust and broken-down parts — he saw the inspiration for the character Mater. They soon became kindred spirits. Joe gave Mater his warmth, his sense of fun, his humble and generous spirit, and his capacity to see — and bring out — the best in others.

There’s a piece of Joe in every movie Pixar has ever made. But Joe truly was the heart of Cars.

The truck had been parked for years next to an abandoned, circa-1933 gas station at Old Route 66 and Main Street in Galena. However when the building was purchased and turned into a gift shop and snack bar the truck was lost again, only to be found in a farm field, with its hood a quarter-mile away. The buyer of the gas statiom, Larry Courtney, has since purchased the truck and t is being stored in an undisclosed location.

“Mater” is a 1951 International boom truck, not a tow truck. Harsh surmises the extra-long boom was used to lift equipment out of the lead-mine shafts that dot the region. Wallis confirmed it is the same one that Ranft saw in 2001.

Now “Mater” will become a part of the gas station’s attractions.

Harsh is planning a media event at 9 a.m. Nov. 3 at Courtney’s station, where the truck will be parked for the public to see all day. After that, the truck will be put back into storage until the station opens in the spring. At that time, the truck will be parked beside the station in its old spot so “Cars” and Route 66 fans can enjoy it.

says R66N.

So there you have it. You can read more about what has happened to Mater’s inspiration here.