Chevrolet Model 3800 from Cars

Mater was inspired by a 1951 International Harvester tow truck but bears more of a resemblance to a 1955-57 Chevrolet; the actual inspiration may be the 1955-56 version since the hood which Mater recovers at the end of the film after a forty-year absence lacks the “gunsights” of the 1957 model. His license plate reads “A113.”

Along with the movie Cars, he also stars in few animated short, and acts as an announcer in the Cars video game. He speaks with a thick Southern accent with a bit of hillbilly twang and uses incorrect syntax. Mater is also the (self-proclaimed) world champion backwards driver. He attributes his skill to his rear-view mirrors and his own philosophy:

“Don’t need to know where I’m going, just need to know where I’ve been.”

In the movie, Mater befriends and supports Lightning throughout his adventure in Radiator Springs. At the last race, when McQueen is spun out, he races backwards after being spun out, implying that he learned to drive backwards from Mater. In the end, McQueen gives Mater an opportunity to fly in a Dinoco helicopter like he always wanted. Mater will return in Cars 2 as the deuteragonist.