Tow Mater, the rusty-yet-lovable sidekick from Pixar’s “Cars” franchise, didn’t just roll out of a storyboard. He was inspired by a real-life 1951 International Harvester boom truck discovered in Galena, Kansas.

A small town along historic Route 66 inspired “Cars”

Known locally as “Tow Tater,” the weathered wrecker sat outside a restored Kan-O-Tex gas station and captured the attention of Pixar’s research team during their cross-country tour to develop the film.

Back in 2006, the year the film came out, Tow Tater’s odometer read 99,372 miles, Route 66 News shared. Despite the rust and long periods of sitting, reportedly, it still ran.

The Pixar crew made that trip to soak up the character of Route 66 and its towns, landmarks, and locals. What they found in Galena helped shape not only Mater’s design, but also his personality.

Dean Walker, a Galena, Kansas resident and Route 66 ambassador, played a key role in shaping Mater’s personality

Known for his quirky charm and unusual talent of twisting his feet backward and walking in reverse, Walker left an impression on Pixar’s team. In fact, they used those exact traits to define Mater’s backward-driving style and offbeat humor. His friendly, down-home demeanor also helped inspire the character’s warm and loyal personality.

The truck’s square cab, crooked smile (thanks to an off-center hood), and timeworn charm helped inspire what became one of the franchise’s most beloved characters. The restored “Tow Tater” still resides in Galena, where it continues to draw “Cars” fans from across the country.

Of course, we can’t talk about Mater without bringing up Larry the Cable Guy. An interview from years ago recently resurfaced on social media, which we covered back in January. In it, Larry explains how he landed the “auditionless” role and how it changed his life.

Piston Peak National Park, inspired by the Planes: Fire & Rescue film set in the Cars universe, will soon open in Magic Kingdom

The fictional park blends features of the American Rockies, especially Yellowstone, with a Pixar twist. Disney says Piston Peak National Park is part of its biggest expansion ever.

The new land will sit near Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, drawing guests into a “wilderness” filled with geysers, mountain bluffs, and roaring rivers. 

Designers are building it using “Parkitecture,” an architectural style first developed by the National Park Service. Structures like the visitor lodge and Ranger HQ are being carefully crafted to blend with the natural landscape, much like real parks across the western U.S.

While the land is fictional, the details are rooted in reality

“Parkitecture” itself dates back to the early 20th century and was used to make buildings like the Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone feel like part of the landscape. “Cars” fans know, too, that the main characters are all based on what the film’s creators found researching and touring the country via Route 66 some 20-odd years ago.

All of these back-end narratives justify how “Cars” remains a beloved, even iconic Disney film. The characters are truly genuine, and much of the country finds them charming, if not downright relatable.