AutoWeek has a humongous special issue about Pixar's "Cars." In one of its stories, it says this:
AS YOU READ THIS ISSUE please understand you will not learn the plot twists and turns of Cars, the movie. You will read about the undulating way in which the film came to the big screen, about some of the characters behind the characters, and why it should be considered the best car movie ever.
And if you can’t take our word, see for your own skeptical self on June 9 when Cars opens in theaters around the country. As the critics say, you’ll laugh and you’ll cry. When was the last time that happened because of a car (other than with vintage Jaguar ownership)?
One of the AutoWeek stories focuses on five members of the Pixar crew who helped shape the look of the studio's latest upcoming movie, "Cars."
Two excerpts stand out. First, this one:
… Pixar’s in-house gearheads take great pride in having modeled each car character’s suspension geometries and road behavior after its real-world inspiration. Thus Ramone, the ’59 Chevy low-rider, has fully operational hydraulics. The Volkswagen bus, the hippie Fillmore, has swing axles, and moves like it. Luigi, a Fiat 500, bounces around in excitement on his spindly springs and skinny tires. Such antics would be completely wrong for stiff old Doc Hudson, the ’51 Hudson Hornet ex-racer whose voice is Paul Newman.
And this one:
“The background of the town is the Cadillac Range,” he pointed out, the obvious reference being the Cadillac Ranch, a row of half-buried cars in Texas. “The ’59 is in the center, the iconic Cadillac tailfin. The [aircraft contrails] are tire treads. Every little detail has got a little bit of automotive feel to it.” (my emphasis)
Also, from the same issue, are:
- An interview with "Cars" director John Lasseter and an automotive-oriented look at Pixar and "Cars."
- An "interview with Lightning McQueen.
- An overview of each of the major "Cars" characters.
- "Cars'" Bench-Racing secrets. Make sure you read the "Nine gearhead facts to amaze your friends and kids."
- Dutch Mandel's column.
The real-life Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera and Mater are a big part of the Cars movie promotion. These three characters were created at Customs By Eddie Paul in El Segundo, Calif. and the builds will be featured in an upcoming issue of Motor Trend. We’re the shop that built the Grease movie cars, the original General Lee Charger, the Triple X GTO, and all the cars from Fast and the Furious 1 & 2 to name a few.
MORE ON CARS THE MOVIE
Customs By Eddie Paul, builders of the first life-size Lightning McQueen, Sally Carrera and Mater for the movie’s premiere and promotional Road Trip 2006, is build a second Lightning McQueen and Mater the Tow Truck especially for Bob Larivee Jr. of Championship Auto Shows Inc. The CARS cars are scheduled for Championship Auto Show appearances around the country beginning in late 2006 and 2007..
My son is a big fan of “CARS” the movie Where can we see the real life sized Lightning Mcqueen in 2007 ???
Hi I was wondering where I can find the Cars tour of life size lightning?
Yes, wondering about Cars tour for 2007.
I wondering about the tour were lightning Mcqueen is life size when he is coming to San Antonio TX this past weekend Nov 17,2007 he was over in Houston TX it was presented by GM motors.