The King Dinoco - Disney Pixar Cars
Speed: Pulled over 200 miles per hour on the Superspeedways
Car sponsor: Sponsored by Dinoco, engine oil of the champions
The King is a 1970 Plymouth Superbird, built to persuade superstar driver Richard Petty to use a Plymouth to race in NASCAR events, the Superbird was designed by modifying the Plymouth Belvedere in 1970 so that Petty could compete against the Dodge Daytona. Outfitted with a hood and fender from a 1970 Dodge Coronet, it was designed with a lowered nose cone and tall rear fin to make it even more aerodynamic.
The car did well enough in NASCAR racing that year, winning eight races, but it never became a big seller. In an example of nostalgic casting, Cars lured 68-year-old Richard Petty to its movie to provide the voice for The King. Dinoco King, Strip Weathers, is a legend around Radiator Springs as the winner of more Piston Cup races than any car in history. The King plans to retire at the end of the current racing season, and to turn over the coveted sponsorship of his car by Dinoco. Among those who want a shot at The King's crown, of course, is Lightning McQueen.
About Dinoco: Dinoco is the gas station (and its company) that is shown in Toy Story and Disney Cars.
Strip "The King" Weathers is a Dinoco Blue veteran racecar voiced by NASCAR veteran Richard Petty. He is based on Petty's 1970 Plymouth Superbird; and his number, 43, was Petty's racecar number. He is one of the racecars in the 2005 Piston Cup three-way tie, along with Chick Hicks and Lightning McQueen. His crew chief shouts, " Mcqueen's blown a tire, McQueen's blown a tire go go go go go go!" He is Dinoco's "Golden Boy", having won seven Piston Cups, and is hoping for another win in the tie-breaker race. He tells Lightning McQueen that he would be nowhere without his team, but the rookie does not pay any attention, being more preoccupied with the thought of taking over the Dinoco sponsorship after The King's retirement. On the final lap of the tie-breaker race, Chick rammed The King sending him into a terrible rollover crash. When McQueen saw what happened, he realised that The King's career might end like Doc Hudson's did. So after deliberately letting Chick win, McQueen helped The King to the finish line. He was last seen in the racing museum with his wife and another NASCAR racer, Dale Jr.
Lynda Weathers, "Mrs. The King", as Mater calls her, is The King's wife. She is voiced by Richard Petty's real-life wife, Lynda Petty. A 1974 Chrysler Town and Country station wagon, she is modeled after the car in which the Petty family used to go to Richard's races during the 1970s. During the races, she sits in a special VIP booth with Dinoco's sponsor, cheering for her husband.
The King's pit crew consists of unnamed generic forklifts with the Dinoco logo on the sides and an orange cap except one whose name is Luke Pettlework.
Rotor Turbosky, the Dinoco helicopter, is a transport model which loosely resembles a civilian version of the Sikorsky S-70, decorated with the Dinoco logo, as well as pictures of the King. Mater is shown riding in the helicopter towards the end of the film. His name probably refers to Igor Sikorsky, famous aeronautical engineer and helicopter pioneer.
Gray is a generic 2005 Mack Truck. He drives The King around to races.
Dinoco trailers are sponsored by Dinoco are in the employ of the King; one is his transport, the other one is a stage/tent. Both trailers are decorated with the Dinoco logo and the King's racing number, 43.
Dinoco showcars are models / showgirls for Dinoco who stand on the stage. They are Mazda MX-5s with blue feathers attached by a Dinoco logo sequin.
