Every Paint Job from Cars: The Video Game Ranked

Ranking the Paint Jobs of every character in Cars: The Video Game. Are they good or are they bad? Find out in this video! (Which is obviously just my own opinion)
Also, take a shot every time I say 'this one' in this video.
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:24 Lightning McQueen
4:59 Tow Mater
6:14 Sally Carrera
7:06 Doc Hudson
8:46 Ramone
10:34 Flo
12:15 Sheriff
14:04 Chick Hicks
15:31 Wingo
17:11 Darrell Cartrip
18:25 Strip Weathers/The King
20:18 Monster Truck McQueen
20:42 Count Spatula
22:49 Top 10 (Worst & Best)
I don't own any of the music used in this video. All rights goes to their respective owners.

[@LITTLE1994]

I simply love the fact you can actually choose Lightning in thr Dianco colors.

[@christianlenik5307]

*Dinoco...

[@Codi95]

The reason why Sally only got 3 and were all very basic cause Porsche, didn't want Sally to look weird and damage their brand. A trend that continued until Cars 3

[@johnnycashfan3398]

Nah Fabulous Hudson Hornet paintjob is number one because it was an actual paintjob for Doc's car model in Nascar.

[@xweert711]

Marvelous Hudson Hornet not getting S-Tier is probably the biggest sin on this list

[@SuperPinkFloyd79]

Spelling his name wrong is just as much of a sin.

[@johnnycashfan3398]

@@SuperPinkFloyd79 Marvelous Fabulous ain't it really the same thing? Meaning Fantastic or Good? I get what you mean

[@DaPh2495]

@@johnnycashfan3398it does mean the same thing, but his name is literally “Fabulous Hudson Hornet” not Marvelous Hudson Hornet

[@reddragon5415]

The game of my childhood. I used to play it all the time back then.

[@CrazyWS]

I spent way to long 100%ing it and still thinking "Okay, seriously, what am I supposed to do to get the orange hot rod car??"

[@reddragon5415]

@@CrazyWS I thought that if I completed "Luigi to the Rescue" (I think that was the name of the minigame where Luigi collecting tires) then Luigi would be unlocked as a playable character

[@pjr238]

I LOVE that someone made this list, but you’re very wrong on a few of these. Dinoco McQueen and Hudson Horner Doc are the S-Tier skins. Any alts that reference what happened in the movie are an immediate win I adored Cars on PS2, and would give anything for a HD remaster specifically of this game, but with extra characters. Philmore, Sarge and Luigi should’ve been there!

[@mayoshixi]

I really didn't know I needed this tier list in my life, but yet here we are, and I'm so glad about it. Always love it when someone makes a video about a super niche and oddly specific topic that I happen to be quite diligent in :)

[@Invictyn]

18 years on and I didn’t think I needed this till now.

[@doctormodder]

My picks: Lightning = Your number 1 pick, oddly enough. I played as it all the time when I was a kid. Mater = Black Flames Sally = The Blue and Black unused one. (Yes there are scrapped Sally skins leftover in this game that aren't used for some reason Doc = Fabulous Hudson Hornet (DUH) Ramone = Blue Flames (Reminds me of Frozone in the Incredibles) Flo = Your number 1 pick, also a childhood favorite Sheriff = Number 6 or number 3 Chick Hicks = Football Chick (Dinoco Chick if he was in the game, I've modded it in as a custom texture before too) - Also, 14:10 "Chick Hicks Dies falling off the Tailfin Pass Roads after winning a race.mp4" Wingo = Your Number 4 Pick, My ultimate Childhood main and it's my favorite Wingo paintjob to this day. (Also, You can make literally any character playable with no problem in this game, MN, and Race-O-Rama, it's just you need to add data to make them function on the CSS and Races.) Darrell Cartrip = Your number 2 pick King = Your number 2 pick, again Count Spatula = Your number 3 pick And Wingo blue GT is my favorite paintjob in this game.

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Nice picks! I didn't know that there were scrapped Sally paint jobs, a shame they weren't used. I know modding exists to make these characters playable, it's just really strange that they didn't make DJ, Boost and Luigi playable in a vanilla copy of Cars: The Video Game when you can already play as them in the Story Mode. Though I might try out modding someday, since I've always wanted to play as characters such as Fletcher and Sonny.

[@ogudemichael]

As a kid I Mistook count spatula for monster truck mater.

[@2-Way_Intersection]

Never have i seen a video more directly targeted to a specific nostalgic spot on my brain I think ive subconsciously tried to redo the light blue (edit: 4:11 i think it was this one but i was getting it and the dinoco skin confused .-.)mcqueen skin in every racing game possible since

[@MikeRoeSoft]

sally didin't get any paints because porsche was extreamly picky about copywrite

[@THEDonnyB]

There's only one thing I wish we got... Mater with his hood and young mater before the rust.

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I agree 100%.

[@gachaeliyt]

I still don't understand why Only Wingo was playable out of the tuner gangsters 😭

[@CJamOfficialAnimation]

“Number 3: Ketchup and Mustard McQueen”

[@chilldedede]

cringe fnf you know NOTHING about og cars

[@CJamOfficialAnimation]

@@chilldedede yea I do

[@chilldedede]

@@CJamOfficialAnimation noope

[@CJamOfficialAnimation]

Then ask me a question that’s related to cars

[@chilldedede]

@@CJamOfficialAnimation i know about cars i'm saying you don't, kid. but how many minutes is the first cars movie

[@Scrat-rs5ud]

I respect your opinion, but I do like Lightning Mcqueen's red, orange and yellow lightning bolt paintjob (1:37) with the stars on the front of his spoiler, the design is cool, and I like how his taillight stickers were replaced with small orange lightning bolts, so this paintjob was my favorite in my opinion.

[@diecastreviews11]

4:11 honestly imo this is the coolest paintjob for lighting mcqueen rather than the others. it gave some classic vibes, and a clean look!

[@stuart_petrie375]

this was the fist game i got i remember coming home and putting it in the tray of the 360 and i played it for hours

[@MisterTrashcan]

I always felt like McQueen's paintjobs made him look like one of those masked wrestling dudes. I loved this game and the brake sound effect at the beginning alone brought back so many memories xD Crazy how the brain does it

[@LTZRS1]

If i could get a back picture of sally in green that'd make a neat cover photo on Facebook in my opinion.

[@dr.toxicgamingmadscientist]

While we're on the topic of this, there are a few unused paint jobs for Sarge and Fillmore, one for Fill being Orange which admittedly was werid but a nice change but the modded version of the game turned Fillmore into Thomas referencing George Carlin (Cars Superdrive I believe is the modded game) And then Sarge gets like 4 actual paint jobs that are somewhat fitting yet he, Fillmore, nor Luigi (minus Luigi to the Rescue) are playable anywhere else in the entire game but are in Maternational which admittedly made the roster better but also equally WORSE as it removed Sheriff and Chick as well as Sally for some reason.

[@possibly_ben]

sally was probably removed due to disney not wanting to pay ea for the rights to the porsche brand since ea and porsche had an exclusivity deal up until about... 2016? probably not exactly how the deal worked but you get the idea

[@dr.toxicgamingmadscientist]

@@possibly_ben It is why mods exist right now, but I so wish Wii Maternational was moddable to put Sally back in the game, as well as make literally every character from TVG and MN playable (Technically Superdrive and Overdrive exist for that reason as they're built off Maternational, but that's besides the point)

[@BritishIranianBall2024]

That’s a cool ranking list, my favorite would probably be the Wingo paint job at 16:36

[@themistakeisintentional-dn5df]

14:18 The reason for the lines across his grill I would assume is because of the whole football team aesthetic this paint job has. It's probably trying to replicate those facemasks on football helmets.

[@V3r0nicle]

Yo, this randomly came into my recommended page and I am very surprised and amazed to see a ranking for the paint jobs in the game. Nice stuff ^-^ Also watching Chick Hicks phase through the textures like that at 0:20 had me in stitches lmao

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Making Chick Hicks fall of the cliff at Tailfin Pass is one of my favorite pastimes.

[@jakethecarsandreactorvideo9409]

6:34 I think this is my favorite paint job on sally

[@josethezombiewolf4454]

18:33 I feel like white paint job is to reference specter from Twisted Metal

[@44qc]

i havent thought of this game in eons

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job Names: Darrell Cartrip All alts (except his regular look): Classic Cartrip (#4 is his original look when he used to be a racing driver and the rest are just his original look just with different colors)

[@formulafish1536]

The music brings me back to my childhood. I loved this game

[@NeedForSpeed.2004]

Chick hicks should’ve gotten a paint job that at least is inspired by Dale Earnhardt’s car

[@tytyguy1able]

Its 3 am and i am watching a countdown video of a game i have like 3 memories of

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job names: Sheriff Sheriff with Radiator Springs decal: Forest Fighter Sheriff with police stars: Fierce Fuzz Sheriff with palm trees: California Mall Cop

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job names: Chick Hicks Chick with lines on grill: Chick Kicks (it's a reference to soccer) The rest (except his regular HTB green ofc): Chick-a-licious

[@nicksterdisneyandpixarclub]

4:05 I love Smash Mouth's All Star ⭐

[@Martin95399]

Paint job names: Doc Black & White Doc: Phantom Fury Blue & Beige / Green Doc: Copper Comet #7, #6 & Mildred Bylane Doc: Dust Devil And Fabulous Hudson Hornet of course :)

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job names: King #4. #2 & #1: Whiplash The ones with the weird text on the back: Circus Ace

[@ChaosGamer777]

Everyone else who noticed that for Flo he played Sweet Mountain from Sonic Colors 👇

[@georglouw4549]

just the video i needed, I loved these skins as a child.

[@BS23Designs]

4:08 That paintjob is actually based on the old-gen Nascars (like Thomasville racers in Cars 3). And I never noticed how they even tried to slap on the front bumper guard as a sticker.

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I never noticed that. Thanks for pointing it out! He definitely gives me Thomasville racer vibes now that you mention it, especially Thomasville Parker Brakeston.

[@BS23Designs]

@@ClaudeScruggsRanks Yeaa, I kinda noticed it now too, thanks to the recent Thomasville edition die-casts of the Cars 3 racers. It's quite bizzare to think that they actually made that paintjob way back before Thomasville was even planned.

[@DanielMarblesCarsGaming104]

3:58 McQueen boutta explode lmao

[@chopgta5542]

The paintjobs of mcqueen actually have names,they are in the wiki (and if you dont find the names i guess the names are in the cars 2 trilogy mod or whatever)

[@angelbeatifulldi]

Imagine a fight between Count Spatula and Frank? 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I'd watch that!

[@placeofrandomness5188]

Game of my childhood 🔥

[@GabrielGBR1933]

6:00 You really missed the chance to mention that this Mater paint-job is VERY similar to Optimus Prime's paintjob

[@LightningTheLMS3FJinty2020]

6:30 Sally Be Like: *AM I JOKE TO YOU???!!!*

[@Pro_Gaulding9218]

Awesome

[@Pako2005]

my favourite paint jobs: Lightning McQueen - Burning Blitz and Retro Racer Mater - Brown with Blue flames Sally - Green and Pink Doc Hudson - Dust Devil and Copper Comet Ramone - Red and Green paintjobs from the movie Flo - Peach and Green Sheriff - White and Black with Yellow stars (reminds me of his appearance in Radiator Springs 500½) Chick Hicks - Red and Gray Wingo - White Darrel Cartrip - Black and Orange the King - Black and Gray Count Spatula - Magenta

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I was thinking the same thing when I first watched Radiator Springs 500½.

[@ace47gaming]

6:48 i actually liked pink sally, it looks pretty and warm

[@MadeInBenninc.]

16:54 I really love the purple and cyan colors on Wingo so it’s nice that you placed it on #1!

[@TraceyButtigieg]

I would like to see Cars Mater National Championship & Cars Race O Rama every paint job ranked

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

That is on my to do list.

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job names: Flo #7, #5, #2 & #1: Pastel Posh Flo with stripes: Chic Cherry (apparently that reddish / pinkish / peachish color is actually cherry color) Flo with decals: Interstellar Skyscraper (also #6, #5 & #4 are not references to the Motorama girls but yes they do look similar)

[@vacuumcleaner6940]

Love the video, this game is so damn good still to this day! Remember playing it all the time as a kid

[@themistakeisintentional-dn5df]

4:34 oh how I wish they released a diecast of McQueen with this paint job.

[@NanagoBlake]

4:34 my fave paintjob

[@darkstone_official_2427]

I remember as a kid getting all the die-cast variant paint jobs of Ramone EXCEPT his default purple one. I only got it recently in the newest wave of merch that rereleased some of the older characters like Sarge and the rest alongside the new generation racers like Storm and whatnot. Aside from Frank, Red, and the Twins in their original red color I think I had all the main cast of characters. Even Lizzie.

[@Martin95399]

Paint job names: Mater Mater with flames: Tow 'n' Burn #3 & #2: Fisher Ma-ter

[@jacksmith4006]

Great video. I’d love to see a video of every character from all the games ranked including non playable (unless modded) :)

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Thanks! I have made a video before where I ranked all the new characters from the video games, including the non playable ones. Though I might have to remake that list someday, with this new format.

[@Pako2005]

Lightning McQueen Paint-Job Origins: Red and Yellow Bolts and Stars - based on the colors of the checkered background at the end of the Speed Racer 1967 intro. Green and Blue Bolts and Stars - idk what this is based on. Blue and Red Bolts and Stars - based on Captain America from Marvel. Purple and Blue Bolts and Stars (unused) - idk what this is based on. Yelow and Red Bolt - based on the Flash from DC Comics. Yellow and Blue Bolt - based on Wolverine from Marvel. White and Black Bolt - either an original paint-job, being based on Venom from Marvel, or referred to as 'Symbiote Lightning McQueen'. White and Red Bolt - original paint-job. Retro light Green and Peach with Piston Cup sponsor stickers - based on retro NASCAR paint schemes on stock cars. Black and White with Piston Cup sponsor stickers - idk what this is based on. Brown and Yellow Bolt - possibly referred to as 'Wookiee Lightning McQueen'. Teal and Red Bolt - idk what this is based on. Green and Blue Bolt - possibly based on Bobby Roadtesta from Cars 3. Dinoco - based on his Dinoco daydream from the first Cars film.

[@davidaugustofc2574]

0:59 I like how plain colours get 3rd while the main character gets an 8th place, twice

[@christheleavittman7080]

I could’ve sworn Chick had a Dinoco alt in this game!

[@shuma-gorath2464]

Here's a console difference I discovered. Mater will have a gold tooth for his flame paint jobs for certain consoles of the game like the PS2 version. It was very weird thing to see for me.

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I just looked it up and yeah, it does look a little strange.

[@Sonic4life_39]

Idea: Maybe do the same for Cars: Mater-National and Cars: Race-O-Rama?

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Yep, I'm planning on doing that someday!

[@Sonic4life_39]

Nice!

[@Sonic4life_39]

Will you be also covering the game only characters like Gudmund, Emma, Otto, El Machismo, Candice and Stinger to name a few?

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Since I talked about Count Spatula in this video, I don't see why not. So yes, I'll be covering them.

[@Scrat-rs5ud]

And let's not forget how Gudmund performs in the PS3 version, because MAN! Gudmund performs so terribly in the PS3! Not to mention he spins out of control while powersliding@@ClaudeScruggsRanks

[@TheHaiko99]

I know its cliche, but it's 3am and i'm watching this

[@angee5363]

Nice

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Thanks!

[@SimpleManMike]

The video I didn’t know I needed

[@supermariojasiah7487]

18:19 R.I.P Buck lol

[@1998FotisK]

My biggest sin for this game is that they did not include Ramone's paintjob on McQueen from the movie during "life could be dream" scene. You know, the one he wears along with the white wall tires.

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I think the reason why they didn't include Cruisin' McQueen is because he didn't have a spoiler, thus being a different model. It still would've been great if he was in the game though.

[@Martin95399]

Paint job names: Wingo #8, #6 & #5: Street Stalker #7, #4 & #3: Formula Frenzy Rainbow Wingo: Tropical Heat

[@TraceyButtigieg]

I still want to see Cars Mater National Championship & Cars Race O Rama every paint job ranked in your opinion

[@BMoney8600]

I like how this game had a ton of paint schemes for all the characters I didn’t know Lightning had 13 paint schemes!

[@PaperBanjo64]

3:46 always liked this paint scheme...looks like a Red Bull paint scheme

[@Vogreos]

Havent played or seen this game since I was a kid. Damn is the music nostalgic

[@isaiasaguilar8508]

flo's full black kind of reminds me of the batmobile

[@Martin95399]

I didn't write Sally paint jobs because all 4 alts look the same, just with different colors. There were supposed to be some alternate alts but they were cut for Porsche's brand rights

[@jakethecarsandreactorvideo9409]

Wish someone could make custom diecasts of these characters with their paint jobs

[@RelyksAD]

I believe the Chick Hicks livery with the lines over the grill/mustache is meant to look like an american football helmet

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Looking at it, yeah I can see it, though it still looks weird to me.

[@Martin95399]

The Pink Sally One Is Actually Red In The Xbox 360 Version. IDK If It's Just My TV But Since The Xbox 360 Has HD Quality It Makes It Look More Red Than Pink. I Could Be Wrong

[@Martin95399]

Here's a little detail: In the PC version of Cars, Mater with flames alt (Any color) has a golden tooth, I only noticed that while watching JoshuaDD9000 showing the characters on the PC version

[@naufalmaus]

They were also in the Gamecube, PS2 and Xbox versions.

[@Martin95399]

@@naufalmaus I never noticed i thought it was only on PC

[@naufalmaus]

@@Martin95399 Mater has a golden tooth only in the older versions of the game. Later in the Xbox 360 and Wii versions, his golden tooth was gone.

[@Martin95399]

@@naufalmaus I had no idea

[@naufalmaus]

⁠​⁠@@Martin95399Another thing I noticed that McQueen also has his taillight stickers on almost every paintjobs in the Xbox 360 and Wii versions. Which he only has them in his normal or Dinoco paintjob in older versions if I remembering correctly.

[@Pako2005]

is it just me, or does Lightning's "Shadowstrike" paint job look like Pingu?

[@DanielMarblesCarsGaming104]

I DARE you to count everytime LLRCS52 uses the sound effect « Bonk » in this video lmao

[@Pako2005]

that one Doc Hudson alt looks like Frozone from the Incredibles.

[@luisrodrigues1849]

The game of my childhood. This game was really....really good.

[@DavidVloch]

Bro i remember in my game, 1st and 2nd Drakula liveries, made tyres look like sponges 😂❤

[@Martin95399]

Paint Job names: Lightning (and Monster Mcqueen) The ones already unlocked from the start: Burning Blitz #12, #11 #6 & #5: Scarlet Silk Dr Mcqueen: Retro Racer (It's not based on a doctor) Tow Cap Mcqueen: Shadowstrike Lightning (the ones that remind you of Piston Cup racers sponsors are not actually based on them) #10, #9 & #8: Voltstorm Velocity Whoops, I forgot Dinoco Lightning

[@lordwoody8352]

Bro I had this game on the Nintendo Wii [ Disc stopped working now :( ] Peak childhood nostalgia

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

Shame it stopped working. Hopefully you could get a replacement.

[@naufalmaus]

The PSP version of Cars only has three alternate paintjobs for each character and two of them for McQueen were the first two of your least favorite ones...

[@YoungMrBlue]

I am completely fine with this in my recommended lol

[@Martin95399]

1:41 According to the Cars 2 Mod, yes, they do have names. I'll write them down eventually

[@Colecool25]

Referring to Sally only getting 3 rather boring painjobs. This is because she is baced of a Porsche Carrera and Porsche is VERY particular how the cars are protayed in video games an movies. Even the "Tattoo" on the back of her had to be explicitly written past by Porsche as they were worried it would soil the name. So I'm sure THQ just asked what colors they were okay with and just left it there to avoid the back and forth yellow tape stuff.

[@placeofrandomness5188]

I like your KZbin username, leak less is king 😂

[@liamstanley2325]

I've got the game on right now as I watch this PS2 style.

[@mekhane.broken9678]

Memories.

[@jakethecarsandreactorvideo9409]

18:14 😂😂😂😂

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

R.I.P. Buck

[@crimsonlycaondc143c6]

I think sally would look cool with a red paint. Not only because of mcqueen but it being a pretty common color for porsche

[@anne.andromeda]

6:14 I think it was due to licensing issues with Porshe. Car companies are usually very controling ehen it comes to depicting their cars in video games, and its possible they did not allow developers to really make any drastic alterations to her design. Also, I think licensing issues was also the reason why Sally really never appeared as playable character in any future game despite being a race car

[@NeedForSpeed.2004]

The first Mater paintjob is the result of applying some masking tape and then covering him in rust remover.

[@joshuaW5621]

Are you gonna do Cars 2 and 3 or are there not enough liveries in those games?

[@ClaudeScruggsRanks]

I currently don't have any plans on covering Cars 2 and 3, since like you said, there aren't enough liveries in those game.

[@dr3w_23]

i would watch you play cars games in 2024

[@TraceyButtigieg]

I would also like to see Cars The Video Game PSP Version every paint job ranked

[@tanyipan3554]

14:28 it matches Chick Hicks' character as he is bit off