- "Your streamlined body shape would indicate that you have the potential to be as fast as you say, but I'm just not looking for a team-mate at this instant."
- —Winford Rutherford to Lightning McQueen, The Rookie
Winford Bradford Rutherford is a race car that raced for the RPM team in the Piston Cup Racing Series.
History[]
Cars[]
In Cars, Winford appears as one of the thirty-six competitors at the final race of the season at the Motor Speedway of the South. After performing a PIT maneuver on Lightning McQueen, Chick Hicks finds himself a considerable distance ahead of him, but further increases the gap by bumping Winford into Murray Clutchburn, and it quickly becomes a crash consisting of all racers except for The King, Chick himself, and McQueen. During the crash, he got hit by Ralph Carlow, and also by Davey Apex. But he doesn't suffer any major damage from that and continues racing. He is nowhere to be seen on the final lap, implying he dropped out sometime after the restart.
At some point between Cars and Cars 3, Winford retired, and Bruce Miller became the new RPM racer.
The Rookie[]
In The Rookie comic, Winford is one of many racers who Lightning McQueen asks for help with securing a sponsorship, but Winford declines after McQueen's poor sportsmanship in the race.
General information[]
Physical appearance[]
He is a Capitol Motors Verve XT, which resembles a Ford Taurus. He is painted yellow, with the RPM logo on his hood. He had the number 64 and Piston Cup sponsors on his doors. He has a blue spoiler, and blue rims, with yellow on the outside.
Personality[]
Being a former physics major, Winford is highly intelligent and well versed. He is also well-liked and respected by his competitors (except Chick Hicks) for his professionalism and smarts. Winford and his Hauler have deep and intelligent conversations while the latter transfers the former to races. His dialogue to McQueen in The Rookie shows that he has a formal speech pattern.
Official profiles[]
Car Finder Game[]
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Winford Bradford Rutherford #64 Capitol Motors Verve XT |
| His story: |
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| "An Ivy League school may seem like an unlikely place to start in the racing world. But only a couple of years ago, Winford Bradford Rutherford was grille-deep in physics books learning about momentum, velocity and anything else that would give him an edge on the track. His doctor and lawyer friends at the country club thought he was crazy, but the studying paid off. Winford is now a highly respected Piston Cup racer. He uses his vast knowledge of physics to cheat the wind and out-maneuver his fellow racers, who affectionately call him, "The Professor"." |
| His scene: |
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Meet the Cars[]
- An Ivy League school may seem like an unlikely place to start in the racing world. But only a couple of years ago, Winford Bradford Rutherford was grille-deep in physics books learning about momentum, velocity and anything else that would give him an edge on the track. His doctor and lawyer friends at the country club thought he was crazy, but the studying paid off. Winford is now a highly respected Piston Cup racer. He uses his vast knowledge of physics to cheat the wind and out-maneuver his fellow racers, who affectionately call him, "The Professor".
Pixarpedia[]
- Winford Bradford Rutherford is a Capitol Motors vehicle. His sponsor is RPM Nighttime Backfire Suppressant.
Cars: Character Encyclopedia[]
- Winford Bradford Rutherford is sponsored by RPM, the Nighttime Backfire Suppressant company. This model has been released as a single in every series, apart from the Desert Art and Final Lap series.
List of appearances[]
| Title | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cars | 2006 | Only media appearance |
| The Rookie | 2009 | First speaking role |
| "Selfie-Day!" | 2022 | The Official Magazine #3 |
Gallery[]
.png "Winford Bradford Rutherford (Meet the Cars).png (88 KB)")
.jpg "RPM (Winford Bradford Rutherford).jpg (99 KB)")
Names in other languages[]
- Bulgarian: Уинфорд Брадфорд Ръдърфорд (transcription: Uinford Bradford Rŭdŭrford)
- Lithuanian: Vincas
- Ukrainian: Вінфорд Бредфорд Резерфорд (transcription: Vinford Bredford Rezerford)
- Russian: Винфорд Брэдфорд Резерфорд (transcription: Vïnford Brédford Rezerford)
Trivia[]
- He was the first racer on-screen to be in the wreck.
- As said above, if you didn't notice, he appears to be smiling against McQueen before the latter rides on the wall to pass Floyd Mulvihill and Rusty Cornfuel.
- In Disney Infinity, there is an unnamed Pace Car who has some resemblance to Winford, with a few minor differences, such as the two numbers being the opposite way around, Moreover, they are also different sponsors, Winford is quilt RPM sponsored, and Pace Car is OLIIH sponsored.
- His last name "Rutherford" might be a homage to Ernest Rutherford, who was a scientist that discovered the nucleus. This might also be the reason why his nickname is "The Professor" and how he has a vast knowledge of science.
- In the 2019 die-cast mainline, he is mistakenly referred to as Bruce Miller, which is actually the name of the veteran who uses the same sponsor in Cars 3.
- His diecast has an error where the white space under the 64 is not filled in on his right side when it's filled in on the left.