Fred dans Cars : le fan rouillé n°1 de Flash McQueen

Fred from Cars: Lightning McQueen's #1 Rusty Fan

798 words | Reading time: 4 minutes

CharacterLightning McQueenRust-eze

Fred is convinced that Lightning McQueen knows his name, when in fact he is simply reading it off his plate. This completely rusty car hangs around near the Rust-eze tent after the opening race of Cars (2006), his plate reading “FRED”. When the star reads those letters aloud, the fan explodes with joy and loses his front bumper over it, never grasping the misunderstanding. In the original version, he is voiced by Andrew Stanton, the Pixar director of WALL·E. This profile looks back at a supporter from the stands of the Piston Cup.

Summary

Who is Fred?

Fred is a minor but unforgettable character in Cars (2006): a totally rusty car, the #1 fan of racing and Lightning McQueen. We see him near the Rust-eze tent after the opening race, overjoyed at the idea of approaching his hero.

Fred, a small entirely rusted pickup with green eyes, parked in front of the Rust-eze tent among other rusty cars, his “FRED” licence plate clearly visible.
Fred hangs around the Rust-eze tent after the opening race of Cars, among the other rusty customers of Lightning McQueen’s sponsor.

📌 Fred has to hang around the Rust-eze tent just to get near Lightning McQueen; our Cars pins, on the other hand, clip your camp straight onto your bag or your jacket.

His iconic license plate gag

His moment of glory lies in a brilliant detail: his license plate simply reads "FRED". When Lightning McQueen reads his name aloud, Fred is convinced that the star knows him personally and explodes with joy — "He knows my name!" — to the point of losing his front bumper. He never realizes his name is written right there, before his eyes.

Cars Lightning McQueen Car - Rusteze Edition

Fred's hero

Cars Lightning McQueen Car - Rusteze Edition

Lightning McQueen's car in Rust-eze livery, the rusty fan's idol, in collectible diecast.

€14.90 View car
Official render of Fred seen head-on: bodywork eaten away by rust, a gap-toothed grille and a licence plate reading “FRED” beneath the words “hello my name is”.
The whole gag rests on that detail: the plate holder reads “hello my name is” and the plate, “FRED”. Lightning McQueen only has to read it for the fan to think he has been recognised.

🔩 “FRED” is spelled out in full on his plate and he will never notice it: our decorative metal Cars plaques are made to be read, right out in the open on your wall.

Voiced by… the director

A delightful nod: in the original version, Fred is voiced by Andrew Stanton, a Pixar director (Finding Nemo, WALL·E) and a regular in the studio's small voice roles. The creator behind the camera who lends his voice to the #1 fan.

Andrew Stanton, glasses and a blond beard, poses to the right of a man holding an Oscar statuette in the lobby of the Pixar studio.
Andrew Stanton (right), the Pixar director of Finding Nemo and WALL·E, is Fred’s original voice. Photo: Victor Navone, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Symbol of Cars fans

Beyond the gag, Fred embodies the devoted supporters who populate the stands of the Piston Cup. One of those background characters who make the world of Cars so vibrant and endearing.

Fred, all rusted, drives past the packed stands of the Los Angeles International Speedway, beside a black security car.
Fred at the foot of the Los Angeles International Speedway stands: behind him, the crowd of Piston Cup fans of whom he is the rustiest representative.

🥤 Fred follows the whole Piston Cup from the foot of the Los Angeles International Speedway stands. When you are the one going the distance in the stands, our Cars water bottles keep you from running dry before the final lap.

Summary table

Element Detail
Vehicle Type Rusty car
Role #1 fan of Lightning McQueen
Gag "He knows my name!" (his license plate reads FRED)
Film Cars (2006)
Original Voice Andrew Stanton (Pixar director)

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is Fred in Cars?
    A rusty car, #1 fan of Lightning McQueen, a minor comedic character in the first film.
  • Where does Fred's gag come from?
    His license plate reads "FRED"; when McQueen reads his name, Fred believes the star knows him and gets so excited he loses his bumper.
  • Who voices Fred?
    Andrew Stanton, a Pixar director, in the original version.
  • Where does Fred appear in the movie?
    Near the Rust-eze tent, after the season's opening race.
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