For the most part, while there have been a ton of Mater VERSIONS (like Mater with Blue Hood, Mater with Spy Glasses, Blowing Bubbles Mater and while, Mater has tended to look the same, there are Mater VARIANTS so long time collectors might want to ‘collect ’em all.’

(VERSIONS are Mater with DIFFERENT NAMES (and different looks) while VARIANTS are difference between releases just called MATER).

Mater (Unibody) 2006 to @2007 (?)

All metal unibody Mater. It has the raised 3D eyebrow. It’s hard to tell when they switch to more plastic but probably around the end of the production for the 2007 series (Supercharged) and almost certainly by the 2008 Series (World of CARS). Until recently, the back tire rims are also not correct as they should be green one on side and blue on the other side.

The tow hook and other tow accessories on the bed have always been plastic.

 

The hard to tell clues – notice that the bed and the cab are one continuous piece of metal (see further below for an example of the current ones) – all metal unibody.

AND the engine compartment is also metal and part of the unibody. There are no gaps/seams around the engine as the current ones are plastic pushed up through a hole in the metal cab.

Mater (V2 – plastic bed & plastic engine variant) @2008 to 2009 (?)

Mater “Plastic” V2 looks essentially the same as Mater Unibody from 2-feet away. The two differences are a gap from the cab to the bed as the bed is now plastic. There is one other obscure note – the “step hole” on the side of the bed is actually a hole now.

The other difference is there a gap around the engine as it’s now a piece of plastic pushed up through a hole in the metal cab.

Mater (V3 – plastic segmented mouth variant) @2010, 2013

Mater “Plastic” V3 looks is essentially the same as Mater Plastic V2 except that the front mouth piece is now plastic and segmented. You can spot a seam under the headlamp.

Mater (lenticular variant) 2009-2010

In addition to the lenticular element, the front plate is plastic/segmented but otherwise, essentially the same as Mater (plastic engine & bed).

 

There were no releases of (just) Mater during the CARS 2 years.

Mater – Collect & Connect variant (puzzle – 2011).

Not technically canon – with silver rims & a plastic segmented mouth.

Mater (V4 – Flat Windshield, Metal “segmented” mouth) 2014-PRESENT

The main differences from V2 is that now the windshield eyebrows are flat and the back rims have been fixed so they are green (visible) and blue (the other side). The front face looks segmented but it’s metal and either just a design element with the seam or what may be an attached piece but it’s metal.

 

 

Just a sidebar note, all the other release versions of Mater during the 2009-2010 era featured the correct back rims of blue & green. Only “Mater” was not fixed until 2014.

During the CARS 2 era, Mater was called Race Team Mater (2011-2013). He has the flat windshield, plastic engine, plastic bed and correct rim colors. The only difference is he has the Race Team 95 decal on the door and the carburetor cover is not painted black.

Race Team Mater (Eyes Lower- Tan color Broken headlamp variant)

Race Team Mater (Eyes Eyes Lower- Brown Broken headlamp variant)

AND in the Toys R Us box set, there were two more variants … Eyes Lower- Dark Broken headlamp.

Eyes higher position – Brown Broken headlamp.

So in summary, there is the original nearly all metal unibody release. There are three variants with varying degrees of plastic. V1 – same windshield, plastic bed & engine. V2 – same windshield, plastic segmented mouth and V3 – flat windshield, metal mouth piece.

There are 2 other variants – lenticular & the non-canon puzzle one.

There are a bunch of CARS 2 Race Team Mater variants.

Good luck!