In Pixar's Cars, Radiator Springs lies on historic Route 66.
The fictional town is presented as a once-busy roadside community bypassed by a new interstate highway. That setup reflects the real history of U.S. Route 66, which connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became famous for roadside businesses, motels, gas stations, and tourist landmarks.
Pixar artists researched Route 66 communities during development of the film. The road's changing fortunes helped shape Radiator Springs and its residents, including Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, Mater, and Ramone.
Route 66 is sometimes called the Mother Road. It was established in 1926 and was removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, though surviving stretches remain important cultural and tourism sites. Cars helped renew popular interest in the road's visual style and roadside history.