In Pixar's Cars, U.S. Route 66 inspired the road and town history at the center of the story.
Radiator Springs is portrayed as a once-thriving roadside community whose fortunes decline after a new interstate bypasses it. That idea reflects the historical effect of Interstate 40 on communities along older portions of Route 66 in the American Southwest.
Pixar artists researched Route 66 during development, visiting roadside landmarks and communities. The film uses those observations to create a fictional setting rather than presenting Radiator Springs as a real town.
Route 66 was established in 1926 and originally connected Chicago with Santa Monica. It was removed from the United States Highway System in 1985, but its cultural reputation remains strong. Cars helped introduce that road-trip history to a worldwide family audience.