In Pixar's Cars, Interstate 40 bypasses historic Route 66 in Radiator Springs's history.
The film explains that Radiator Springs once prospered because it sat along Route 66, a major road linking Chicago and Santa Monica. When Interstate 40 opened and carried travelers away from the old highway, the town lost much of its traffic and business. This background gives the setting a recognizable connection to real roadside communities.
Route 66 was established in 1926 and became famous through migration, tourism, and American popular culture. Much of the original highway was removed from the federal highway system in 1985, although surviving sections remain important historic routes. Cars uses fictional characters and locations to celebrate that legacy.
Radiator Springs is not a direct map of one real town. Its landmarks draw inspiration from places and people encountered by the filmmakers during research trips along the American Southwest. The film therefore blends real transportation history with an imaginary community populated by anthropomorphic vehicles.