Route 66 inspired the setting of Pixar's Cars.
The original Cars centers on Radiator Springs, a fictional community whose decline follows the construction of a faster interstate route that bypasses it. This reflects the history of U.S. Route 66, the famous highway that connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became strongly associated with roadside businesses and travel culture.
Pixar artists and filmmakers researched Route 66 during the development of Cars. The film incorporates roadside landmarks, desert scenery, motels, diners, and neon signs into Radiator Springs and the surrounding landscape.
Route 66 is often called the Mother Road. It was established in 1926 and officially removed from the United States Highway System in 1985. The film's route is fictional, but its atmosphere and historical theme are closely tied to the real highway.