Route 66 inspires the setting and history of Pixar’s Cars.
The fictional town of Radiator Springs is presented as a former roadside community affected by the construction of a faster interstate highway. That premise reflects the historical decline of many businesses and towns along older highways after travelers shifted to newer, more direct roads.
Route 66 originally connected Chicago and Santa Monica and became closely associated with American automobile travel. Pixar filmmakers researched the road and its landmarks while developing the film’s environments and story.
Cars does not portray Radiator Springs as a literal real town. Instead, it combines influences from several places and roadside attractions. This distinction is a common source of confusion: the town is fictional, while its highway history is rooted in real Route 66 culture.