Pixar’s Cars was developed under the production title Route 66.
The early title referred to U.S. Route 66, the historic road that inspired the film’s setting and its story about towns affected by changing transportation routes. Pixar later changed the title to Cars, the name used for the finished feature released in 2006.
The road remains central to the movie even after the title changed. Radiator Springs is portrayed as a forgotten roadside community that loses traffic when a new interstate bypasses it. The filmmakers’ research trips along Route 66 influenced the locations, landscapes, signs, and local characters that make up the town.
Route 66 is not the same as Lightning McQueen’s racing number. McQueen carries number 95, while the production title referred to the real highway. The title also differs from Radiator Springs, which is the fictional town where McQueen spends much of the story after leaving the main road.