Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars is inspired by historic U.S. Route 66.
The town is presented as a once-busy roadside community bypassed after a modern interstate is built nearby. That premise reflects the real history of Route 66, which carried travelers across the United States before newer highways diverted traffic from many small towns.
Pixar artists and filmmakers researched Route 66 communities, landscapes, signs, diners, and roadside attractions. Locations associated with the highway helped shape the film's desert setting and its emphasis on local history, hospitality, and preservation.
Radiator Springs is fictional, so it is not a direct copy of one real town. Its characters and landmarks combine influences from several places along the route. The film also helped renew popular interest in Route 66 as a symbol of classic American road travel.