Historic U.S. Route 66 inspired the setting and road-trip atmosphere of Pixar's Cars.
John Lasseter and the Cars filmmakers traveled along Route 66 while researching the American Southwest. The highway once connected Chicago and Santa Monica, passing through landscapes and communities that helped shape Radiator Springs and the film's visual identity. Research for the movie included visits to roadside attractions, diners, service stations, and small towns.
In the story, Radiator Springs is a fictional desert town that has been bypassed by a modern interstate. That idea reflects the historical effect of Interstate 40, which diverted traffic away from several real Route 66 communities. Cars uses this background to contrast fast modern travel with older roadside culture.
Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, but it remains a major symbol of American road travel. The film's references are fictionalized, so Radiator Springs is not an actual town on the highway.