Route 66 inspired the setting of Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars.
Route 66 was a major U.S. highway that connected Chicago and Santa Monica after its establishment in 1926. The road later lost importance when interstate highways diverted long-distance traffic, leaving many roadside communities economically weakened.
Cars uses that history to shape Radiator Springs, a once-thriving desert town bypassed by a new interstate. Lightning McQueen's accidental stay lets him meet residents whose lives are tied to the old road, including Doc Hudson, Sally Carrera, and Mater.
The film's creators researched Route 66 communities and landmarks, including trips through the American Southwest. Radiator Springs is fictional, so it is not an actual town on the highway.