Cars: The Pixar-Disney Movie Inspired by Route 66
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Cars is an animated comedy film released in 2006, produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, and directed by John Lasseter. Set in a world populated entirely by imaginary vehicles, the film follows a young racecar named Lightning McQueen who, on the way to the most important race of his life Lightning becomes stranded in a Route 66 town named Radiator Springs, where he learns about friendship and begins to reevaluate his priorities in life.
John Lasseter said that inspiration for the film's story came after he took a cross-country road trip with his wife and sons in 2000. When he returned to the studio after vacation, he contacted Michael Wallis, a Route 66 historian. Wallis then led eleven Pixar animators in rented white Cadillacs on two different road trips across the route to research the film.
The team of animators visited the Rock Cafe, Cars on the Route in Galena, U-drop Inn in Shamrock, the Cadillac Ranch, the Midpoint Cafe, WigWam Villages and other destinations that still exist today.
- Read more about the movie at the official website of Disney Cars
Characters and Locations
Many travelers on Route 66 wonder about the inspiration for places like Radiator Springs, the Cozy Cone Motel, Ramone's Body Shop, Flo's V8 Café, Ornament Valley, and Lizzie’s Curios Shop, as well as characters such as Tow Mater, Sally Carrera, Doc Hudson and Fillmore.
We explore on this page some of the more popular real-life Route 66 destinations that inspired portions of the film, starting in Illinois and heading west.
Cozy Dog Drive In
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The Wagon Wheel MotelCuba, MissouriThe Wagon Wheel Motel has been a historic landmark on Route 66 in Cuba since the 1930s. It is thought to be the inspiration for the "Wheel Well Motel" in the Disney movie "Cars". Seen here are current, and vintage, views of the Wagon Wheel Cabin Court, located on east side of town on Highway 66. Read more about the Wagon Wheel Motel on TripAdvisor ... Traveler Reviews, Reservations |
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Cars on the Route
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Luigi's Pit Stop
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The Sheriff in Galena!Here's the Buick of the Radiator Springs Sheriff ! If one looks closely on the upper driver-side front door, they will see the signature of Michael Wallis. He is a well-known Route 66 author, historian, and the "voice of the sheriff" in the animated Disney-Pixar "Cars" movie. It is located at 205 E. Front Street near Luigi's. A plaque at the base of the display reads "this sheriff's car is dedicated to Michael Wallis for his hard work and dedication to all the small towns on Route 66".
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The Rock Café
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Tower Station & U-Drop Inn Cafe
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Cadillac Ranch on Route 66
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the largest city on the 178 mile portion of Route 66 from Oklahoma to Texas and into New Mexico. The city is flush with historic sites, Route 66 memorabilia, hotels and restaurants, and lots of fun places to see.
As one heads westbound out from Amarillo today on I-40 between exits 60 and 62, the Cadillac Ranch comes into view quickly, on the south side of the road, on a privately owned pasture. This "interactive" folk art site of ten Cadillacs is the work of financier Stanley Marsh. Creators included Chip Lord, Hudson Marquez and Doug Michels, who were a part of the art group "Ant Farm". It was created in 1974 and consists of what were old or junked Cadillac automobiles, many sporting those classic tail fins. The cars, from the 1949 Club Sedan to the 1963 Sedan de Ville, face west in a straight line.
The cars are half-buried nose-first in the ground, at an angle corresponding to that of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. As the city of Amarillo grew and encroached on the original site, the cars were moved two miles west to its current location in 1997.
The mountain range that dominates the Radiator Springs landscape in the movie “Cars” is the Cadillac Range, in Carburetor County, inspired by the Cadillac Ranch. The mountain range seems to copy the angles of the Cadillacs!
The ranch resides between I-40 Exit 60 (Arnot Road) and Exit 62 (Hope Road). The physical address is 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX. Access is from the service road on the south side of the interstate. Park along the frontage road, cross over the fence gate, and walk across the field about 100 yards ... free admission. Note that it can be muddy after rain, and hot in the Texas summers, so be prepared.
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The Midpoint of Route 66
Adrian, Texas
The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, OK, near Shamrock, and traveled west through McLean, Alanreed, Groom, Amarillo and into Adrian. From there, it continued on to Glenrio and into New Mexico.
Adrian is a popular stop for travelers on Route 66, as it is located at the geo-mathematical midpoint of Route 66, positioned 1,139 miles (1,833 km) from both Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California. It is a small community, with only a couple of hundred residents.
The town's motto is "When you are here, you're halfway there."
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Midpoint Café & Gift Shop in AdrianEarlier Years of the CaféThe building that today houses the Midpoint Café was originally built in 1928, and in the late 1940s was known as Zella's. It remained under that name until the late 1950s when new owners renamed it Jesse's Café. Over time it was renamed again as the Adrian Café, and finally to the "Midpoint Café and Gift Shop". Fran Houser, the owner of the Midpoint Café restaurant, antique and souvenir shop from 1990 until 2012, was the basis for the character of Flo of "Flo's V8 Café" in the 2006 Pixar animated movie "Cars". Fran also owned "Sunflower Station", located just to the west of the Café, until she sold the property to new owners who have transformed it into "Dream Maker Station". The Midpoint Café TodayThe Café has become a "must see" destination for roadtrippers traveling on Route 66 in west Texas. Brenda Hammit is the owner of the Café; she started as a cook at the Café in 2013 and took over ownership in 2018. It offers a full, varied menu for breakfast including egg platters, pancakes, hash browns, country biscuits & gravy and much more! Lunch offers many options, including burgers, BLTs, twisted grilled cheese sandwiches, hot dogs and other delicious items. Save room for dessert as it is widely known for its famous "ugly crust pies"! Be sure to lick the pie plate! The Café is also a popular stop for photo ops and selfies! One of oldest eateries on Route 66, The café is located at 305 Historic Route 66 in Adrian, about 50 miles west of Amarillo. It is closed during the winter months. For more information and opening dates/times, phone 806.536.6379 and visit the Café on Facebook.
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Read more about the
Tucumcari, New Mexico on Route 66
Leaving Glenrio on the Texas-New Mexico border, Route 66 headed west and passed through San Jon on its way to Tucumcari. Further west were the towns of Montoya, Newkirk, Cuervo and Santa Rosa.
 Early 1900s aerial view of Tucumcari, New Mexico, its namesake mountain in the background with the "T" painted on top |
Today as we leave Glenrio, we are back on I-40, and arrive in Tucumcari after only a 42 mile trip. It is an active city with a variety of vintage motels and electric neon signage, and services for Route 66 fans and travelers.
Founded in 1901, Tucumcari is located in Quay County and has a population of over 5,000 residents. Tucumcari is the largest city between Amarillo and Albuquerque, and has long used the slogan "Tucumcari Tonite!" For decades, Tucumcari has been a popular stop for travelers on Interstate 40 and previously Route 66. Many businesses, service stations, restaurants and motels were built to accommodate tourists as they traveled through the city on the Mother Road.
In the movie "Cars" the radiator-cap-shaped mountain marked “RS” (for Radiator Springs) was inspired by Tucumcari Mountain in New Mexico with its white “T.”
Today, Historic U.S. Route 66 continues to pass through the center of Tucumcari via Route 66 Boulevard. A large number of the vintage motels, restaurants and gift shops built in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s are still in business.
In the film "Cars" Sally's Cozy Cone Motel is a composite of the historic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari and the teepee-shaped Wigwam Motels in Holbrook, Arizona, and San Bernardino, California. The name of Cozy Cone Motel probably is also a take on the Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois.
The Blue Swallow MotelThe Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari has been serving travelers along the Mother Road since 1939, and today, guests enjoy a pleasant reminder of what it was like to travel across the USA in the “good old days.” From the beautifully restored rooms, to the distinctive attached garages, to the fabulous neon display each night, a stay at the Blue Swallow is a unique experience! 815 E. Route 66 ... Phone 575.461.9849 ... Website of the Blue Swallow Motel Reviews of the Blue Swallow Motel at TripAdvisor
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Wigwam Village No. 6
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In the film "Cars", the Cozy Cone Motel was inspired by the unique Wigwam Motels found along Route, including this one in Holbrook, Arizona, and another in San Bernardino, California.
Fifteen concrete and steel freestanding teepees are arranged in a semi-circle around the main office. The motel office and its surrounding small buildings were the quarters of the owners. Each teepee is 21 feet wide at the base and 28 feet high, and are painted white with a red zigzag above the doorway. In front of the main office were gas pumps that are no longer in place.
While there were a total of 15 units, Mr. Lewis felt that the number "13" was superstitious, so there is no teepee #13, and the last unit is numbered 16.
Today, each teepee (or rather tipi) has a private bathroom with toilet and shower, a television, air conditioner and original hand-made hickory furniture. Vintage automobiles are permanently parked throughout the property, including a Studebaker that belonged to Mr. Lewis. It continues to be operated by the Lewis family.
Official Wigwam Motel website or phone 928.524.3048
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Jack Rabbit Trading Post
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Popular items at the Jack Rabbit include the yellow, customized "mileage signs", showing the distance from a visitor's home to the Trading Post. They come in two sizes: Be sure to pick one up at your next visit, or maybe even order one online at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post online store!
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Monument Valley Tribal Park
Southern Utah
at the Arizona Border
 Scene at the Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park |
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park is located in extreme southeastern Utah, on the northern border of Arizona. It is operated by the Navajo Nation, not the National Park Service. Many travelers on Historic Route 66 make a once-in-a-lifetime side trip to visit Monument Valley, about 175 miles northeast of Flagstaff.
The valley is host to towering sandstone rock formations that have been sculpted over time and soar 400 to 1,000 feet above the valley floor. Combined with the surrounding mesas, buttes, and desert environment, Monument Valley is one of the natural wonders of the world.
Over the years, Monument Valley has been the locale for the filming of numerous movies starring such film legends as John Wayne. Scenes in movies such as Stagecoach, Back to the Future Part III, Easy Rider 2001: A Space Odyssey and Forrest Gump have been been filmed in the valley.
Visitors may explore the 17-mile scenic drive through the park in private vehicles or book a half-day or full-day jeep tour to explore the area's backroads and sacred lands with the help of a local guide.
In the Pixar film "Cars", Sally and Lightning take in a scenic view in a place known as "Ornament Valley" an obvious reference to Monument Valley!
Meteor City
Between Winslow and Flagstaff, Arizona
In the middle of the vast Arizona desert along Route 66 stands a giant geodesic dome with a mohawk, which can be seen for miles. This dome and five Indian teepee attractions drew folks off the highway for decades. Opened in 1938, it has now been restored, and reopened in May of 2025.
Today, Meteor City is owned and operated by the Dole family, proprietors of several other unique and historic tourist attractions. With a keen eye for detail and zeal for entertaining folks, the Dole Family has brought Meteor City back to life — even thrusting it back to the prehistoric past. They welcome you to stop by and see what's happening at the Historic Meteor City.
Bob Waldmire, the inspiration for the character Fillmore in the movie "Cars", painted a famous mural at the Meteor City Trading Post years ago.
It is accessible from I-40 Exit 239 (Meteor City Road), between Winslow and Flagstaff.
For more information, visit ... Meteor City website and Meteor City on Facebook and phone 928.225.2828
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Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Original Route 66 Gift Shop
Seligman, Arizona
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A favorite stopping place on Rouge 66 in Arizona is the town of Seligman. Today, Seligman is home to numerous gift shops, restaurants and several small motels. It is truly a step back in time!
In the Disney movie "Cars" Radiator Springs is a composite of several Route 66 towns, including Seligman, the "Birthplace of Route 66".
In 1950, Angel Delgadillo opened his barber shop in the same building his father had opened his barber shop and pool hall in Seligman in 1922. In 1972, Angel moved his barber shop so that he could take advantage of the traffic on the new alignment of Route 66 through Seligman. Business was good until September of 1978, when I-40 bypassed Seligman.
To stimulate tourism, Angel, his wife Vilma, and other shop owners in northwest Arizona established the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. The Association was located in Angel's Barber Shop & Pool Hall.
It is located at 22265 Historic Route 66 in Seligman. Phone 928.422.3352
Angel's work and dedication helped make Seligman "The Birthplace of Historic Route 66". He has been nicknamed “The Mayor of the Mother Road” and “The Guardian Angel of Route 66”. After 75 years of barbering, Angel retired on July 7, 2022.
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"Karz" parked along Route 66 in Seligman |
Snow Cap Drive-In |
Hackberry General Store
Hackberry, Arizona
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One of our favorite segments along the Mother Road stretches 87 miles from Seligman westward to Hackberry and Kingman in Arizona. Seligman is located on Historic Route 66, between Flagstaff and Kingman, just north of the present-day I-40. It is situated at an altitude of 5,242', and has a population of about 450 residents.
On this leg of Route 66 passes through the small towns of Yampai, Peach Springs, Truxton, Valentine and into Hackberry. A "must see" attraction is the Hackberry General Store ... a stop there is highly recommended!
In the movie "Cars" Lizzie’s Curios Shop is modeled after several Route 66 souvenir shops, including the Hackberry General Store, with its massive collection of memorabilia.
The store was built in 1934, and has survived periods when it was abandoned. It was originally operated by the famed Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who traveled the road in his orange 1972 Volkswagen Microbus. Given Waldmire's roots (his father ran the Cozy Dog Drive In on Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois), he preserved the store in its ramshackle state. Bob sold the store to John Pritchard in 1998 with the understanding that John would maintain the store's dilapidated charm; and when John sold it to Amy Franklin in 2016, she agreed to do likewise.
Visitors, many from countries around the world, visit the store to experience the Mother Road, and tack their paper money, stickers and patches to the walls. And visitors enjoy a variety of quirky photos ops: the rustic store front, nostalgic gas pumps, mannequins, posters, rusted autos, license plates and much more!
Today, the Hackberry General Store remains a favorite stop among Route 66 travelers in Arizona.The store offers a wide variety of Route 66 related gifts, vests, magnets, clothing and memorabilia for sale. It also sells ice, chips, candy, soda, coffee, root beer and ice cream.
The store is located at 11255 E Highway 66, Hackberry, AZ 86411 - Phone 928.769.2605
You are here! At the Hackberry General Store |
Corvette Drive at Hackberry on Route 66 |
Classic but non-functioning MobilGas Pumps |
Stickers, stickers and more stickers from around the world! |
A great assortment of Route 66 memorabilia for sale |
Inside the Hackberry General Store on Route 66  |
Elvis and friends at the diner!When visiting the Hackberry General Store, be sure to check out the fun recreation of a 1950s Route 66 diner. It features a jukebox, polished chrome bar stools, and black-and-white-tile flooring. |
Wigwam Motel #7
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"Cars" Movie Trailer Courtesy of Disney
- Read more at the official website of Disney Cars