Here’s How The Pixar “Cars” Movies Used Real Route 66 Places

The "Cars" movies franchise is one of the most successful movie franchises ever made.

Living here in Amarillo though, you actually start to recognize a ton of places used in the flicks.

Well that's because a lot of the shops and landscapes they use are based on ACTUAL places along Route 66. Some of them are so inconspicuous you may not have picked up on there. However, a few are pretty easily recognized. Let's take a look at a few of them.

COZY CONE MOTEL

This is where the tourist cars in the movie would go to rest their engines at night. They were shaped like cones, Indian teepees if you will. Those are real! There is a place in Holbrook, Arizona right there on Route 66 called the Wigwam Motel that features those exact type of rooms and a big neon sign, just like in the movies. Check out the scene below.

RAMONE'S

You remember Ramone right? He owned the auto body shop there in Radiator Springs and did a lot of painting of cars. Well, there's a tower that announces his place in green neon. That tower was based off of the old U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas. Elvis Presley and other big stars would stay at this hotel on their travels. It ended up as an abandoned building, but it's been restored since then. It's now a big gift shop and even features stuff from the Cars movies inside. You should be able to get a look below.

CADILLAC RANGE

This is one of the main places in Cars, right on the edge of Radiator Springs. If you look at it, you'll notice there are some leaning peaks in it. They bear a striking resemblance to Cadillac Ranch don't they? Well that's because those peaks were modeled after the leaning Cadillacs!! I mean, with the name Cadillac Range, it just makes sense right? Check it out below.

There's even a few more places in those movies that you'll recognize, but I don't want to ruin all of them for ya. You'll just have to go back and watch the movies to find them!