Radiator Springs

Downtown Radiator Springs
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Greater location	Carburetor County, Arizona, United States
Established	1909
Opened	1930
Postcard	Seal
Location within Carburetor County

"Where are you? Shoot! You're in Radiator Springs. The cutest little town in Carburetor County."

—Mater, Cars

Radiator Springs is a quaint rural town in the U.S. state of Arizona, and the central setting of the Disney/Pixar Cars franchise. Situated in Carburetor County along Route 66, between Kingman and Flagstaff, it embodies a nostalgic charm. The town fosters a tight-knit community, with a diverse group of residents. It is the home of Lightning McQueen, Mater, and many of their closest friends.

However, the town's peaceful existence was abruptly averted when the construction of a new interstate bypassed it entirely, causing significant decline. Yet, through the events depicted in the first film, Radiator Springs experiences a revitalization. The restoration brings renewed attention to the town, transforming it into Lightning McQueen's racing headquarters, and restoring its former glory.

History

Background

This is a picture of Radiator springs Main street after the highway was built, signaling they were no longer wanted and they just kept to themselves, many businesses went under due to a lack of business and a suffering economy

In 1900, Ornament Valley suffered from overheating cars and burst radiator caps. But on August 2, 1909, Stanley, a radiator cap salesman, discovered a natural spring. Recognizing the need for a rest stop, he founded Radiator Springs. As the oasis flourished, Stanley and Lizzie expanded the town, establishing Radiator Springs Curios in 1926. Together, they transformed Radiator Springs into a beloved stop along Route 66, embodying the spirit of community in Carburetor County. The town was fully paved and all buildings were completed by 1930, although some activities had yet to begin.

Post-1950

In 1954, famous Piston Cup racer Fabulous Hudson Hornet suffered an accident while racing at Fireball Beach that brought his racing career to an end. Some time after his crash, Hudson fully recovered and returned to the Piston Cup; but found out that the racing world had forgotten all about him because of the rookies at the time. Hudson felt like nobody appreciated him anymore, retired completely from the Piston Cup and practically vanished from the face of the Earth completely, leaving Smokey and his race friends in the process. Eventually, Doc found shelter in Radiator Springs. His wisdom, tough, grandpa-like attitude earned him enough respect from the townsfolk that in the mid 20th century, Hudson was hired as the town's judge.

In 2006, rookie Piston Cup racer Lightning McQueen accidentally tore up the town's main road and was sentenced to community service. Lightning soon became friends with the residents of Radiator Springs, and after the big race at California, he set up a racing headquarters in the town and planned to live there. Thanks to Lightning's enormous fan base during his rookie years, the town became popular again. In Cars 3, it is revealed that Doc constantly sent letters to Smokey about the town's popularity growing and his new pupil, Lightning McQueen.

The Stanley statue

Location

The exact location of Radiator Springs is unknown; however, it is assumed to be in eastern Arizona, along Route 66 and in the Monument Valley.

Radiator Springs is somewhere along the old Route 66, which was in the United States. Route 66 went from Los Angeles, California to Chicago, Illinois, which can be heard in the Route 66 song during the end credits of the first movie. Radiator Springs is surrounded by the desert, and is not near any large cities, so Radiator Springs must be on Route 66 in either California, Arizona, or New Mexico. According to The Art of Cars, Radiator Springs is located in between Gallup, New Mexico, and Kingman, Arizona^{[citation needed]} (which both can be heard in the end credits song). Since Gallup is on the far west side of New Mexico, Radiator Springs is most likely in Arizona. The truck stop that Mack and Lightning McQueen passed by on their trip could not be west from Houck, Arizona because of a sign which reads "LAST TRUCK STOP FOR 500 MILES", and since Houck is on the far east side of Arizona, the truck stop was most likely in western New Mexico, and if Mack drove for only a few hours more after the truck stop before he fell asleep, then Radiator Springs is most likely in eastern Arizona. The town's speed limit is 25 mph, any car that surpasses it (even by 1 mph) will be sentenced to stay at the Radiator Springs Municipal Impound with a parking boot until further notice.

Active

• Cozy Cone Motel
• Flo's V8 Café
• Ramone's House of Body Art
• Tow Mater Towing & Salvage
• Radiator Springs Drive-In Theatre
• Fillmore's Taste-In
• Luigi's Casa Della Tires
• Radiator Springs Curios
• Sarge's Surplus Hut
• Radiator Springs Courthouse & Fire Department
• Racing Museum (formerly Glen Rio Motel)
• Doc Hudson Racing Museum (formerly Ornament Valley Mechanical Clinic)

Abandoned

• The Oil Pan
• Lube-O-Rama
• Pop N Patch Tire Repair
• Miss Piston
• Emporium Carburetor Repair
• Muddy's Mudflaps
• Mrs. Muffler
• All Day Lunch
• Wimpy's Wipers
• Rusty Bumper
• Sparky's Spark Plugs
• Mr. Curb Feeler
• Foggy Windshield
• Radiator Springs Garage
• Glen Rio Motel
• Budville Trading Company

Residents

For this subject's image gallery, see Radiator Springs/Residents.

• Mack
• Lightning McQueen
• Sally
• Flo
• Sarge
• Fillmore
• Luigi & Guido
• Mater
• Ramone
• Sheriff
• Red
• Lizzie
• Cruz Ramirez

Former residents

• Stanley
• Doc Hudson

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Radiator Springs/Gallery.

Names in other languages

• Czech: Kardanové Lhoty
• Danish: Kølerkildekøbing
• Estonian: Radikaribi linn
• Finnish: Syylari City
• French: Radiator Kasabasi
• Greek: Μπουζί της Ωραίας Ελένης (transcription: Bouzí tis Oraías Elénis)
• Hungarian: Kipufogófürdő
• Lithuanian: Radiatoriškių
• Norwegian: Radiator by
• Polish: Chłodnica Górska
• Russian: Радиатор-Спрингс (transcription: Radiator-Springs)
• Spanish: Radiador Springs
• Swedish: Kylarköping
• Turkish: Radyatör Kasabası
• Ukrainian: Радіатор-Спрінгс (transcription: Radiator-Springs)

References

1. Image (RS precise location)
2. Image

	This article is part of Project 66, a PCW project that aims to document the history and geography of Route 66 as it relates to the world of Cars.
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