ClassicsIn-n-Out Burger & Hot Rod Share a 70th Anniversary

In today's disposable society, it's rare to be able to celebrate anything that has any amount of longevity. So when So-Cal natives In-N-Out Burger Company recently teamed up with the equally-iconic Hot Rod magazine to celebrate both of their 70th anniversaries, it was a shindig that just couldn't be missed.

48 Years Later He Still Loves the 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350 He Bought as a Teen

Most automotive historians agree that 1970 was the pinnacle of the first great muscle car movement. With automakers aiming muscle car advertising straight at the kisser of the kids of America, the insurance companies started battening down and raising the stakes—and their premiums. Rising tensions in the oil-rich Middle East added to the worries of the gas-guzzling muscle car salesmen, and it was well known that the stench of unleaded gas was just over the horizon. It was time to start thinking about a change in the overall strategy of the American car market.

Held as a one-day event at the famous Auto Club Raceway at Pomona in California (where the NHRA holds both its annual Winternationals competition as well as the NHRA Finals), it was the first time the two companies teamed up to produce a show and, by all accounts, the overwhelming response took everyone by surprise. An hour before the gates even opened there was a line of hot rods extending more than half a mile to get in and, by mid-morning, it was estimated over 3,000 vehicles had already entered the grounds.

© Hot Rod Network Staff 084-2018-hot-rod-in-n-out-burger-70th-anniversary

Set up behind the grandstands of the dragstrip, the show featured a large tent where historic hot rods from Hot Rod magazine's past were on display. These included many cover cars, such as Bob McGee's '32 roadster from the October 1948 issue, the Maxi-head T roadster that Ed Iskendarian built in the late '30s that was featured on the June 1948 cover, the Niekamp roadster (the first winner of the America's Most Beautiful Roadster award in 1949), and even some newer offerings, such as the Trepanier-built Snyper revealed at the 50th anniversary of Hot Rod magazine in 1998.

Iconic 1970 Chevelle SS454 Found Hidden in Texas Since 1980

This Tuxedo Black 1970 Chevelle SS454 LS6 had been parked since 1980 in an old storage garage in North Richland Hills, Texas.

But celebrating Hot Rod meant drag racing, too, and many nostalgia Funny Cars, dragsters, and Fuel Altereds lined up alongside some very quick Run-Whatcha-Brung entries for a some blasts down the quarter-mile track. Some other drag cars that weren't racing were on display, set up near the 10, 40-foot mobile kitchens In-N-Out brought out to serve thousands of hamburgers (we never saw the line disappear in front of these tractor/trailers all day long).

Related Video: 70th Anniversary Celebration Roll-in

A little farther south of the burger stands were miles of hot rods of every description that rolled in from all over Southern California to participate in the birthday bash. After all, what could be more American than a day of burnouts and burgers?

See more classic hot rods on MSN Autos | Follow MSN Autos on Facebook and Twitter