Think fast food, and it’s likely that a handful of world-beating burger brands spring to mind. While the idea of ‘fast’ food (that is, food that can be eaten quickly on the go) can be traced all the way back to ancient civilisations, the version we know and love today is a proudly American invention with roots in the 20th century. Here we step back in time to take a look at how fast food restaurants in the USA and Canada evolved from coin-operated machines and hot dog stands to shiny, modern drive-thrus and high-tech ordering systems.

Click or scroll through our gallery and feast your eyes on some of the oldest images of fast food that exist today.