By: A. Wayne Ferens
Story of the Week
From 1946 to 1975, Thomas Jay McCahill III (1907 to 1975) served as the automotive correspondent for Mechanix Illustrated, one of America's leading how-to magazines. Known to loyal readers as Uncle Tom, McCahill helped define the craft of automobile road testing and reporting in America. His colorful writing style, blunt opinions, and detailed evaluations made him one of the most influential automotive journalists of his era.
Born in Larchmont, New York, the grandson of a wealthy attorney, McCahill graduated from Yale University with a degree in fine arts. Having grown up around automobiles, he became a salesman for Marmon in Manhattan during the 1930s. He later managed dealerships representing Jaguar, Rolls Royce, and other luxury marques. A journalist at heart, he also freelanced for magazines that included Yachting, Reader's Digest, Popular Mechanics, and Mechanix Illustrated. After World War II, he reached an agreement with Mechanix Illustrated to personally test and evaluate new domestic and imported automobiles. The magazine published articles based on his findings. 
Mechanix Illustrated published one of America's first automobile road tests in February 1946.
In February 1946, McCahill tested his own 1946 Ford Deluxe Sedan for what is widely regarded as one of America's first regularly published magazine automobile road tests. It marked the beginning of more than 600 road tests written by "Mr. Auto Tester," Uncle Tom McCahill.
Over the years, the colorful McCahill developed friendships throughout the automotive industry. His acquaintances included Henry Ford II, Walter P. Chrysler, Carroll Shelby, Briggs Cunningham, Zora Arkus Duntov, and Smokey Yunick, along with executives who did not always appreciate his candid opinions. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds, McCahill was an imposing figure who could usually handle anyone sent to express displeasure over one of his reviews. He was also among the very few journalists given the opportunity to drive the Tucker. At a time when much of Detroit dismissed the car, McCahill praised it as "the best performing automobile in America by far," a review that quickly attracted industry attention.
McCahill was a no nonsense evaluator with a keen eye for quality who developed his own distinctive testing methods. He drove cars in every imaginable condition, both on and off road, and traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe. He was among the first automotive journalists to popularize the now standard 0 to 60 acceleration test. As a young reader, I could hardly wait for the latest issue of Mechanix Illustrated just to read his colorful descriptions of how a particular car performed or handled. His vivid metaphors and similes became legendary. He described the Shelby AC Cobra as "hairier than a Borneo gorilla in a raccoon suit." Of the swivel seats in the 1959 Chrysler Imperial, he wrote they were "as easy to get into as a floating crap game."
By the early 1950s, McCahill had become something of a celebrity. Ford invited him to preview the soon to be introduced 1955 Thunderbird. He liked the car so much that he purchased the first production example. Before long, manufacturers were hoping to have their latest models tested by Mechanix Illustrated. Many even delivered vehicles directly to McCahill's homes in Ormond Beach, Florida, or New York to ensure they received his attention.
McCahill often brought his Labrador retrievers, Joe and Boji, along during road tests. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting and fishing. One of his favorite vehicles was the Jeep, which he once described as one of mankind's greatest automotive ideas.
McCahill was also no stranger to the racetrack. In 1952, he entered his Jaguar Mark VII sedan in the Daytona Beach NASCAR Speed Weeks trials and won his sedan class. He frequently covered the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France and many other world-renowned racing events. He also successfully competed with his new 1955 Thunderbird during the Daytona Speed Weeks trials. The Tom McCahill Trophy was later named in his honor.
Uncle Tom at Daytona Beach, Florida, with legendary NASCAR mechanic and race car builder Smokey Yunick, owner of the "Best Damn Garage in Town."
McCahill became both wealthy and influential. He often joked that he had "more cash than hair." He endorsed a wide range of automotive products, including tires, shock absorbers, spark plugs, filters, motor oils, gasoline products, and even trade schools. At the same time, he criticized automakers for standardized styling, poor quality materials, underperforming engines and transmissions, weak brakes and suspensions, and the lack of meaningful safety features. He also criticized the United Auto Workers over what he believed was declining quality in American built cars compared with European imports. The industry understood that a favorable McCahill review could significantly influence public opinion.
When Ralph Nader criticized the handling of the 1963 Chevrolet Corvair, McCahill tested the car extensively at General Motors' Milford Proving Grounds while attempting to induce rollovers under controlled conditions. After completing the tests without incident, he concluded that the Corvair handled exceptionally well, even writing that he believed it handled better than a Porsche.
McCahill was born to drive, but he was equally driven to write. When he was not boating, hunting, deep-sea diving, or testing automobiles, he authored books about sports cars and competition cars, owner guides, promotional material, consumer reports, and racing coverage. He also answered readers' questions in Mechanix Illustrated popular "Mail for McCahill" feature.
Detroit often had mixed feelings about Uncle Tom, especially when he criticized the industry's growing reliance on warning lights instead of traditional gauges. He famously joked that "idiot lights" usually came on just before the patient died.
McCahill spent his final years in Ormond Beach, Florida, where he died on May 10, 1975. Mechanix Illustrated never formally acknowledged his passing in its pages. For a time, the magazine continued publishing a column titled "Tom McCahill Reports," which was ghostwritten by his stepson.
I often wonder what old Tom would think about today's automobiles, especially exotic hybrid supercars producing well over 1,000 horsepower and carrying price tags in the millions. I can picture him climbing out of a $5 million Bugatti W16 Mistral after a blistering 0 to 60 run in less than 2.5 seconds, white as a ghost and grinning, while eating ice.
Bibliography
Hemmings September 2018
Mechanix Illustrated
McCahill on Sports Cars Fawcett Books 1953
McCahill's Car Owners Guide
Photos: Ferens Collection