Comments on: MY TEN YEARS OF CAR-TESTING http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/ Yesterday's tomorrow, today. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:36:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Russ Novotny http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1068021 Russ Novotny Thu, 14 May 2009 15:36:08 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1068021 In the middle 50's I owned a 1950 Fordillac business coupe (blue) with Italian Baroni wire wheels. The body and motor were purchased new and put together by Andy Granatelli. This car was written up in at least one car mag. I wonder if Uncle Tom McCahill had written that article. I Purchased this car used in Illinois for $1,000. It had a 3 speed standard transmission with overdrive. It was very fast and got good gas mileage for the time. Had trouble keeping rear ends in this otherwise trouble free car. In the middle 50’s I owned a 1950 Fordillac business coupe (blue) with Italian Baroni wire wheels. The body and motor were purchased new and put together by Andy Granatelli. This car was written up in at least one car mag. I wonder if Uncle Tom McCahill had written that article. I Purchased this car used in Illinois for $1,000. It had a 3 speed standard transmission with overdrive. It was very fast and got good gas mileage for the time. Had trouble keeping rear ends in this otherwise trouble free car.

]]> By: Bob Roper http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1064988 Bob Roper Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:17:08 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1064988 I, too was given a stack of Mechanics Illustrated (and Electronics Illustrated) by an uncle every few months.I was about eight or nine years old, that being 1958 or 1959, I read and reread all of Uncle Tom's articles, and took his word as gospel. This ultimatly led me into a lifelong career in a related area...motorcycles. Reading the Electronics Illustrated (loved those Tom and Jerry stories, led to my being a licensed Ham Radio operator) Around 1970, my sister worked at Fawcett publications in Greenwich, CT where I by chance, met Tom and got to say hello....a moment akin to meeting the Pope or the Dali Lama. Wasn't Tom involved in some way with the "Fordillac" and the "Studillac"? I seem to recall being told a story by Jim Pauly that had Tom somehow associated with those cars in a small garage in Banksville...I don't recall if Banksville is in NY or Connecticut....but it is a "bordertown at any rate. Thanks for the memories. Bob Roper I, too was given a stack of Mechanics Illustrated (and Electronics Illustrated) by an uncle every few months.I was about eight or nine years old, that being 1958 or 1959, I read and reread all
of Uncle Tom’s articles, and took his word as gospel. This ultimatly led me into a lifelong career in a related area…motorcycles. Reading the Electronics Illustrated (loved those Tom and Jerry stories, led to my being a licensed Ham Radio operator)
Around 1970, my sister worked at Fawcett publications in Greenwich, CT where I by chance, met Tom and got to say hello….a moment akin to meeting the Pope or the Dali Lama.
Wasn’t Tom involved in some way with the “Fordillac” and the “Studillac”? I seem to recall being told a story by Jim Pauly that had Tom somehow associated with those cars in a small garage in Banksville…I don’t recall if Banksville is in NY or Connecticut….but it is a “bordertown at any rate.
Thanks for the memories.
Bob Roper

]]> By: Bob http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1061971 Bob Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:06:08 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1061971 Yowza All, Tom's articles made for good reading growing up as a 8 or 9 year old when I first found his articles at my uncle's home. "Grain of salt", Balderdash! You can't name any other motor journalist of the time who did reviews from the manufacturers much less review those aspects we NOW find important. Do your research go back to the 40's and see the paucity of reviews written during the period. Years later I still look for old issues of Speed Age and his contributions. His use of 0-60 times and brake times were revolutionary for the era. Loved seeing him do a 4-wheel drift. Love to know more about his Daytona record set by his MK VII, mainly because I have a MK VII that was leased to Fawcett Publishing here in Connecticut and I'd like to find out more on the vehicle. Yowza All,
Tom’s articles made for good reading growing up as a 8 or 9 year old when I first found his articles at my uncle’s home.
“Grain of salt”, Balderdash! You can’t name any other motor journalist of the time who did reviews from the manufacturers much less review those aspects we NOW find important. Do your research go back to the 40’s and see the paucity of reviews written during the period.
Years later I still look for old issues of Speed Age and his contributions. His use of 0-60 times and brake times were revolutionary for the era. Loved seeing him do a 4-wheel drift.
Love to know more about his Daytona record set by his MK VII, mainly because I have a MK VII that was leased to Fawcett Publishing here in Connecticut and I’d like to find out more on the vehicle.

]]> By: Bob http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1049664 Bob Sat, 22 Mar 2008 00:45:13 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1049664 McCahill's road tests were always enjoyable to read. There was a lot of BS in his writings, but some truth as well. In the '50's my old man owned a 1950 Nash Ambassador, and I don't think he ever had it faster than 50 mph. McCahill’s road tests were always enjoyable to read. There was a lot of BS in his writings, but some truth as well.

In the ’50’s my old man owned a 1950 Nash Ambassador, and I don’t think he ever had it faster than 50 mph.

]]> By: Gutie http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1049651 Gutie Fri, 21 Mar 2008 22:57:55 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1049651 what ever excesses he may have been guilty of, when I was a lad his words were gospel as to cars. He was also an early "car guy" who loved to drive hard and fast. As of '56 there were few superhighways and 80 MPH was really a thrill. We should have been more afraid since even the best old bias ply tires were really crap. I'm amazed there were not more accidents caused by tire failure. But then few people ever drove fast enough for it to matter. what ever excesses he may have been guilty of, when I was a lad his words were gospel as to cars. He was also an early “car guy” who loved to drive hard and fast. As of ‘56 there were few superhighways and 80 MPH was really a thrill. We should have been more afraid since even the best old bias ply tires were really crap. I’m amazed there were not more accidents caused by tire failure. But then few people ever drove fast enough for it to matter.

]]> By: Jim Dunn http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/comment-page-1/#comment-1049513 Jim Dunn Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:26:53 +0000 http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2008/03/20/my-ten-years-of-car-testing/#comment-1049513 Ahhhh, Mr. McCahill, or as I like to refer to him, "Mr. Hyperbole." He's fun to read, but you have to take everything he says with a grain (and by "grain," I mean "trainload") of salt. Ahhhh, Mr. McCahill, or as I like to refer to him, “Mr. Hyperbole.” He’s fun to read, but you have to take everything he says with a grain (and by “grain,” I mean “trainload”) of salt.

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