Tom and Ray Magliozzi, the Peabody Award-winning hosts of Car Talk on NPR, are better known as "Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers" -- taking their names from the clickety-clack sound made by aging autos. Tom, 66, and Ray, 54, dispense car advice in the broad accents of the tough East Cambridge neighborhood where they grew up. Both are graduates of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In 1973, the brothers opened a do-it-yourself garage in Cambridge, Massachusetts. "Hacker's Haven" provided rented space and tools for clients fixing their own cars. But as hippies turned into yuppies and car repair became more complicated, "Hacker's Haven" turned into the "Good News Garage," a conventional car repair service.
In 1977, Tom and Ray were invited to the studios of NPR member station WBUR in Boston, along with other area mechanics, to discuss car repair. Tom accepted the invitation, and when he was invited back the following week, he asked, "Can I bring my brother, Ray?" The rest, as they say, is history. The Magliozzis were subsequently given their own weekly program, Car Talk, which soon attracted a large local following.
In January 1987, then host Susan Stamberg asked Tom and Ray to be weekly contributors to NPR's Weekend Edition and on October 31, 1987, Car Talk premiered as a national program, presented by NPR.
Tom Magliozzi holds a doctorate in marketing and has taught at Boston and Suffolk Universities; he now runs his own consulting business. Ray Magliozzi is still at the Good News Garage. He has taught adult education automotive courses, worked for the Consumer Affairs Division of the state attorney general's office, and is a member of the National Car Care Council. The brothers also produce a highly successful newspaper column for King Features Syndicate, "Click and Clack Talk Cars", and an award-winning website, the Car Talk section of cars.com.
Car Talk is heard by more than 4.1 million listeners each week on 588 public radio stations. Click and Clack Talk Cars appears in 335 newspapers. The website, the Car Talk section of cars.com receives more than 400,000 unique visitors per week.
Tom and Ray's most recent books are In Our Humble Opinion and A Haircut in Horsetown and Other Great Car Talk Puzzlers, both published by Penguin Putnam. Their most recent audio collections are "Born Not to Run: More Disrespectful Car Songs," "The Hatchback of Notre Dame: More Car Talk Classics," and "Car Talk Car Tunes: The Car Talk Compendium of Disrespectful Car Songs, Volume 1. "
More from KCRW
José Galván's playlist, April 22, 2024
Best New MusicAn infectious harmony of varied sounds and melodies that bridge cultures and genres.
Will animals cross one of the nation’s busiest freeways?
AnimalsConstruction has begun in Agoura Hills on the world’s largest wildlife road crossing. How do you get animals to cross over the busy 101 freeway?
Faye Webster: KCRW Live from HQ
ArtsAhead of crushing her Coachella debut, Faye Webster went Live From KCRW HQ with highlights from her 2024 LP “Underdressed at the Symphony” — here’s the video.
From radio waves to Olympics, Kareem Maddox shares his journey
SportsSouthern California’s Kareem Maddox, a former radio host and Princeton alum, will compete in 3x3 basketball for Team USA at the Paris Summer Olympics.
KCRW’s Top 30: Baby Rose (slow) burns up the chart
KCRW's Top 30 ChartOur 2023 breakthrough artist, Baby Rose, earns the spins to take her BADBADNOTGOOD produced EP “Slow Burn” to number one.
Today’s Top Tune: Lizz Wright - ‘Your Love’ (Feat. Meshell Ndegeocello and Brandee Younger)
Best New MusicDulcet-toned vocalist Lizz Wright celebrates 20 years as a recording artist with a new career-defining album, Shadow.
MBE playlist April 23: Coachella highlights and St. Vincent’s ‘Big Time Nothing’
Best New MusicNovena and producer Anna Chang have returned from the desert and they’re telling all… Plus, St. Vincent’s new single “Big Time Nothing.”
LACMA to send some of its art to Vegas. Will Angelenos miss out?
NewsLACMA has signed on as a partner in the development of Las Vegas’ only standalone art museum. Pieces from LACMA will be on rotating loan in Vegas once the museum is complete.