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Jil McIntosh, a professional writer for over 35 years, is a renowned automotive journalist with a passion for old cars. She has received numerous awards for her work.

Jil McIntosh is a highly experienced professional writer with over 35 years of expertise in the field. Her work has been featured in renowned publications across Canada and the United States. She has developed a strong reputation for her specialization in various automotive topics, including new-vehicle reviews, old cars and automotive history, automotive news, and "How It Works" columns that provide in-depth explanations of vehicle features and technology.

Since 2003, Jil McIntosh has been a proud member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). She actively participates as a voting member for the AJAC Canadian Car of the Year Awards and serves as a juror on the Women's World Car of the Year Awards. These roles highlight her deep knowledge and expertise in the automotive industry.

Jil McIntosh's journey into the world of writing started at East York Collegiate in Toronto, where she completed her education. However, her real-life education came from the School of Hard Knocks, where she gained invaluable experience. She began her career by driving a taxi in Toronto and later worked in warranty administration at a new-vehicle dealership. During her time at the dealership, she conducted information classes for customers, enlightening them about the intricate mechanical workings and features of vehicles.

While Jil McIntosh has been contributing to Driving.ca since 2016, her passion for writing and automobiles dates back to a time when most cars still relied on carburetors. In fact, her talent as a writer was recognized at a young age when she had a story published in the now-defunct Toronto Telegram newspaper. At just eleven years old, she received a payment of $25 for her work. Considering the story's brevity and the value of the dollar at the time, it may very well be one of the most lucrative pieces she has ever written.

As an avid enthusiast of classic cars, Jil McIntosh owns a 1947 Cadillac and a 1949 Studebaker truck. Her writing career initially revolved around crafting stories for magazines dedicated to antique cars and hot rods. In 1987, when the Ontario-based newspaper Old Autos was established, solely focused on the antique-car hobby, she became a columnist from its second issue onwards. To this day, she continues to contribute to the publication. Additionally, when the Toronto Star introduced its Wheels section in 1986 - the first Canadian newspaper to include an automobile section - Jil McIntosh became one of its regular writers. Initially, she wrote feature stories and later expanded her repertoire to include "new-vehicle reviewer" in 1999. She remained with Wheels, both in print and digital formats, until the publication made the decision to let go of its freelance writers. The very next day, she joined Driving.ca, where she continues to share her expertise.

In addition to her contributions to Driving.ca, Jil McIntosh writes for other industry-focused publications, including Automotive News Canada and Autosphere. Throughout her career, her automotive work has graced the pages of esteemed publications such as Cars & Parts, Street Rodder, Canadian Hot Rods, AutoTrader, Sharp, Taxi News, Maclean's, The Chicago Tribune, Forbes Wheels, Canadian Driver, Sympatico Autos, and Reader's Digest. Her non-automotive work spans a wide range of topics, including travel, food and drink, rural living, fountain pen collecting, and celebrity interviews. These articles have been featured in publications such as Harrowsmith, Where New Orleans, Pen World, The Book for Men, Rural Delivery, and Gambit.

Jil McIntosh's exceptional talent and dedication to her craft have earned her numerous accolades and awards throughout her career. In 2016, she was honored with the AJAC Journalist of the Year award. She has also been recognized for her commitment to safety journalism, winning the Car Care Canada / CAA Safety Journalism award in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2013. In 2021, she was the runner-up for the same award. Her skills extend beyond writing, as she has also been acknowledged with the Pirelli Photography Award in 2015, the Environmental Journalism Award in 2019, the Technical Writing Award in 2020, and the Vehicle Testing Review award in 2020. In 2022, she was the runner-up for the Vehicle Testing Review award. Furthermore, she has been honored with the Feature Story award in 2020 and was inducted into the Street Rodding Hall of Fame in 1994.

Jil McIntosh's extensive experience, unparalleled knowledge, and passion for writing have made her one of the most respected and sought-after automotive writers in the industry. Her ability to engage readers through her conversational style, use of personal pronouns, and incorporation of rhetorical questions, analogies, and metaphors sets her apart. Whether she's delving into the inner workings of vehicles or exploring a wide range of topics, Jil McIntosh's writing captivates readers, making her a true asset to the world of automotive journalism.

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