About Us in West Roxbury, MA 

A Letter from Jason Brown, President & CEO

Our Commitment to Excellence Across West Roxbury 

“Whatever you do, don’t ruin my dad’s reputation.”

That’s what John McCracken told me over 25 years ago when he retired and I took over McCracken Automotive.

To tell you the truth, I had never planned on working at McCracken for more than six months. Back in 1986, newly married into the McCracken family, my father-in-law needed help setting up a new database system for the shop (move away from the carbon paper invoices once and for all). I had a business background and always had a knack for computers, so organizing customer records and invoicing seemed like a straightforward project. Six months, maybe a year tops — then I’d move on to whatever came next.

Nearly 40 years later, I’m still here.

What kept me? Honestly, it was the challenge. Every day brought different problems to solve—and I mean really solve. I learned about cars from the ground up, got out in the shop, and discovered that troubleshooting automotive problems wasn’t so different from debugging computer systems back in the day programming in Basic, Cobol or Fortran. Both require methodical thinking, sharp eyes and ears, and the patience to track down root causes over surface problems.

But more than the technical challenge, it’s been the relationships. I’ve watched customers’ kids grow up, get their licenses, and bring in their first cars. Some of our customers remember John’s father Sam from the early days, and now their grandchildren are learning to drive. There’s something special about being part of families’ stories like that.

How We’ve Grown

Under my watch, we’ve expanded from one location to three specialized shops:

McCracken Automotive (107 Spring St.) – This is home base, where I learned the trade from John and where we handle comprehensive automotive repair.

McCracken Express Tech (145 Spring St.) – Our diagnostics and electrical specialists. Modern cars are basically computers on wheels, and this is where we decode what they’re trying to tell us.

McCracken Brake & Tire (510 VFW Pkwy) – State inspections, tire service, and brake work. Plus, I’m working on something special here—a coffee shop where customers can enjoy a proper cup of coffee while they wait. (A basic human right, if you ask me.)

All three locations work together because Boston traffic is complicated enough without having to drive across town for different services.

What Hasn’t Changed

We’re still not looking for work. Never have been. With three busy locations and customers who’ve been coming here for decades, we focus on what actually matters: repairs that are critical or due within three months.

We still give you options, not orders. When something’s wrong with your car, we’ll show you exactly what we found, explain what it means, and let you decide what makes sense for your situation and budget. Sometimes that means fixing it. Sometimes that means it’s time to start car shopping. But know we’ll always give you options.

We still treat every car like it belongs to the family. Our ASE-certified technicians approach every job with the same care and precision that built this reputation in the first place.

The Team Behind the Work

I’m proud of the culture we’ve built here. Our experienced technicians mentor the newer ones, ensuring that McCracken’s standards pass to the next generation. Everyone on our team maintains ASE certification and stays current with evolving automotive technology.

But beyond the technical skills, our team shares something more important: a commitment to honest service. We document everything with digital inspection reports, communicate clearly about what we’ve found, and never pressure anyone into work that can wait.

Think you’d fit in with our team? We’re always looking for skilled technicians who share our values. 

The Full McCracken Story

Sam McCracken started this business in 1927 with one rented bay in a blacksmith shop. Nearly a century later, that commitment to honest work and fair dealing continues across three generations and three locations.

We’d Love to Hear From You

People come to us for all kinds of reasons. Sure, there are the regular repairs and maintenance visits. But customers also drop by to get a second opinion on a car they’re thinking of buying, ask us to look over a vehicle before a big road trip, or get our thoughts on whether their current car is worth keeping or if it’s time to move on.

Call us or stop by any of our three West Roxbury locations. 

Whatever brings you here, we’re happy to help.

Jason Brown
President, McCracken Automotive
Still here after all these years