3 Million Miles and Counting

[PorscheGAL]

All I can say is Wow. A goal to shoot for.

FOXNews.com - Record-Setting Driver Nears 3 Million Miles


As a record-breaking automotive pioneer turned 70 last week, he showed no signs of slowing down. In fact, Irv Gordon – driver of the highest mileage vehicle on the road, a 1966 Volvo P1800 – aims to reach an unmatchable record sometime in the next three years.

With more than 2.8 million miles on his sporty red Volvo sports car, Gordon is celebrating his birthday by affirming his goal of reaching three million miles before his 73rd birthday, forever enshrining him as an iron man in automotive endurance.

Gordon, a retired science teacher from East Patchogue, N.Y., purchased his Volvo in June 1966, and immediately fell in love, driving 1,500 miles in the first 48 hours. With a 125-mile round-trip daily commute, a fanatical dedication to vehicle maintenance and a passion for driving, Gordon logged 500,000 miles in 10 years.


Gordon credits careful maintenance for his Volvo's longevitiy. (Photo: Volvo)
In 1998 with 1.69 million miles, he made the "Guinness Book of World Records" for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle. In 2002, he drove the car's two-millionth mile down Times Square to national and international media attention.

Today, Gordon breaks his own record every time he drives, whether it's to Cincinnati for coffee, Rolla, Mo., for lunch or Green River, Wyo., for dinner. Gordon, like any mighty record holder at the top of his game, is mindful of his legacy as well as setting a record no one can beat.

"Three million miles by my 73nd birthday sounds right," Gordon said. "But whether I reach that mark is more up to me than it is the car. The car's parts have long proven they can take it, but I'm not so sure about my own. Either way, it will be a fantastic testament to the engineering genius of Volvo as well as to the resiliency of folks my age.

"Three million miles is an iron clad number that I'd like to think sits right up there with DiMaggio's consecutive-game hitting streak. Who's going to beat that? No one."

Gordon is unsure what to do with his Volvo after three million miles, though he has considered selling it for no less than one dollar per each mile he's driven.

"I used to think I'd park it in a museum where people will get to enjoy seeing the car that beat the odds, all with the same engine, same radio, same axles, same transmission and, of course, the same driver," Gordon said. "Now I think, 'no way.' I'll either keep driving it or sell it for $3 million."

And what would he do if he made $3 million off the car?

"I'd spend it on traveling," he said. "Road trips, of course."

[imcarthur]

That's a whole lot of steering wheel time. I am around a million & I thought that that was a fair chunk.

As for the car? That is pretty good.

Ian

[tcar]

I've been following Irv for decades.

Those 1800's are just as solid a car as there is, engine and trannie also. Had one, (see my sig) but it was only a third of a million when I sold it (200k when I bought it), still original mechanicals.

I did have to recover the driver's seat, buy tires and a battery and recharge the A/C once.

[Jagshund]

If I get in the car and start driving now I could beat his record. Wife might wonder where I went after a while, though.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by 1968Cayman

Wife might wonder where I went after a while, though.

Hopefully.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by imcarthur

... As for the car? That is pretty good.

Ian

I would say nothing else compare...

Love the P1800, used to be Simon Templar "The Saint" car.

The Saint's Volvo 1800

[Steve Carlton]

I thought I read somewhere that Volvo gave him a new car a while ago.

[Tervuren]

A well kept one with the right trim is a really gorgeous car, I was looking up one time to see if Volvo ever built a sports car, and fell in love with the styling. A good example in my area I have yet to find in years though. I've saved up the cash to pull the trigger on one if I find a good one for sale at a reasonable price.

Compared to my 944 though, I'm not sure I'd be happy with how it drove, but I love how it looks. I need to get behind the wheel of one of these and see what I think. I've just never seen one in my area.

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I thought I read somewhere that Volvo gave him a new car a while ago.

I thought that was an '88 or '89 SAAB that somebody in the midwest owned when it hit 1 million.

[URY914]

Wonder what he uses for oil.

[PorscheGAL]

Just goes to show if you maintain cars, take care of them, there is no need to trade for a newer model. Neat little car.

[JJ 911SC]

Originally Posted by URY914

Wonder what he uses for oil.

...Brad Penn

[pwd72s]

Maybe he's the reason the "million mile Mercedes" advertising was dropped?

Agreed...beautiful lines on the P-1800.

[Joeaksa]

Love the 1800!

[Tobra]

Guy who lives behind my parents had one of those, little two door wagon, it was pretty cool.

[pete3799]

That will be over 63,000 miles a year average.
Thats more miles then i put on my Peterbilt last year. (I've been coasting the last few years)
Pretty impresive that he has kept it running all those miles.
I've been over 3 million miles since 1977 but i get payed for it.
He must have a pretty thick wallet to be able to afford tooling around the country for the
last 44 years.

[matthew-s]

I remember when he hit 1,000,000 in that thing. It was in the 1980's when my parents had a Volvo. It was written up in an owners magazine that Volvo would send out. They gave him a new Volvo 780 for that feat. I wonder what they have done for him since. . .