3 million mile Volvo P-1800 this year?

tcar · 07-01-2011, 07:03 AM

Posting this because I used to own the Sportwagon version of this car 1800-ES

Irv Gordon and his 2.9-million-mile Volvo P1800
Modern cars can do over 100,000 miles without pausing for breath. If you really pile on the miles, you might have 200,000 or even 300,000 miles on the clock. If the car Gods are really shining on you, you might have managed more than half a million.

Prepare to feel insignificant. Irv Gordon from East Patchogue, New York, and his 1966 Volvo P1800, have completed over 2.9 million miles together. If you're after an arbitrary comparison to offer some perspective, that's around six round-trips to the moon, or over 116 circumnavigations of Earth.

It also equates to an average of a staggering 64,444 miles per year since Irv took delivery of the car, five years after its launch in 1961. The beautiful P1800 is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Irv hasn't gone easy on the car. Upon taking delivery back in '66 he drove it 1,500 miles in the first two days and had already amassed half a million miles in the first decade - far more than most cars do in a lifetime. Of course, though the car has proved itself time and time again, Irv is religious with maintenance and the car receives all the attention you'd expect it to.

By 1998 Gordon and his Volvo had made it into the Guinness Book of World Records at 1.69 million miles, more than anyone else in a single-owner non-commercial vehicle, and by 2002 they'd reached 2 million miles. It also means Irv is in the enviable position of breaking records with every mile he drives.

Three million miles is easily within reach, and Gordon expects to hit that target in the next couple of years. "In honor of the P1800's 50th anniversary, I'd like to reaffirm my goal of reaching three million miles within the next two years" explains Gordon.

It's not only Irv's record we envy, though. Very few people can claim to have owned the same vehicle for so long - never tiring of it, always giving it the attention it requires and enjoying so many journeys.

Whilst undoubtedly a testament to the quality and reliability of the Volvo, it's also a testament to the excellence of the automobile and what can be achieved.

island911 · 07-01-2011, 07:07 AM

Reminds me of my favorite axe. Only replaced the handle seven times, and the head twice. . . . amazing how long it's lasted.

nota · 07-01-2011, 07:43 AM

I just picked up a 66 volvo 120 4 door sedan
different body but the very same drive train as the P1800

tcar · 07-01-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

Reminds me of my favorite axe. Only replaced the handle seven times, and the head twice. . . . amazing how long it's lasted.

Huh????

It's the same car.

daepp · 07-01-2011, 08:07 AM

What does he do for a living that he drives up that kind of mileage? I thought I drove a lot at 25-30K a year.

pwd72s · 07-01-2011, 09:12 AM

Cindy has liked the looks of the sportwagon version for a long time. By the time we could afford one, they were too long in the tooth for a daily driver...so we passed for reliabilty.

Still...probably the best looking sportwagon...ever!

island911 · 07-01-2011, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

Huh????

It's the same car.

Yeah? ... 2.9-million-miles on the original engine? ...2.9-million-miles on the original gear-box? 2.9-million-miles on the original seats?

scottmandue · 07-01-2011, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

Yeah? ... 2.9-million-miles on the original engine? ...2.9-million-miles on the original gear-box? 2.9-million-miles on the original seats?

I worked with a guy who had a million mile Toyota (not hard to believe with Toyota's reputation)

Followed him to a shop where he had a rebuilt engine dropped in it... said it was the second time he had done that.

Laneco · 07-01-2011, 10:57 AM

According to this:

Irv Gordon aims for 3 million miles in his Volvo P1800

Same engine, same transmission, same axles.

Does not specify if they have been overhauled, but does say SAME . Another reference I found shows that the owner washes the car, including the under carriage (with hot water) which likely has contributed to avoiding the rust worms.

angela

tcar · 07-01-2011, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

Yeah? ... 2.9-million-miles on the original engine? ...2.9-million-miles on the original gear-box? 2.9-million-miles on the original seats?

The engine has been rebuilt or partially rebuilt several times. Tranny also, rear diff.

He's had the driver's seat rebuilt (rewelded seat frame once) a couple times too.

Same car.

He maintains it to the Nth degree. Religious about it.

He's been retired for quite a while now... and drives a lot. He was a teacher and drove with a vengence in the summer.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

My son's 2002 Ford Focus ZX3 has more than 200k miles on it. Rust may kill it before anything mechanical does...

island911 · 07-01-2011, 12:20 PM

My point was about the meaning of same car. (at what point is it not the same? ...how many parts were swapped?)

Not to dig on the guy, as it is impressive no matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tcar

[B]...
By 1998 Gordon and his Volvo had made it into the Guinness Book of World Records at 1.69 million miles, more than anyone else in a single-owner non-commercial vehicle, ...

the previous High Mileage champ was Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver (commercial use) who held the known record of 2,858,307 miles, to be exact, before retiring it to a Mercedes-Benz museum in Germany. So it appears that Gordon and his Volvo will hold a record over even the commercial competition.

I do wonder, however, which took more new parts.

AZAirCooled · AZAirCooled's Garage

Last month I was at my independent Porsche shop and there was an early 911 they had been servicing for the same owner since it was new, 500,000 miles ago! The shop owner told me they had rebuilt the engine for him twice. The car still looked good!

What is the highest mileage 911 someone has seen?

island911 · 07-01-2011, 12:45 PM

Quite a few years ago, there was an SC on ebay with 500k. ..iirc, the owner said the engine was rebuilt at ~250k (270k?)and would need another rebuild soon. (ya think?)

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

My dad has 245,000 on his '84 Carrera. Had the top end and the clutch done, along with repaint, new seals and refurbished top and interior. Looks and runs pretty fantastic

Buddy has a half million mile civic, original everything including clutch, think it is a '92

Drisump · Drisump's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

What does he do for a living that he drives up that kind of mileage? I thought I drove a lot at 25-30K a year.

No kidding! If he averages 65 mph, he has to log 1000 hours a year behind the wheel...WOW. Many truck drivers put in 100k, but that is their job. Pretty impressive though, both the machinery and the owners commitment. Cheers

Steve Carlton · 07-01-2011, 07:25 PM

I think Volvo gave him a brand new 780 when he hit 1 million miles.

tcar · 07-02-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by island911

My point was about the meaning of same car. (at what point is it not the same? ...how many parts were swapped?)

Guinness has standards... so it meets those.

It's the same engine, but he's replaced parts... probably rings, valves, etc.

Same tranny, but not same synchros, etc...

As I said he's rebuilt and welded the driver's seat... so foam, cover...

Where are YOU drawing the line? Sounds like you're skeptical...

My 73 1800ES still had the original clutch when I sold it at 165k miles. No work on engine (except plugs, etc). Tranny shifted like new...

Ditto my 71 Volvo 145... similar mileage (170k). It was an excellent car, but was fatally rear-ended; wife was fine.

island911 · 07-02-2011, 03:03 PM

Thanks tcar. I'm often simply looking for the rest of the story...

Original engine block and gears - impressive.

...and that paint; it doesn't look like even a mile over 2 million.

Laneco · 07-02-2011, 04:22 PM

I bought a 93 Mazda MX-6 from the original owner, with all original documentation.

The car had 276,000 on the original clutch (which was slipping when I bought it).

I drove it for several years and sold it with 310,000 miles on it. That engine was absolutely original including valves, alternator, water pump, etc, except for filters, plugs, wires - basic tune-up parts. The axles did get replaced.

That's it. Saw it driving around for years after I sold it.

Bought one with 176,000 miles on it for our daughter last year. I figure it only has another couple hundred thousand left in it - LOL!

angela