Posted on 07/09/2012 5:27:49 AM PDT by ShadowAce
It just keeps going, and going, and going. No, it's not a battery. It's Irvin Gordon's 1966 Volvo P1800S.
Gordon's small, red two-door has well more than 2 million miles on the odometer, the equivalent of nearly 1,176 times across the globe.
The retired schoolteacher from Long Island hopes to reach the 3 million mile mark by next year. He only has 34,000 miles to go.
The 72-year-old Gordon drives his Volvo everywhere. He has held the Guinness World Records mark for High Mileage Vehicle since 2002 and was the first person to hold that record.
"It's just a car I enjoy driving," he said.
He bought his beloved car on June 30, 1966, for $4,150 at the age of 25. "It was a whole year's salary," he said.
Gordon originally wanted the convertible Volvo with air conditioning, but it was too expensive. He paid extra to have an AM/FM radio, though.
"It was $10 extra, and at that time, $10 was a lot. But an AM/FM radio was a big deal," he said.
Gordon's car has just enough room for him and his essentials. His front bumper is filled with pins of his mileage achievements. Even his license plate says "MILNMILER." And his trunk overflows with the many car parts he thinks he might need when on the road.
"I have a set of everything," he said. "If I have it, then I am not going to need it."
Gordon has been taking road trips since he was a kid and continued through his adult years. He says he would just tell his family to pack their things and hit the road. Gordon's two daughters went on his road trips until they outgrew the tiny red car.
"They just couldn't fit in the back anymore. That is when...
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Volvo B-16 and B-18 4 cylinder engines are bullet proof.
Retired school teacher?
No wonder he was able to rack up so many miles....probably been retired about 25 years ago
Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?
Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?
Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?
Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?
I just don’t understand why the other makers cannot make an engine like that. You’d think they would enjoy the reputation that goes with it.
I've been around the world twice but I fail to see how one can go (across the globe."
Probably the same Volvo reliability that stops multiple posts.
I had a Dodge Dart with a slant 6. Got it from my father in law. I would still be driving it if some drunk on a three wheel motor bike didn't crash into the front at 40 mph. (Car was parked)
—He bought his beloved car on June 30, 1966, for $4,150 at the age of 25. “It was a whole year’s salary,” he said.—
No wonder there were not that many of them on the road. Back then that was an absurd amount of money for anything without a Ferrari emblem.
What?
Volvo built great cars in the 60’s. I had a 122 and drove forever on its 4 cly. engine. Never had a problem with it. I’d buy one today if they were still being sold. At the time I really wanted the P1800 but it cost more than I could afford.
This guy has no regard for the environment. His old Volvo is killing the planet and he is not helping Uhbamuh at all by buying a Volt.
signed,
fiberals.
Ain't that the truth.
"How high does a redwood grow? If it is not messed with, it will grow," said Weine, who hasn't worked on Gordon's car. "And there are very few redwood trees and the same goes with this. There are very few people that can achieve 3 million miles."
What is this guy babbling about Redwoods?
I confess that the one thing I really hated about cars was carburetors. To me, the move to “reliable” fuel injection completely changed our relationship with cars.
I had a girlfriend in college who had one. It was cute,but I'm 6'4", and couldn't drive it for more than 15 minutes without cramping up. It also jokingly had a rear "seat" that was perfect for a chihuahua.
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