Classic Car Record: Volvo P1800 3 Million Mile Motor

Classic Car Record: Volvo P1800 3 Million Mile Motor

Auto mad Irvin Gordon is set to enter the record books when his beloved classic car Volvo P1800 clocks up a staggering THREE MILLION miles. And incredibly the 70-year-old's classic car Volvo P1800 - which he bought in 1966- has NEVER broken down. To date, Irvin's classic Volvo P1800 has had 857 oil changes, 30 drive belts, 150 points and spark plugs - and guzzled 120 bottles of transmission fluid. The retired school teacher bought the classic Volvo P1800 convertible for £2,650 after a THREE-HOUR test drive with a friend. In 2009, the classic car received a Guinness World Record for the 'Highest Vehicle Mileage', clocking in excess of 2,721,000 miles.

Videographer / Director: Laurentiu Garofeanu
Producer: Liam Miller
Editors: Joshua Douglas / Ian Phillips

MOTOR-mad Irvin Gordon is set to enter the record books when his beloved Volvo clocks up a staggering THREE MILLION miles.

And incredibly the 70-year-old's runaround - which he bought in 1966- has NEVER broken down.

To date, Irvin's car has had 857 oil changes, 30 drive belts, 150 points and spark plugs - and guzzled 120 bottles of transmission fluid.

The retired school teacher bought the convertible for £2,650 after a THREE-HOUR test drive with a friend.

Irvin, from Long Island, New York, said: "I just couldn't get out of the car. I was having such a good time.

"I spent all Friday night, all day Saturday, all day Sunday and came back Monday for a 1500 mile check up.

"Most people think it's crazy that I've clocked up so many miles -- but driving is my drug of choice.

"Where other people get rid of their cars after a few years, I've never got tired of mine.

"I used to go on driving holidays and had a 125 mile commute to work every day -- so the miles just added up."

Over 46 years with his car Irvin has driven through the USA, UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Holland, Canada and Mexico.

He averages 60,000 miles a year - but can do as many as 100,000.

He said: "I'm sure I'll feel very bad once I find out how much I've spent on maintaining the car - I spent thousands of dollars every year on gasoline.

"But I like to drive -- it's my hobby.

"I choose to spend my time at the gas station filling the car up."

Divorced Irvin says one benefit of being on the road so much is he knows American highways so well he no longer needs a map.

He said: "My friends used to think I was slightly nuts for driving as much as I do, but now that I am getting all of this attention for my Volvo, they are very impressed.

"I've made a lot of friends because of this car."

In nearly 50 years of ownership, his car has never broken down. However, the car may have broken other things for Irvin.

He said: "I don't see my ex-wife or my kids. I can't say if that is because of the driving."

Irvin will be driving his three millionth mile on his Volvo P1800 in Alaska this autumn - then plans to continue using the car unless someone purchases it.

He said: "I'm entertaining the idea of selling it for a dollar a mile.

"It's just been driven by a little old school teacher on the weekends.

"It has never been in the rain, snow or any inclement weather.

"It's practically a new car!"

[Munkenba]

One of the most beautiful cars volvo has ever made I think, and lets be honest, while they had a real boxy period, today no one makes a more beautiful every day family car. Think about it, what car on the road is better looking, without looking to flash. A volvo pulls off an impressive trick, beauty while retaining modesty, and that's my favourite trait in an every day car.

[stvynix]

I always loved my Volvo 240's. I owned 3. The best one was my second... an 85. I only paid 1700.00 for it and i drove it 90, 000 miles. I learned to work on cars with that one, and I barely had to take it to a mechanic. It was a treasure, and beautiful!

[reekygenie]

this man is a pure legend he drives a volvo for more than 45 years and the car is still going, now thats the power of a volvo!

[ArgaAnders]

What a fantastic piece of machinery, and what a fantastic man to have taken so good care of it all these years!

[jsrosa]

Volvo gave him a new XC60 to commemorate the 3 millionth mile. At each million-mile mark, the company has given him a brand-new car for free.

[BeninChurchil]

Not many drivers nowadays have that passion for their cars !

[Alethophobia]

What an amazing advertisement for Volvo

[nonelost]

I believe that Volvo was the first car make to come out with 6 digit odometers in 1968. It was not until the 1980's and 1990's that the rest of the auto industry finally converted over to six digit odometers, that show how many hundreds of thousands of miles the car has. This change was long overdue! Until then, cars had only five digit odometers that would only show when the car turned over 100, 000 miles. But if Irvin Gordon does sell his 1966 Volvo P1800 for three million dollars, he ought to apply some of that money toward custom installation of a SEVEN digit odometer, that shows how many millions of miles the car has without going back to

[wilmerquesada]

The first engine rebuilt was done after 600.000 miles the second was done at almost 2 millions and Volvo will buy the car from him to take it to their museum in Sweden.

[thevortexofdoom]

My dad had this exact car, would let me shift while driving really fast through mountain roads when i was like 5 years old. Great memories.

[davidviner]

I have a broom that's covered millions of sweeps, it has had 6 new handles and 12 new brushes ;)

[MrUltraworld]

I'm surprised that he'd be able to sell it after all those years.

[TORJUSEN]

l remember a Lutheran minister back in the mid 60's who had a Volvo P544 from the 50's.
l was amazed in that he put on over 1/2 million miles as he use to travel back and forth from montreal, que to saskatchewan. rebuilt the motor at one point of time himself as well suspension. Then l remember a Catholic minister use to drive a brand new '66 Buick Electra which had me scratching my head.

[juliolausell]

I think he pulled out the speedo/cable and hooked it up to a dremel Now that I finished the video, " A dollar a mile " ? I'm going out to buy me a dremel for sure, I'm going to be Lol.

[donbasuradenuevo]

Earth's circumference is 40, 075 km (24, 901 miles). This guy could have done about 120 turns around the whole world.

[Dropkickgsus]

this is probably the only thing that makes me proud i work at a volvo plant

[ButterySkater]

I dont get why $75, 000 German luxury cars cant do half of this?

[vincentbryan]

I just purchased a Volvo 940 1995 with 405k miles on it. No leaks. Very clean and good condition. My boss laughed at me when I told him I purchased a reliable car. My other car is a Mazda Miata with 235k. But now I use my Volvo for work and take me home to see my family. I made a video about it if y’all wanna Check it out. I plan on keeping it forever

[juanfarello]

Thinking about that mileage, only came to my mind he has a very nice flowerpot to put in the front garden.

[Xenophene]

6 dislikes are from car companies that want your car to fail so you buy a new car