volvo: built to last| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

JoeyM SuperDork
7/21/12 8:42 a.m.

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/26/man-with-2-6-million-mile-volvo-p1800-aims-for-3-million/

Gordon has been the only owner of this P1800 since it was purchased new in 1966. A 125-mile round trip daily commute and a penchant for regular maintenance got the car this far, and in 1998 it made the Guinness Book of World Records at just 1.69 million miles. Since retired from teaching science, Gordon now plans on hitting the 3 million-mile mark sometime in the next five years. Keep in mind, he's slowed down to 80,000 miles/year from his record pace of over 100,000 miles/year in 2002. While not promising to retire the car once it hits 3 million miles, Gordon says he might break down before the car does.

That article was written in 2007. The reason I posted it is that I heard on the radio this morning that he's just about to pass 3 million miles

mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/21/12 8:45 a.m.

I could not think of a classier car to do 3 million miles in

EastCoastMojo GRM+ Memberand UberDork
7/21/12 8:46 a.m.

I want one of these so bad, I would even consider one with 2.6 million miles on it.

Cole_Trickle HalfDork
7/21/12 8:48 a.m.

Good lord. Get that man a C30!

SyntheticBlinkerFluid SuperDork
7/21/12 8:50 a.m.

Has anyone said what has been redone on this car? Because I have a feeling that besides normal wear and tear stuff, something has to have been rebuilt on this.

I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer, I just think that everytime I read about this guy.

Javelin GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
7/21/12 8:55 a.m.

In reply to SyntheticBlinkerFluid:

I've read older articles talking of a repaint or three and at least one engine rebuild. Original block, head, trans, etc though. Never being in an accident helps.

poopshovel PowerDork
7/21/12 10:25 a.m.

God those are dead sexy. There's one covered in dust in a parking garage across from the High Museum in Atlanta. I could not afford to leave a note.

N Sperlo PowerDork
7/21/12 10:32 a.m.

I remember seeing that a few years back. Really sweet good looking machine.

rallymodeller New Reader
7/21/12 3:42 p.m.

Met the guy a few years back at a Canadian Volvo meet when I still had my '80 GT (and was working for a Volvo dealer). Irv is a super guy, loves his car and the Volvo community in general, and drove the damned thing from Long Island to London, ON to be there. It was great to see it.

And don't worry -- he has several other Volvos provided by V of A free of charge. They leased the P1800 for a while for promotional purposes. IIRC when he passed 2 mil he chose an S60.

I should also mention that at the time our dealership had a powder-blue 1985 244 that had passed 1.3 million kilometers, and was still in daily use as a shop hack and loaner. I would have bought it were it not for the fact that it was an automatic. It has since been parted out, unfortunately.