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spl440

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Gordon, the Hero Who Drove His Volvo P1800 Over 3.2 Million Miles, Has Died.
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Photo: Volvo
Irv Gordon, the man from Long Island who broke the Guinness World Record for highest vehicle mileage on a single vehicle when the Volvo P1800 he’s owned since new passed three million miles in 2013, has died at 77.

The news of Irv’s death came from his daughter, who posted about it on Facebook, and was picked up by the Facebook page dedicated to him and his Volvo P1800 adventures.

On September 18, 2013, Irv clocked over three million miles in his 1966 Volvo P1800 near the village of Girdwood, Alaska, according to Guinness World Records. Prior to that milestone, Irv initially broke the record at 1.69 million miles, getting the attention of Volvo, which has gifted him a Bertone 780 Coupe, C70 and XC60 over the years for his accomplishments.

The car reported hit 3.2 million miles in May of this year after a long life, and as Autoblog reports, Irv had the P1800's engine rebuilt at 690,000 miles, gave it a new engine in 2009, and always did the regular maintenance on the car himself.

Irv is a warm reminder to buy the car you want, don’t forget to drive it and, if you take care of it well, it’ll take care of you. You can read more about Irv’s journeys here.

Here’s the statement Volvo provided Jalopnik about Irv’s passing:

It is with great sadness that Volvo Car USA learned of Irv Gordon’s passing yesterday.

We’ve been lucky to be along for Irv’s countless adventures, perhaps none more monumental than when he passed three million miles in his red 1966 P1800 in 2013 in Alaska, a record that no other individual has accomplished in more than 100 years of automobile manufacturing.

Irv never set out to break world records, to him, he was simply living his life in his Volvo. And today, we celebrate his legendary life.

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They should have given my father in law a free car his 1977 244 wagon did over 1.2million kilometers (72000miles) before it needed an engine, basically a little 2 litre fuel injected 5 speed that he drove from his farm to sydney each monday morning and home again on thursday night he was 3 hours from sydney his biggest expense apart from servicing was tyres and shocks every 12 months a,s 170 miles of his trip was on dirt roads
 
They were, ford ruined that.
Pre '96 volvos are stout and reliable as hell.
My 94 wagon has 316k and runs n passes smog like new
I just finished putting all new steering in a 244 sedan 1988. Pretty normal for the racks to go out around 200000. Chased a few bad grounds. Nice old car. Gonna go another 100000 Ill bet.
 
Interchangeability between years is also very good. Had a 81 Volvo gas engine, 5 speed standard,body rusted badly. Purchased 86 Wagon, good body, but had the diesel with an auto. Of course, previous owner did not do the timing belt on the diesel, so motor ad damage, Within two days had both drive trains out and gas engine with 5 speed in the newer non rusty wagon. All nut plates etc where on both vehicles, so clutch cable hole, fuel tanks,motor mounts, radiators, air cleaners, dropped right in. 5 years between them, also the 4 cyl block bolt patterns are the same, heard a guy put a mid 80's Volvo turbo 4 cylinder into a older Volvo 544 ( looks like a 40's Ford) , supposedly a easy install.
 
I'll bet the records of maintainance on the car from day one would be over 2 feet thick..............
I wonder how much gas and oil the car went through in it's life time so far?
Staggering!
 
average 20 mpg , average $2.00 per gallon = $320,000 in gasoline alone , tires 50,000 miles per set at $50 per tire = $12800 in tires , oil changes 3000 miles per change $2.00 per quart , 4 quarts per change =$ 8533 in oil $4 per filter =$4266 in filters , also 186 miles every day for 47 years straight =hard to believe?
 
My sis had one of those, seats were terrible! They were like sitting in a strap sling. I hope he had better seats. Had a cool electric overdrive, and hers had a CA legal new Weber on it. Not my favorite car of hers....Same sis had a Fiat 850 spider, yikes!
 
Father in law started with a p1800 was black with red interior cried the day he said he had sold it, i would have bought it off him i had 1974 244s with the shock mounted aluminium bumper only a 4 speed for some reason used to love wringing its neck on the open road
 
average 20 mpg , average $2.00 per gallon = $320,000 in gasoline alone , tires 50,000 miles per set at $50 per tire = $12800 in tires , oil changes 3000 miles per change $2.00 per quart , 4 quarts per change =$ 8533 in oil $4 per filter =$4266 in filters , also 186 miles every day for 47 years straight =hard to believe?
I think there is some stuff off in that math.

The car was a ‘66, making it 52 years old. He also wouldn’t have gotten 50k miles out of tires back then or paid $50 per tire. Neither would he have paid $2 per gallon for fuel...or $2 per quart for oil...or $4 per filter. Not even on average.
 
Cool story but why is he a "hero"? Was he a veteran?
 
Cool story but why is he a "hero"? Was he a veteran?
Nope, just a dedicated and conscientious car owner who stayed with the vehicle he loved.

In some sense, that is “heroic” in the modern World.

Not many people can claim that kind of 5+ decades old dedication to what they believe in...and love.
 
Nope, just a dedicated and conscientious car owner who stayed with the vehicle he loved.

In some sense, that is “heroic” in the modern World.

Not many people can claim that kind of 5+ decades old dedication to what they believe in...and love.

I don't disagree. I don't think that elevates him to hero status, but it's still very cool.
 
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