The last time I checked, Irv Gordon’s 1966 Volvo P1800S was going strong towards 4 Million miles.
There is no other car in human history that has taught us more about the legendary reliability of Volvos and the joy that comes from simply driving and enjoying life more than Irv Gordon and his 1968 Volvo P1800S. As per Volvo Cars of Glen Cove New York on their Facebook Post earlier today (Nov. 15, 2018) Irv took a trip to the Volvo parts counter in the sky, forever and has passed. According to second-hand reports from his family, he was on a tour of China when he died.
Irv’s claim to fame first started picking up steam when he racked his first million miles back in 1987, more than 30 years ago, when, as per the Indy Star, he circled the Tavern on the Green (a restaurant) in New York’s Central Park. A little over a decade later, Irv entered the Guinness Book of World Records (and stayed there) as the car with the most miles driven by a single owner of a non-commercial vehicle.
Two million miles came and went in 2002 and eleven years later, 3 million miles rolled over during a trip to Seward, Alaska.
His Volvo, the aforementioned 1800S, is known for its simple engineering and sturdy design. Equipped with an inline four-cylinder engine that made just 115 HP, it was more than enough to get this roadster up to its 109 MPH top speed without breaking a sweat. Of course, in something that weighs just 2,500 pounds, you’re not lugging around much, to begin with. The P1800S gets most of its reliability thanks to shared componentry from the Volvo Amazon.
Much of the miles Gordon racked on his Volvo was thanks to a 125-mile round trip he took for close to a decade. After he retired, the rest of his mileage came from his multiple long-distance trips and daily hundred plus mile drives.
Irv attributed his magnificent feat to following the owners manual to the T. Here are Irv’s top tips to keep your car running practically forever thanks to the Indy Star.
- “Just follow the owner’s manual. It’s a piece of machinery and can’t take care of itself. Have its scheduled maintenance completed. … Do what the manual calls for, not what the dealer calls for. People who built the car wrote the manual.”
- Use factory equipment parts and one brand of oil for consistency. Spend a few minutes a week checking fluid levels, belts, and hoses.
- It’s also good to wash your car regularly and wax at least twice a year.
- When your car makes a funny noise, listen to it.”
In honor of Irv, my fellow readers, give your cars the once over this week, maybe wash it, and like Irv, just enjoy the drive.
Thank you Irv!
