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Man nears 3 millionth mile in world record-holding Volvo
Fox News ^ | 9 July 2012 | Fox News

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: volvo
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1 posted on 07/09/2012 5:27:55 AM PDT by ShadowAce
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To: ShadowAce

Volvo B-16 and B-18 4 cylinder engines are bullet proof.


2 posted on 07/09/2012 5:30:02 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: ShadowAce

Retired school teacher?

No wonder he was able to rack up so many miles....probably been retired about 25 years ago


3 posted on 07/09/2012 5:31:22 AM PDT by wally-balls
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?


4 posted on 07/09/2012 5:36:45 AM PDT by Babba Gi
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?


5 posted on 07/09/2012 5:36:45 AM PDT by Babba Gi
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?


6 posted on 07/09/2012 5:36:45 AM PDT by Babba Gi
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

Long Island is in the rust belt, how did he escape the northeast corosion?


7 posted on 07/09/2012 5:36:56 AM PDT by Babba Gi
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

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.


8 posted on 07/09/2012 5:36:56 AM PDT by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ShadowAce
...1,176 times across the globe...

I've been around the world twice but I fail to see how one can go (across the globe."

9 posted on 07/09/2012 5:41:41 AM PDT by CPOSharky (zero slogan: Expect less, pay more. (apologies to Target))
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To: Babba Gi

Probably the same Volvo reliability that stops multiple posts.


10 posted on 07/09/2012 5:41:44 AM PDT by palmer (Jim, please bill me 50 cents for this completely useless post)
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To: ShadowAce
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 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)

11 posted on 07/09/2012 5:43:59 AM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is evil and must be eradicated)
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To: ShadowAce

—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.


12 posted on 07/09/2012 5:45:45 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: Babba Gi

What?


13 posted on 07/09/2012 5:46:25 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: ShadowAce

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.


14 posted on 07/09/2012 5:50:29 AM PDT by Bringbackthedraft ( WHO WE ELECT AS PRESIDENT IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS WHO THEY APPOINT.)
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To: All

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.


15 posted on 07/09/2012 5:54:02 AM PDT by WillVoteForFood
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To: ShadowAce
"If I have it, then I am not going to need it."

Ain't that the truth.

16 posted on 07/09/2012 5:56:24 AM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: ShadowAce
From the article:
"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?

17 posted on 07/09/2012 5:57:12 AM PDT by the invisib1e hand (A Dalmation was spotted wagging its tail.)
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To: WillVoteForFood

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.


18 posted on 07/09/2012 5:59:00 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: ShadowAce


19 posted on 07/09/2012 6:03:39 AM PDT by rawhide
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To: ShadowAce; All
I'm dating myhself here, but the car had a certain cachet in the early 60's, when Roger Moore ( who later on played James Bond) drove on in the TV series "The Saint"

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.

20 posted on 07/09/2012 6:04:10 AM PDT by ken5050 ("One useless man is a shame, two are a law firm, three are a Congress".....John Adams)
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