Record-breaking automotive pioneer Irv Gordon turns 70 today. And to celebrate, the driver of the highest mileage vehicle on the road, a 1966 Volvo P1800, he aims to reach the unmatchable record of 3 millions miles sometime in the next three years!
In 1998 he made the Guinness Book of World Records for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle as his red Volvo reached 1.69 million miles. Then in March 2002, he drove the car’s two-millionth mile down Times Square to national and international media attention. A few days later, car enthusiast Jay Leno invited the Two Million Mile Man to his Tonight Show along with the record-breaking Volvo – in the studio in front of the audience!
In October 2007, Irv had driven his Volvo coupe over 2.6 million miles. Three years later, the mileage is well over 2.8 million miles. Mathematically reaching three million miles before his 73rd birthday makes sense! He could become the Three Million Mile Man!
True P1800 diehard
Gordon, a retired science teacher from East Patchogue, N.Y., purchased his Volvo from a neighborhood dealership in June 1966 for $4,150. He immediately fell in love with it and drove 1500 miles in the first 48 hours.
With a 125-mile round-trip daily commute, a fanatical dedication to vehicle maintenance and a passion for driving, Gordon logged 500,000 miles in 10 years. Today, he breaks his own record every time he drives, whether it’s to Cincinnati for coffee, Rolla, Mo., for lunch or Green River, Wyo., for dinner.
Gordon – like any mighty record-holder at the top of his game – is mindful of his legacy, as well as setting a record no one can beat. He gets his kicks driving his Volvo on Route 66 and just about every other picturesque highway in the US. He visited Canada and Mexico. In 2007, he said that to reach his next milestone, he was allowing himself a more conservative pace of 80,000 miles per year... on doctor's orders.
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| Photo: Volvo |
In 1998 he made the Guinness Book of World Records for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle as his red Volvo reached 1.69 million miles. Then in March 2002, he drove the car’s two-millionth mile down Times Square to national and international media attention. A few days later, car enthusiast Jay Leno invited the Two Million Mile Man to his Tonight Show along with the record-breaking Volvo – in the studio in front of the audience!
In October 2007, Irv had driven his Volvo coupe over 2.6 million miles. Three years later, the mileage is well over 2.8 million miles. Mathematically reaching three million miles before his 73rd birthday makes sense! He could become the Three Million Mile Man!
True P1800 diehard
Gordon, a retired science teacher from East Patchogue, N.Y., purchased his Volvo from a neighborhood dealership in June 1966 for $4,150. He immediately fell in love with it and drove 1500 miles in the first 48 hours.
With a 125-mile round-trip daily commute, a fanatical dedication to vehicle maintenance and a passion for driving, Gordon logged 500,000 miles in 10 years. Today, he breaks his own record every time he drives, whether it’s to Cincinnati for coffee, Rolla, Mo., for lunch or Green River, Wyo., for dinner.
Gordon – like any mighty record-holder at the top of his game – is mindful of his legacy, as well as setting a record no one can beat. He gets his kicks driving his Volvo on Route 66 and just about every other picturesque highway in the US. He visited Canada and Mexico. In 2007, he said that to reach his next milestone, he was allowing himself a more conservative pace of 80,000 miles per year... on doctor's orders.
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| Photo: Volvo |