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At 2.6 Million Miles, Irv Gordon and his Historic Volvo Roll On

Retired Long Island Science Teacher Sets Sights on 3 Million Miles In His Record-Breaking 1966 Volvo P1800

With 2.6 million miles on his record-breaking, shiny red 1966 Volvo P1800, 67-year-old Irv Gordon is now aiming to achieve a near impossible milestone - driving three million miles in the same car.

Gordon, a retired science teacher from East Patchogue, N.Y., purchased his sporty Volvo in June 1966, and immediately fell in love, driving 1,500 miles in the first 48 hours. With a 125-mile round-trip daily commute, a dedication to vehicle maintenance and a passion for driving, Gordon logged 500,000 miles in 10 years. In 1998 with 1.69 million miles, he made the Guinness Book of World Records for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle.

Today, Gordon 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. And now, the treasured Volvo P1800 continues to roll through the ages despite the wear of road and time, Gordon - like any mighty record-holder at the top of his game - has begun to think about his legacy.

'My goal is to reach three million miles in the next five years,' Gordon said. 'But, whether I reach that mark is more up to me than it is the car. The car's parts may be able to take it, but I'm not so sure about my own.

'I turn 72 on July 15, 2012,' he added. 'That seems like a nice day to clock three million and park the car once and for all. It will be a fantastic testament to the engineering genius of Volvo as well as to the resiliency of folks my age.

'I'll also feel comfortable that three million miles is a record that no one will ever be able to reach in the same car,' Gordon continued. 'That is, unless Barry Bonds decides to start driving his car more after he retires from baseball.'

Slowing the Pace in Recent Years
Through the late '90s and early part of this decade, Gordon had been driving at a near fanatical pace of well over 100,000 miles per year, peaking in March 2002 when he gained worldwide attention for turning two million miles while driving down Broadway in Times Square. Today, to reach his next milestone, he is allowing a more conservative pace of 80,000 miles per year, thanks in large part to doctor's orders.

'You tire a little easier when you reach my age,' Gordon said. 'Gone are the nights when I'd be driving through Nebraska at 3 a.m. on I-80 West, jacked up on two pots of delicious Waffle House coffee.

'Last year, when my doctor told me I could no longer drive 24 hours at a time, 1,000 miles a day, I thought he was out of his mind, but I now realize he's right,' Gordon said. 'Today, I get a full night's sleep, eat healthy and take eight days to drive cross country, rather than six. The car gets plenty of exercise no matter how I plan each trip.'

Gordon Seeking New Places to Drive
Gordon drives for the pure pleasure of driving but, these days, what motivates him most is an invitation to drive to an event to show off his car and visit friends. As he drives toward three million miles, he's looking for new places to go.

'I've traveled pretty much every Interstate in the U.S. many times over, so these days I'm looking for fresh, alternative routes and sights,' Gordon said. 'I'm hoping for some invitations to some faraway places like Europe, Australia or Hawaii.

'I can hold my own with almost any trucker at any truck stop in any country - discussing roads, construction, or the best nearby, small-town diner with a good cup of decaf and piece of raisin toast.'

What to Do After 3 Million
Gordon is unsure what to do with his Volvo after three million miles, though he has considered selling it for no less than one dollar per each mile he's driven.

'I also think it should go in a nice, cozy museum where people will get to enjoy seeing the car that beat the odds - all with the same engine, same radio, same axles, same transmission and of course the same driver,' Gordon said.

'So, maybe I'll sell it. Maybe I'll donate it to a museum,' he concluded. 'Who knows? Maybe I'll keep driving it.'

Source - Volvo

The Volvo P1800 is probably best remembered and known for the television show, 'The Saint' staring Roger Moore. During the entire production of the show, the Volvo Car Corporation supplied a total of five P1800 models. One of the vehicles was split apart so better interior shots could be ascertained. One of the P1800's was wrecked on accident in 1967. Some of the parts were salvaged by the production company and used to update one of the older P1800s.

Originally, a Jaguar XK-E was going to accompany Roger Moore on his adventures but when Jaguar did not respond to the production company requests for vehicles, Volvo gladly handed over their P1800's. A decision Jaguar would quickly regret due to the shows popularity. However, in 1970 'The Return of The Saint' featured a white Jaguar XJ-S.

The P1800 is a departure from the vehicles Volvo is known for making. The company reputation boasts safety, reliability, and large and boxy vehicle. The P1800, on the other hand, was a stylish, responsive, sports coupe.

Volvo had attempted a sports car model which they dubbed the P1900. It was short lived. After less than 70 examples were produced, production ceased due to financial decisions. Volvo then tasked Helmer Patterson to acquire designs from Italian firms. Four designs came from Italian firms and one from his son Pelle. The design that was chosen by Volvo was Pelle's design. Frua was tasked at building a prototype while Pelle assisted in the development.

The production of the vehicle was complicated. Volvo did not have the space required to manufacturer the vehicle so they contracted a British company named Pressed Steel Company to fabricate the bodies. Jensen, a factory located in England, was used to assemble the P1800's.

Fueled by the popularity of The Saint, the P1800 became widely successful. It carried a rather inexpensive price tag when compared with other sports cars. The interior provided leg room for larger individuals; the weight of the vehicle and the size of the engine made it quick and agile.

The design was timeless - during its twelve years in production, only minor aesthetic changes were made. Mechanically, the biggest change for the vehicle was electronic fuel injection.

The P1800 is a true sixties car that proved to be an excellent companion for Roger Moore and 'The Saint'.

Volvo had established a reputation for building sturdy sedans by the early 1960's. They had been building such cars for many years, and they had proven themselves more than capable of surviving the rigorous Scandinavian climate of their Swedish hometown. Volvo had become known for building reliable, robust, and practical transportation. But, during an exciting era of car design, they were left without an arousing design to arrest public attention. No sports car. No grand tourer. Volvo had no model in their line-up to excite buyers.

All this changed in 1961 with the introduction of the P1800. Combining a sophisticated Italian design with tough Swedish mechanicals, this new Volvo revitalized the company's image. With reliability, comfort, and practicality, the P1800 was a Volvo through and through. It managed to have a personality all its own, though, and a character much more engaging than its drab siblings.

The P1800 was a 2+2 with two seats up front for adults and a couple of chairs for the kids in back. The Volvo had a fairly large trunk, which supplemented its additional seats and made the car surprisingly useable for an attractive sports car.

Mechanically, the P1800 was as staid as the other members of its family. Initially offered with a simple 1,778cc four cylinder with an average 100hp, it was no road burner. The engine did at least have the dual SU carbs obligatory in a European sports car. The motor was later enlarged to 1985cc, and fuel injection was added later in the model run.

Though it was as quick as an MG or a Triumph in a straight line, the P1800 was more of a boulevard cruiser than a backroad hunter. Its rear drum brakes and live rear axle meant that the car handled and stopped more like a conventional sedan than a sports car.

The Volvo's size, though, suggested that it wasn't really a sports car at all. Instead, the P1800 was intended to be a grand touring machine: an automobile with style and panache capable of moving down the highway at a quick enough clip of speed, traveling toward some fashionable destination with a roomy trunk capable of swallowing a comfortable shopping spree. Looking at the car in that context, its no surprise that the Volvo was able to accomplish its mission and end up a strong seller.

As a stylish grand touring car, the Volvo proved its worth. It was supremely comfortable, with the pleasant interior and excellent seats found in so many Swedish cars, and it had a great design that was distinct and modern. The P1800 was styled in Italy by the famed design firm Ghia. Though often claimed to be the sole work of Pietro Frua, the Volvo was actually styled largely by a young, Swedish newcomer to Ghia, named Pelle Petterson. The Volvo's combination of good looks and well-built mechanicals was a great combination that found many satisfied owners.

The car's only real downfall was no fault of its own. For as good of a vehicle as it was, the Volvo had some serious competition that it just couldn‘t match. Introduced the same year as the fabled Jaguar E-Type, the P1800 struggled in the shadows of such great cars that were only marginally more expensive. It enjoyed good sales during its long model run, but was eventually outshone by more impressive competition and discontinued.

Sources Used:
Wilson, Quentin. The Ultimate Classic Car Book. First. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1995.

Evan Acuña

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