World’s highest mileage car could have been driven to the moon 14 times
- Irv Gordon purchased his beloved Volvo P1800 in 1966
- In his first weekend of owner, Irv notched up 2,414 kilometers in his new car
- That was just the start, though, as Irv clocked up 5.1 million kilometers in the vehicle during his ownership
Published on Apr 13, 2024 at 9:43 AM (UTC+4)
by Adam Gray
Last updated on Apr 18, 2024 at 6:21 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Adam Gray
Some people like to keep their car tucked away to keep the miles down.
Not Irv Gordon, though, whose beloved Volvo P1800 clocked up an incredible 5.1 million kilometers (3.2 million miles) during his ownership, earning it the title of the world’s highest mileage car.
To put that into perspective, that’s the equivalent of driving to the moon 14 times.
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Irv never set out to become a world record holder, though.
In fact, he simply wanted a reliable car after two bad experiences with new vehicles.
So in 1966, he purchased a P1800 and notched up 2,414 kilometers (1,500 miles) after his first week of ownership.
What business did a middle-school teacher have putting in so many miles so soon?
He simply loved to drive and wasn’t afraid to admit it.
“Obviously, I like to drive,” Irv once said. “It’s my way of relaxing and getting away from it all.”
After clocking up 2,414 kilometers in just one weekend, Irv took every opportunity to get behind the wheel of his trusty car.
Apparently, at 402,336 kilometers (250,000 miles) and with no repair work outside of regularly scheduled services, Irv wrote to Volvo.
“We’re happy you’re happy with the product, don’t forget to buckle up,” the Swedish automaker responded.
Irv wrote again at 804,672 kilometers (500,000 miles) and again at the million-mile mark (1,609,344 kilometers), at which point someone at Volvo took notice and gifted him a brand-new 780 coupe.
Irv’s passion for driving wasn’t just restricted to his native US, though.
Irv Gordon became brand ambassador for Volvo Cars, which saw him bring his P1800 to auto shows throughout Europe.
He was even invited to the factory where his vehicle was built.
Irv also flew out to South Africa courtesy of Castrol Oil for a campaign highlighting the oil’s performance and reliability.
You’re probably wondering how Irv managed to keep his car running for so long.
In all the years that he drove his P1800, parts that routinely wore out were replaced and the engine rebuilt.
However, the engine block and transmission were all original.
When asked if he would ever give his old Volvo up if it wouldn’t start, his answer was frank and honest.
“No such thing, it’d never happen. If it didn’t start, I’d find out why it didn’t start and fix it.”
Sadly, at the age of 78 and the proud owner of the world’s highest mileage car, Irv Gordon sadly passed away in 2018.
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Adam Gray is an experienced freelance motoring journalist and content creator based in the United Kingdom. Using his media accreditation with manufacturers’ press offices, Adam test drives the latest cars and attends new vehicle press launches, producing written reviews and news pieces for a variety of lifestyle and business publications. Here at Supercar Blondie, Adam applies his journalistic skills penning social-first content around current news and trends. When he’s not behind the wheel of the latest car or writing up another viral story, Adam can be found at his local rink playing ice hockey or at the Riverside Stadium supporting his beloved Middlesbrough FC.
