Irv Gordon
Encyclopedia
Irving "Irv" Gordon is a Guinness World Record holding Volvo
owner and retired science teacher from East Patchogue Long Island
, New York
.
Over the last 44 years, he and his 1966 Volvo P1800
have covered an incredible 2.8 million miles. He made The Guinness Book of World Records in 1988 for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle
.
The engine on his car has been apart only twice at 680,000 and at 2,690,000 miles. Gordon credits his longevity secret to a strict but sensible maintenance program. He changes the oil every 3,000-3,500 miles using Castrol Oil and Volvo
oil filters, he changes the transmission
fluid every 25,000 miles, and he replaces the points every 20,000-25,000 miles along with the spark plugs. To put 2.8 million miles in their proper perspective, Gordon could have driven his Volvo P1800
to the moon
and back (560,000 miles) five times. Instead, most of its first 35 years were spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic on his daily 125-mile commute on the Long Island Expressway, which Gordon refers to as the world's longest parking lot.
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
owner and retired science teacher from East Patchogue Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Over the last 44 years, he and his 1966 Volvo P1800
Volvo P1800
-History:The project was started in 1957 because Volvo wanted a sports car, despite the fact that their previous attempt, the P1900, had been a disaster, with only 68 cars sold. The man behind the project was an engineering consultant to Volvo, Helmer Petterson, who in the 1940s was responsible for...
have covered an incredible 2.8 million miles. He made The Guinness Book of World Records in 1988 for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle
Vehicle
A vehicle is a device that is designed or used to transport people or cargo. Most often vehicles are manufactured, such as bicycles, cars, motorcycles, trains, ships, boats, and aircraft....
.
The engine on his car has been apart only twice at 680,000 and at 2,690,000 miles. Gordon credits his longevity secret to a strict but sensible maintenance program. He changes the oil every 3,000-3,500 miles using Castrol Oil and Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
oil filters, he changes the transmission
Transmission (mechanics)
A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a...
fluid every 25,000 miles, and he replaces the points every 20,000-25,000 miles along with the spark plugs. To put 2.8 million miles in their proper perspective, Gordon could have driven his Volvo P1800
Volvo P1800
-History:The project was started in 1957 because Volvo wanted a sports car, despite the fact that their previous attempt, the P1900, had been a disaster, with only 68 cars sold. The man behind the project was an engineering consultant to Volvo, Helmer Petterson, who in the 1940s was responsible for...
to the moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and back (560,000 miles) five times. Instead, most of its first 35 years were spent in bumper-to-bumper traffic on his daily 125-mile commute on the Long Island Expressway, which Gordon refers to as the world's longest parking lot.