By Danny Bloom
CHIAYI CITY, Taiwan — You may have heard about Irv Gordon and the world-record mileage on his faithful 1966 Volvo P1800. The car is set to soon cross yet another milestone — 3 million miles on the speedometer! One man, one car, one dream.
Irv made it into newspapers in 2007 and again this spring when the Associated Press did a big story of this man from Long Island with a yen for driving solo here and there and everywhere. In his faithful 1966 Volvo. There should be a Hollywood movie about this man and his love affair with his Volvo. It’s a human story and it’s also a dreamer’s story. If nothing else, Irv Gordon is a dreamer, a ”luftmensch.”
It is only a matter of time before he clocks 3 million miles on his Volvo, and you can be sure when that time comes there will be a media circus galore with appearances on CNN and ”Good Morning America” and every other TV network from here to Volvo Heaven. You might call what Irv Gordon is doing, as some already have, “a feat of biblical proportions.” I call it an uplifting story about a man and his machine.
Wanting to know more about the man and his car — and his dream — after reading the AP story here in Taiwan, I contacted the Volvo people in Sweden, who gave me the address of the PR people in America, and thanks to a great PR lady in the Midwest, I was able to track Irv down and get a “sit down” interview with him by email.
Irv bought the care back in 1966, he says, straight off a Volvo dealer on Long Island, and in the 46 years of ownership he has rebuilt the engine twice, although the majority of the original parts remain, he says.
Irv has been the sole driver to the car since 1966 and on average clocks up more and more miles per year, traveling to auto shows across the country.
What are people saying about this amazing man and his amazing story?
“I appreciate the car, and the man for his undying love towards his car.” says one punter online.. “The highest I have ever come across was one million kilometers in a Nissan Sunny, which was still running great and in mint condition.”
Irv, who is a retired teacher from the Roslyn School District on Long Island, New York, and is now in his 70s, was kind enough to sit down with us and e-chat,
When I asked Irv how it all happened, he replied humbly and modestly, for a man who done an amazing feat, not with his feet so much, but also using his feet on the pedal and the brakes — and while once again on the road: “Sorry to say , but my story is rather boring. I never tried for 1,000,000 miles, much less 2,000,000 miles– and even now at almost 3,000,000 miles. It was and is all just a series of accidents.”
He added, by way of explanation: “I love to drive. Perhaps I got the urge to go places and meet people from my folks who traveled all over the USA via automobile, and every Sunday was a drive into the country someplace with my parents when I was a kid.”
“When I was old enough to drive I did my own thing into the country,” Irv said. “Each weekend I went a bit farther as I honed my driving skills and knowledge of the roads.”
“When I got my first teaching job, I purchased my first new car to make sure I could get to work on time and trouble free. My 1963 Chevy convertible turned out to be a lemon and a nightmare. GM turned a deaf ear on a car with such severe electrical problems that the car was unusable and unsafe. My second Chevy convertible (1965) had severe engine problems, breaking rocker arms and push rods every week. Same response from GM”
“Out of desperation and frustration, I purchased my first import car — a 1966 Volvo P1800S which I loved from the minute I took one for a test drive and I still have it today. It restored my faith even though it cost almost a full year’s salary in those days (US$4,150). I loved driving to the point I put 1500 miles on it the first weekend. This set my car apart at the Volvo dealership right from the beginning. I loved driving it and still do, I am always looking for an excuse to take a ride someplace.”
“Now, after 46 years of ownership and having driven to every state (several times each) in the continental USA as well as to Europe — twice — where I visited the factory where my car was built, the miles just continue to add up. As I write this, I have stopped for a coffee break on my way home from Kalamazoo, Michigan to which I drove from Long Island to participate in a Volvo Club activity. A few weeks ago I was in San Antonio, Texas and then London. Ontario (Canada). among other places. Last year I put over 100,000 miles on my car, and I am still going strong.”
“My car has been to most every national park, on every major and most minor roadways. and to every big city and so many little towns. I like stopping at truck stops and Waffle Houses across the country just to listen to the local conversation.”
“That’s the story! I am a divorced father of two girls. My ex decided she liked to fly and I liked to drive. How things change after one says, “I do!!!”
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Bloom is Taiwan bureau chief and an inveterate web surfer for San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted at dan.bloom@sdjewishworld.com