Pick of the Day: 1970 Volvo P1800E

Did you know The world record for the most miles driven by an individual in a car belongs to a Volvo? Irv Gordon, who died in 2018, was a legend. He logged more than 3 million miles on a 1966 P1800S that he first bought while teaching on Long Island.

Irv’s mileage record has been verified by the Guinness Book of World Records and remains unbroken to this day. What made Irv’s P1800 such a long-lived machine? Do you think any other car (or person) could come close to this achievement? While we ponder this question, let’s take a look at a car very similar to Irv’s.

Today’s pick is a 1970 Volvo P1800E Coupe, for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in San Diego, California. (Click on the link to view the listing)

The listing begins: “This car was fully restored by the previous owner and is in very good condition, including paint, chassis, chrome, interior, carpet, dashboard, headliner, windows and engine compartment.” In fact, the car looks very nice inside and out, as the nearly 100 photos in the vehicle listing show. The exterior design is very unique, and the chrome-plated rear wing on top makes some people think it was 10 to 20 years ahead of its time.

In total, the P1800 had a lifespan of about 12 years between the 1961 and 1973 model years. It was marketed as a grand tourer and was built primarily in Sweden (although some of the earliest cars came from the UK). Until 1971, the only body style available was the two-door coupe, but in 1972 and 1973 the car was offered in a two-door “shooting brake” tourer configuration.

Propulsion came from a 1,986cc “B20” inline-four engine and a four-speed manual transmission. The “E” in the model name of this car today stands for “Einspritzung,” or fuel injection: This particular model of the P1800 was introduced in 1970 and was rated at 130 horsepower. The 1970 model also marked the first time the P1800 was equipped with four-wheel disc brakes.

The interior of the P1800 looks like a comfortable place to hang out—and rightfully so, since Irv spent countless hours behind the wheel of his P1800. The interior has been reupholstered in red vinyl, which contrasts nicely with the black dashboard, black center console, and ivory perforated headliner.

The car is asking $47,000 and comes with a spare tire, tool roll, owner’s manual and photo album.

Anyway, where is Irv Gordon’s 3 million-mile Volvo now? It’s currently owned by Volvo, and company representatives are said to still be driving it carefully, just as Irv would have liked. The car has a “MILNMILR” license plate to commemorate its achievement.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, move your mouse over “Pick of the Day.”