Irv Gordon

Irvin "Irv" Gordon (1940 – November 15, 2018) was an American retired teacher known for setting the Guinness World Record for most miles driven by a single owner in a non-commercial vehicle.

Record-setting Volvo ownership

Gordon purchased his Volvo P1800S in June 1966 from Volvoville, a dealership in Huntersville, New York. He had owned two new Chevrolet Corvair models, but was dissatisfied with their reliability. He had driven by 2002, and by 2013.

Gordon performed much of the car's routine maintenance personally, such as the changing the engine oil and filter and servicing the car's brakes. He had driven by October 2018, a month before his death. He had driven the car across all 49 of the continental United States, Canada, and much of Europe.

After setting the record, Gordon regularly collaborated with Volvo and appeared at their events.

Personal life and career Gordon worked as a high school science teacher. His long daily commute was the result of moving from Manhattan to Long Island, in pursuit of a more peaceful lifestyle. He retired in the 1990s. He died on November 15, 2018, while he was traveling in China with his car. He was 78 years old, and was survived by two daughters and three grandchildren.