Cars reaching a million miles are no longer the unicorns they once were. Improved engineering, meticulous maintenance, a large supply of spare parts, and the stubbornness of some owners have helped many makes and models break through the seven-figure mark.
We’re not saying it got easy, but Missouri man Jim O’Shea was determined to make it happen, which he recently did in his 1991 Volvo 740 GLE, according to KNWA Fox 24.
When he went to the West County Volvo dealership 30 years ago to buy the 740, an owner of a 1961 model that had driven a million miles was present. Mr. O’Shea does not remember the exact model, but he did not forget seeing the owner leave the premises in a new model. This gave O’Shea an idea: “If he can do it, I can do it”, he told KNWA. And he did. Even if the car does have a few scars, witnesses of the passage of time.
The Volvo is in its second engine and second transmission, and there is a bit of rust here and there. She hasn’t been in an accident, although he admits she’s been hit in the street three times – once a decade, on average, which isn’t bad. Mr. O’Shea attributes the Volvo’s longevity to the ease with which it has been repaired. He called it a “mechanic’s dream,” adding that ordinary people can easily replace bulbs and other parts. The key is simplicity.
