Million Mile Car - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

karr95 · 12-08-2006, 02:07 PM

Awesome auto does 1,000,000 miles, retires
Super Saab still has mostly original equipment; has new home in museum

MILWAUKEE — As a traveling salesman, Peter Gilbert has put a few miles on his car — 1,001,385 miles, to be precise.

It took the Glendale, Wisc, man 17 years to cross the million mile mark with his 1989 Saab 900 SPG. He recently donated the durable vehicle to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum after Saab verified the mileage.

The transmission was rebuilt at 200,000 miles and the hood and a few other parts replaced after eight deer collisions, but otherwise it has original equipment.

Gilbert bought the Saab for $29,000. It was his treat after a divorce, and he took meticulous care of it. He used premium, synthetic oil in oil changes, changed the tires every 45,000 miles and strictly followed the maintenance schedule.

He drove the car seven days a week, racking up the miles as his work took him through rural Wisconsin.

Not burning oil
"When I hit 600,000 miles, the car still wasn't burning oil," Gilbert said. "That's when I thought it could go a million miles."

But Wisconsin's harsh winters took a toll on the car. Its sporty exterior still looks good, but road salt has rusted its frame. Gilbert realized it might no longer be safe if he hit another deer or had a serious accident.

"There was no point in driving the car any longer," he said. "Even though it might have gone another million miles."

He had it detailed and parked it at the Hartford museum, which houses a number of rare vehicles.

Then Gilbert bought another Saab with fewer miles.

Knipps · 12-08-2006, 02:09 PM

then he bought another one with fewer miles

BonzoHansen · 12-08-2006, 02:52 PM

Those old Saabs were pieces of **** new. You never notice any loss of, well, anything. :Laugh:

maroman88 · 12-08-2006, 06:40 PM

yea saab blows, surprised it lasted sooo long

NJSPEEDER · 12-08-2006, 07:35 PM

there was a mercedes taht went on teh auto show circuit back in the late 80's or early 90's taht went a million miles. i thik it had 2 engine rebuilds during it's life.
i can't imagine having a car that long. i would think at some point most people woudl jsut get bored and buy a new one. lol

Rob WS6 · 12-08-2006, 08:00 PM

At an average speed of 45mph, it would take 2.85 years of straight driving to go that far... dayum, thats a hell of alot of driving!

Ian · 12-08-2006, 11:53 PM

my buddy has an 84 hurst/olds that has over 280K on it. no motor rebuilds, but 8 tranny rebuilds. stock 200-4R's suck!

qwikz28 · 12-09-2006, 12:15 AM

i love my dads saab

V · 12-09-2006, 12:22 AM

i think SAAB should have gave him a new car, would have been a good marketing twist

NJSPEEDER · 12-09-2006, 02:06 AM

when my dad was getting ready to get rid of his old buick century, it had 470k on the clock and evrything in it was still original. my parents sent a letter to GM about it and explained how much they liked the car hoping to get something out of it. all they got back was a leter signed by a few board members that said they brought it up at a meeting or something.
i will see if they still have the letter and post it up.

WildBillyT · 12-09-2006, 07:15 AM

I heard a guy near Chicago drove a Dodge Dart 1,000,000 miles

12secondv6 · 12-09-2006, 10:11 AM

How about 2.8 million miles?
http://www.mblink.mbusa.com/Inetapps...7?OpenDocument

qwikz28 · 12-09-2006, 11:25 AM

diesels dont count

enRo · 12-09-2006, 12:29 PM

my dad's 351W Ford lasted 395,000 miles. The motor was still strong, but rust ate the truck away (what else is new with a Ford lol)

Ian · 12-09-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwikz28

diesels dont count

if you count diesels, you could just find an old semi from the early 80's or something....that would probably have 3 million or more it it was taken care of.

NJSPEEDER · 12-09-2006, 12:46 PM

i think diesels shoudl count on the level that most people jsut don't take good care of stuff. even with proper maintenance an engine, diesel or gas, is more than likely going to have some sort of major failure well before the million mile mark is ever attained.
diesels definately have the advantage though, fewer moving parts, generally much more precise castings because or tighter tolerances, and heavier blocks that suffer less from the enviroment than standard gas engines. now that the US has finally caught up to the rest of the world and embraced low sulfur diesel fuel, you will see them lasting even longer and making more power than ever.

79dizZy28 · 12-09-2006, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

i think SAAB should have gave him a new car, would have been a good marketing twist

I think volvo gave thier million mile car owner a brand new car when his hit 1,000,000.

ShitOnWheels · 12-09-2006, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79dizZy28

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

i think SAAB should have gave him a new car, would have been a good marketing twist

I think volvo gave thier million mile car owner a brand new car when his hit 1,000,000.

James mentioned to me that if the owners willingly donate their vehicle to Mercedes Classic Center, they get a brand new vehicle for free.

Brando56894 · 12-09-2006, 02:52 PM

anyone remember the episode of married with children where al drove his car to 1 million miles so he'd win the viper (or something liek that cuz i dont think the viper was created back then idk) and then it rolled down the hill and started again at like 2 miles

V · 12-09-2006, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brando56894

anyone remember the episode of married with children where al drove his car to 1 million miles so he'd win the viper (or something liek that cuz i dont think the viper was created back then idk) and then it rolled down the hill and started again at like 2 miles

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by WildBillyT

I heard a guy near Chicago drove a Dodge Dart 1,000,000 miles

edit: and BTW the viper concept came out in 89

Brando56894 · 12-09-2006, 03:06 PM

i was thinkin that it came into production in 96 and was thinkin that married with children ended in like 94 or something

V · 12-09-2006, 03:09 PM

first model year was 94, so sold in 93. Before i got my SS in '01, i had started paper work on a red 94

blown ta · 12-09-2006, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brando56894

anyone remember the episode of married with children where al drove his car to 1 million miles so he'd win the viper (or something liek that cuz i dont think the viper was created back then idk) and then it rolled down the hill and started again at like 2 miles

that was some funny ****, loved that show.

Knipps · 12-09-2006, 11:25 PM

Al Bundy FTMFW

unstable bob gable · 12-10-2006, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brando56894

anyone remember the episode of married with children where al drove his car to 1 million miles so he'd win the viper (or something liek that cuz i dont think the viper was created back then idk) and then it rolled down the hill and started again at like 2 miles

The car was a Viper, and Al was pleased with the fact it was a 2 seater, so there wouldn't be any room for Bud and Kelly in it.