Autoblog

It's been a good run for million-plus-mile vehicles recently. In September, it was the gent with a million-mile 1989 Saab SPG, then in October it was another gent with a Volvo P1800 cruising past 2.6 million miles. The domestics opened up the 2008 race to a million three days ago with a Wisconsin man 1,200 miles away from the 6-zero mark in his 1991 Chevy Silverado. Now it's Ford's turn, with a deliveryman based in Toledo just 147 miles (at time of writing) from the magic million.

Like the Silverado owner, Doug Schell bought his 1997 Ford E-250 van used with 40,000 miles on it. The van still has its original engine and transmission, neither of which has been rebuilt. Schell said he puts 80,000 to 100,000 miles a year on the workhorse, delivering parts and "single envelopes" all over the country. Unlike the Silverado owner, Schell only changes the oil every 10,000 miles, and the van is missing certain features like working air conditioning. Even so, with severe understatement, Schell concedes "It's a really good van." What does he plan to do to celebrate the feat? "I'm thinking of throwing it a party," he said, "but I don't know if that's too weird." No reason to party is weird, Doug. Thanks for the tip, Tina!

[Source: Toledo Blade, Photo by Andy Morrison]

You no doubt remember Peter Gilbert, the Wisconsin man who drove his 1989 Saab 900 SPG over 1,000,000 miles. His is the kind of story that PR folk pray for, or pay lots of money to artificially orchestrate. In Gilbert's case, however, it's fact that he did indeed drive over a million miles in his Saab. The magic moment happened back in September and Saab officials were there to celebrate with Gilbert, although at the time all he got was a lousy handshake.

Someone at Saab, however, thought this story still had legs, and convinced the company to reach out and reward any owner that has driven a million miles or more in his (or her) Saab with a brand-new Saab. Gilbert automatically qualifies and will be receiving a 2007 Saab 9-5 Aero early next year at the Saab Aero Academy at Road Atlanta, Georgia.

More info and full press release with details after the jump.

[Source: GM]

This isn't exactly new news since it happened back in September, but a search of our archives shows that we didn't cover the fact that in a little over 17 years, traveling salesman Peter Gilbert racked up 1,001,385 miles, a distance equal to 40 times around the Earth, in his 1989 Saab 900 SPG.

Amazingly, other than a hood replacement and a "few other parts" due to eight deer collisions and a transmission overhaul at 200,000 miles, the vehicle still wears most of its original equipment. Gilbert states that at the 600,000-mile mark it wasn't using any oil, which he attributes to meticulous maintenance using synthetic fluids. It was then that he thought it might just go a million miles, and it did. In fact, Gilbert thinks it might go a million more if it weren't for the harsh Wisconsin winters that have taken their toll on the frame and body.

After mileage verification from Saab, the vehicle was donated to the Wisconsin Automotive Museum, which is home to a number of rare vehicles. Since then, Gilbert has purchased another Saab, with just a few less miles.

Interestingly enough, while a handful of vehicles have reached the million-mile mark, including this Dodge Ram, only one has been officially recorded as reaching two million miles... a Volvo P1800.

[Source: Saabnet.com

Robert Swan’s wife rung up Chrysler one day on the off chance the automaker might be interested to know her husband’s 1995 Dodge Ram 3500 just passed its millionth mile on the odo. Chrysler CEO Tom LaSorda was interested enough to leave the plush confines of his office at the Chrysler Group headquarters and take a trip down to the company’s call center down the road. LaSorda and Maggie Gentry, a 20-year call center veteran, rang up Robert Swan to speak personally with the prolific driver.

The Dodge Ram’s durability earned Swan a copy of the book “Forward: The American Heritage of DaimlerChrysler” inscribed with the words, “Please enjoy this great  book on the history of our company. Tom LaSorda, CEO.”

A book! Get this guy a new truck, Tom.

[Source: DaimlerChrysler]