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]