1.3 million miles

[baltimoremm]

GO PANTHER!

http://www.ksnt.com/home/ticker/26847869.html

Man Drives Over a Million Miles
Hannah Wooldridge
Watch the Video
The US Department of Transportation reports the average lifespan of a vehicle is twelve years, or about 128-thousand miles.

One Topeka man has a driving record that puts that average to shame.

Chet Belisle loves driving his 1983 Lincoln Towncar.

“I like the ride, the style, the weight, I feel safe,” said Belisle.

Chet's been driving coast to coast for twenty five years, and his pride and joy has never broken down.

“The Lincoln gets great gas mileage, 22 mpg on the highway, 15-16 in town,” said Belisle.

The odometer has rolled over a couple times... But Chet says that's expected when a car hits the one million three hundred thousand mile mark.

“This Lincoln can’t last too much longer,” said Belisle.

And the secret to the car's longevity lies under the heavy metal hood which Chet says his mechanics are used to lifting.

“3.2 v engine and that things got power,” said Belisle.

Chet began logging miles and tracking tune ups the day he drove the car off the lot, it only had fifty three miles then..

“Lincoln cant last too much longer,” said Belisle.

Since then, he's rebuilt the engine and transmission, and made full use of life time warrantees on nearly every other part.

For now Chet says he'll stick with his Lincoln until it stops running... Next stop? On to San Antonio.

Chet paid twenty two hundred dollars for his Lincoln when it was brand new.

Chet says he's tried to sell it to used car dealerships, but no one will buy his Lincoln because it has too many miles and they can't back up the warranty.

Story Created: Aug 11, 2008 at 6:33 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 11, 2008 at 6:33 PM CDT

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

“3.2 v engine and that things got power,” said Belisle.

What the hell does that mean?

[ImpalaSlayer]

well yea everything is rebuilt. does he just drive from coast to cost for fun? eff that

[Eric-Blk2004]

Yea seriously and is that a panther platform that far back?

And what the heck is a 3.2 V lol

3.2 litre? Does ford even make this size engine?

[Egon Spengler]

I had an 89 Town Car... That thing was a beast... I am sure that the engine and tranny have been done over a couple of times!
http://b1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00364/10/71/364411701_l.jpg

[Aren Jay]

He said in the Video 3 - 2 V engine. He means 302 V8.

he seemed a bit out of it.

[Bradley G]

THAT IS OUTSTANDING, cut the guy some slack he has high miles too!:eek:

[Egon Spengler]

THAT IS OUTSTANDING, cut the guy some slack he has high miles too!:eek:

and one foot in the grave... I don't think he'll make it to 1.4 million

[larryo340]

Chet paid twenty two hundred dollars for his Lincoln when it was brand new.


Even back in '83 there's no way that Lincoln was $2,200. Poor guy is losing his memory.

[Bradley G]

Larry, I think the reporter made the error, in print the article said he paid $22000.00 for it in 1983.
Even back in '83 there's no way that Lincoln was $2,200. Poor guy is losing his memory.

[larryo340]

Larry, I think the reporter made the error, in print the article said he paid $22000.00 for it in 1983.
Call me crazy, but I think that 22K would be too high in 1983 for a Town Car. :dunno:

[Bradley G]

Even if it lasts 1,300,000 miles? :P
Call me crazy, but I think that 22K would be too high in 1983 for a Town Car. :dunno:

[Blackened300a]

Stop it, 1.3 million miles?, The old codger probably has alzheimers and just makes up the mileage as he goes. Just like he has no idea what engine is in his car or what he paid for it.

Besides the mileage only counts if the engine and tranny have never been rebuilt, otherwise you are just throwing money into a piece of crap to keep it going .

[Motorhead350]

[QUOTE=Blackened300a;646314Besi des the mileage only counts if the engine and tranny have never been rebuilt, otherwise you are just throwing money into a piece of crap to keep it going .[/QUOTE]

So are you calling all of my vehicles crap? :lol:

[Blackened300a]

So are you calling all of my vehicles crap? :lol:

Dumping money to keep a worthless car on life support is a waste.
I just meant a few of your vehicles.:D

[Vortech347]

My fox will ALWAYS run, and ALWAYS be mine. How many miles she'll see who knows. She's at 165k now. Still kicking ass.

I hope this 04' SB lasts me a long time, or untill I find an 03 blue that I can't resist. Even then I'll keep the SB.

[TAKEDOWN]

I hope all my cars do the same! Passed onto generations after generations.

[Motorhead350]

Dumping money to keep a worthless car on life support is a waste.
I just meant a few of your vehicles.:D

Paul they are all on their second engines. The Marauder had a new one 27,000 miles ago and she now has 128,000 miles. The Blazer got a new one like 40,000 miles ago and has like 178,000 miles and the 65 Chevy is without an engine right now and who knows how many engines that thing has had?

I don't keep them on life support, I just maintain a little more than most would. :D

[Eric-Blk2004]

I dont see anything wrong with pumping money into a car to keep it going so long as its not every week or month.

But 2k a year in repairs is cheaper then a car payment x12 80% of the time.

However, I agree that when it comes to boasting mileage and how far you have taken it I think the powertrain has to be orginal - no repairs/rebuilds. Just regular maintence. Like the olds Corolla commericals - how many repairs to take it 330k? Who knows. But 1.3 million and rebuilds rebuilts should be expected...I mean if the mechanic is good the car will drive forever - if you have the money to fix it.

Married with children come to mind - the episode where Al hits 1 million on his Dodge. I love how in that show they never name the car - just thats is a Dodge, and apparently total crap! LOL

[Breadfan]

I know a dude with an 85 Mustang GT with 600k on the clock. Yes 600k. The engine was rebuilt at 250,000 but not b/c it was busted, he put forged internals in it with the intent to S/C it. Never did and now it's at 600k.

My 1990 has 205k and runs awesome. I'm putting a new clutch in it (still has the original) and will daily drive it to work this fall.

Regarding the article though, why did he say is has some power? A low-po 302 in a 1983 heavy town car, how fast or powerful can that be? What is it 160hp moving 4400lbs of car?

[whd507]

my old lincoln had 740k when I sold it. 1.3m on a 302 is pretty impressive, even with a rebuild.

[OneBADLsE]

i knew a number of guys who had in excess of 650k on their 5.0s. One, i recall went 475k on the original tranny (90 TC). Then at 550k the motor went. Thats when he called it quits and bought a new one!

We had a caprice that did close to 600k (bought new in 91 with a 5.0). Clock stopped in 96 with over 200k...IIRC.

[Aren Jay]

This whole thing aobut what is a car or a boat or whatever has been going around in philosophical circles for 1000's of years.

The story goes: " If you have a boat and you gradulally replace every board, every beam, every rope, the mast, etc... over time, one piece at a time. When is it not your old boat and a new boat?

Same with this guys car. It is the same car, just fixed, maintained, repaired, serviced. Are you saying your Marauder is not the your old Marauder when you put new wheels on it? Or maybe a UDP? New engine block? Where does your marauder cease being your old Marauder and become a new different Marauder.

Perhaps a tune makes it a different car? Changes how it drives, but then so does a new set of tires. Or a supercharger, or whatever.

Thing is it is still your Marauder no matter what you do to it, until you sell it and then it is someone elses.

1.3 million miles is alot. Any car with a million miles on it is going to have a lot of work done to it.

So I wonder what he did to drive that far all the time? Travelling sales maybe?

I know a sales rep who changes his minivan every 200,000 miles. Every 3 or 4 years.

25 years / 4 year = 6.25 x 200,000 = 1.25 million miles.

Sounds about right.