It's no secret that proper maintenance can help keep a car on the road for many years, but it takes extreme dedication to see your car's speedometer surpass the million mile mark. Irv Gordon, a 73-year-old Long Island native, already left that milestone far behind and even holds the Guinness World Record for most miles driven by a non-commercial vehicle. His 1966 Volvo P1800 earned that title when it reached 1.69 million miles, but Gordon did not stop there.

The retired science teacher will soon surpass 3 million miles with his trusted automobile, but he is modest about his accomplishments.

"It's not about getting to the 3 million miles, it's about the trips that got me to the 3 million miles," Gordon explained. "I never had a goal to get to 1 million, to 2 million. I just enjoyed driving and experiencing life through my Volvo."

Gordon is planning a trip to Alaska in September that should take his car past the 3-million-mile mark, and it will be a new experience for this traveler. Alaska is one of two states Gordon has yet to visit, attesting to the love of adventure that has gotten him, and his Volvo, this far.

John Maloney, president and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, believes that Gordon's respect for his vehicle is the main reason it has lasted so long. Everything from safe driving practices and routine oil changes to addressing issues as they emerged and being vigilant about care and repairs has helped Gordon's Volvo stay in such good shape.

Drivers in the New York/New Jersey area who want to take a page from Gordon's book can start by bringing their rides to New Jersey Auto Auction's Total Car Care Center. The experts at this garage, which is open to the public, can help car owners with everything from regular maintenance to major repairs.