20 Cars That Refused To Die and Passed One Million Miles

Cameron Eittreim December 15, 2021

7: 1991 Chevy Silverado

The CK series GM trucks are among the most popular pickup truck models of all-time. Frank Oresnik managed to get his Silverado over the million-mile mark while being interviewed by NPR. “This afternoon, somewhere between Chicago and Shawano(ph), Wisconsin, Frank Oresnik reached a milestone. His truck reached the milestone. It’s a 1991 Chevy Silverado he drives it delivering steaks and seafood north from Chicago. And, today, Frank Oresnik’s odometer approached one million miles.” – via NPR

The fact that the Silverado made it over a million miles is a true testament to the fact that routine maintenance is key. The GM 350 V8 is one of the most well-respected engines on the road, and with proper care, you can get a lot of life out of this engine. Needless to say, Oresnik is still driving his Silverado to this day.

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6: 1983 Lincoln Town Car

There was a period when the Lincoln Town Car was the quintessential luxury car on the road. The big American beauty was comfortable and powerful, and part of the reliable panther platform that was shared with the Crown Vic. Chet Belisle passed away in 2013 but before that, he had squeezed a million miles out of his Town Car. “Chet Belisle has a 1983 Lincoln Town Car that he has been driving for the past 25 years. He paid $2,200 for his Lincoln when it was new. It is not surprising that no one will buy it from him now because it has too many miles on it.” – via ABC7 Kansas

It’s not surprising that this driver got a million miles out of his Town Car because the platform is one of the most reliable in the world. This is why police agencies and taxi cab companies still flock to the panther platform to this day. Even purchasing a used example would be a great investment for someone who wants a long-lasting daily driver.

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5: 1963 Volkswagen Beetle

The original Volkswagen Beetle was an icon of the 1960s and naturally, many baby boomers still own their original Beetles. Albert Klein managed to get his Beetle over the million-mile mark and still keeps it on the road. “The car’s fenders are dented, its upholstery is torn, its paint is chipped and faded. But the one thing you can say for this humble Beetle is that it runs–and runs and runs. After 24 years, seven engines, three transmissions, 150 tires, 35,600 gallons of gas, three sets of wiper blades, and more than $38,000 in maintenance costs, the Pasadena man’s trusty “bug” turned its millionth mile on Tuesday.” – via LA Times

The simplicity of the air-cooled engine makes the Beetle a breeze to work on. Although the car is old by today’s standards, the amount of available parts is plentiful. It also helps that this original body Beetle was manufactured in Mexico up until recently. This means that you can outfit your bug with modern parts and enhancements.

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4: 1963 Plymouth Fury

Plymouth is not a name that comes to mind first when you think of a million-mile vehicle. Nevertheless, Joseph Vaillancourt was on the verge of getting his taxi cab over the million-mile mark. “Just 264 kilometers short of setting the record for mileage on the same car, Joseph Vaillancourt’s never-say-die 1963 Plymouth Fury sedan is headed for the scrap yard. It was smashed by a truck that ran a red light on Wednesday. Vaillancourt had logged an incredible 2.6-million kilometers in the car, and estimates carrying more than 800,000 passengers.” – via CBC

The Fury is one of the most iconic cars on the road. With flowing styling and a powerful V8 engine, few cars have managed to have the same effect on drivers as the Fury did. Resale value on the Plymouth Fury has also been rising dramatically, which is both good and bad for collectors of the car.

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3: 2013 Hyundai Elantra

The Elantra has come a long way since it was introduced in the 1990s. The car has become quite the competitor to the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. The reliability is also a strong suit for the Elantra as seen here “We like to drive a lot, but we don’t drive nearly as much as delivery driver Farrah Haines, who drove her 2013 Hyundai Elantra one million miles in just five years. Yes, that’s one million miles, as in 1,000,000, as in 200,000 miles per year, as in an average of 548 miles per day, every day. For reference, the average driver in America clocks 14,000 miles per year.” – via Car and Driver

The folks at Hyundai were so impressed with her story that they rewarded her with a brand new car. It’s a good sign when an automaker is in tune with what the customers are saying about a product. The Elantra is a stellar example of a compact car that’s done right, with plenty of features and comfort for the price.

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2: 2007 Nissan Frontier

When it comes to the world of pickup trucks, the Frontier is highly regarded for reliability. Although the platform hasn’t changed since 2005, the truck is still a sales success for the company. Brian Murphy, a delivery driver, got his over the million-mile mark and Nissan rewarded him with a new truck. “If you can put a million miles on a Nissan Frontier, it turns out the automaker will reward you handsomely. Brian Murphy, an independent delivery driver and original owner of the 2007 Nissan Frontier that rolled its odometer past a certified one-million-mile mark earlier this year, took delivery of a brand-new 2020 Frontier at M’Lady Nissan in Crystal Lake, Illinois, the same dealer from which he bought the 2007 model.” – via Motor Trend

Nissan knows how to treat their customers and the Frontier is one of the most popular products of all-time. It will be interesting to see if Brian can get a million miles out of his next Frontier, as the models are almost identical.

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1: Almost To A Million Mitsubishi Mirage

Finally, we have a couple in Minnesota who are on their way to reaching the million-mile mark in their Mitsubishi Mirage. Naturally, the automaker got wind of this and rewarded them with a brand-new Mirage. “When it comes to glamorous cars, the Mitsubishi Mirage is perhaps the last thing that comes to mind. With a starting price of $13,995, it’s currently among the cheapest new cars you can buy in America, but the purple Mirage featured here isn’t new. It’s a 2014 model, purchased new by Janice and Jerry Huot in Minnesota who then drove it pretty much nonstop for six years. In that time, the little hatch called Purple Won racked up 414,000 miles.” – via Motor 1

The Mirage has been panned by its critics for having a cheap design and a lack of features. But you can’t argue with those stats and that mileage. For the price tag, the Mirage can provide a lot of years of trouble-free driving for a fraction of the price. Very few new cars can be purchased for an affordable price like this one.

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