Hooniverse Asks – What Car Could You Drive For 82 Years?

Allan Swift of Springfield Mass was 102 years old when he passed away, a remarkable feat in itself. Equally astonishing is the fact that he owned the same car for the 82 years prior to his death – astonishing that is until you discover it was a Rolls Royce.

Rollers have a mystique all their own, although even that venerated brand has had a few misfires in its past -I’m looking at you Silver Seraph and BOAC Comet engines. But the P1 Picadilly roadster wouldn’t be considered  to join them, what with its custom coachwork and 7.6-litre straight six – so quiet that all you can hear is the clock. Received as a graduation gift from his father, the P1 served its owner for a remarkable 82 years.
Over that time, Swift only managed to rack up 170,000 miles on the Rolls, but you can imagine that each and everyone was memorable – albeit probably drafty. And that brings us to today’s conundrum, what car could you drive from nearly cradle to grave. Should you be so lucky as to live to see Al Roker announce your birthday on national TV, what long-term automotive partner would you have sitting in your garage?
Image source: [Bang Shift]

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  1. muthalovin Avatar

    At this rate, I will have to make my '97 F150 last until 2079. And I am actually okay with that.
    /Stupid college kid destroyed his credit

  2. Citman Avatar
    Citman

    I'm 57 years old & have been driving the same 1972 Citroen DS21 for 38 years, supplemented by a 1970 D wagon since 1985. Total milage for the two is just under 500,000.

    1. vwminispeedster Avatar
      vwminispeedster

      Funny, I have a father with a 1972 Citroen DS21 sedan that he has had for 38 years that he has supplemented by a 1970 D wagon since 1985. I got do drive the sedan in highschool in Oakland in the late 90's. That was good times.
      The 1952 Ford 'HanzLift' towtruck only needs another 23 years to reach the 82 yr mark. Not daily driven so much as started, moved out into the lot during the day then back in the shop at night. http://jalopnik.com/#!353620/you-can-bring-your-c

  3. OA5599 Avatar
  4. parkwood60 Avatar
    parkwood60

    http://www.springfieldmuseums.org/news/view/51-ne
    Come on, how about tracking the article back to the original, original source the Springfield Museum, which not only was given the car when Swift passed, but given $1 million as well for a new building.
    As you may or may not know Rolls Royce had a factory in Springfield where they built cars for the Americas from 1921-31
    As to an answer to the question, a 1959-60 GM car that is still going to look like its from the future in 2060. If I had to pick a single make model I'd say a 1960 Buick, like this one which was the first car on Mars.
    <img src="http://oldcarandtruckads.com/Buick/Buick_Ads-260IA06A.jpg"/&gt;

  5. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    A Renault Dauphine – that should be enough time to make it to work and back.

    1. Cretony38 Avatar
      Cretony38

      Dad had one of those. beautiful red leather interior. Didn't have it long.

  6. SSurfer321 Avatar
    SSurfer321

    My 05 F150 is the only vehicle I've owned longer than 3 years. I may as well hold on to it forever.

  7. Feds_II Avatar
    Feds_II

    At this point, none. At least statistically. I'm 31 and not likely to see 113. So, I can drive no car for 82 years.
    That said, if I were to get some tiger blood and/or Adonis DNA, I'd have to go with something that could handle the daily commute, move a lot of people at once, have some style and comfort, and still be useful after the collapse of society as we know it. Thus:
    <img src="http://www.emspowered.com/storefront/images/categories/1995-toyota-land-cruiser-frontside_xuttlnd951.jpg&quot; width=500>

  8. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    I have had my 1977 Corvette since 1990. It has been off the road since 1997, but I hope to get it going this year with a junkyard Silverado/LS engine. I have no plans to sell this car unless the cash is need to keep a roof over my family's head or food on the table. Parts availablity shouldn't ever be a problem.

  9. Maymar Avatar
    Maymar

    The longest I've owned a car so far was just over three years, I can't see myself hanging on to anything that long. Although if I were to have any hope, I'd have to go with my Civic. It'd also mean I'd have to live to at least 106.

  10. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    I've owned my '95 F-150 since new, and it just turned over 200k last Saturday. Ten years ago when it turned 100k, I thought I would be happy if it just made it to 150k. Now I'm thinking about 250k. As far as ownership duration goes, if it makes it past August, it will beat the old record held by my '66 Corvair – 16 years and five weeks.

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      Three makes a trend.
      It's notable how many people have responded with their good ole' F150. And Dodge or Chevy pickups remain absent.

    2. rt_pittman Avatar
      rt_pittman

      I drove my '66 Corvair from it's purchase in '68 until a pine tree crushed the top in '86. It was a blast, four wheel drifting and all that engine heat behind you for fresh air driving with all windows down.

  11. Black Steelies Avatar

    Rosemary the hearse and I are going strong at 20k+ miles and 3 years. She's gotten a new radiator, fuel tank, plugs and wires and regular oil changes since I picked her up the year after I started driving. She has also braved a couple ditches that I carelessly nosed her into. I plan on fixing a couple things, mainly minor bodywork/rust this summer, after I start saving money this next paycheck. Then I would like to hold onto her for a long time. We will see how this plan works out and how she holds up but I love to see it when people hold onto cars so long they become an old friend.
    I would post a pic but most of you have seen it and I can't seem to get the work computer to link to it.

    1. Black Steelies Avatar

      My other car, the 1929 Chevrolet has been in the family since new and needs some TLC. It has been off the road since 1978 when my grandfather passed away and my dad and his brother never took interest. There is no rush right now because I lack any resources to put into that project but there is a roof over it and a concrete floor under it.

  12. Dutch Avatar
    Dutch

    No way. Can't do it. Not even a wife should hang around that long.

    1. Dutch Avatar
      Dutch

      P.S. This makes me think of Mr. Burns on the Simpsons! "Excellent!"

  13. TheRedCar Avatar
    TheRedCar

    I've had my 65 GTO since 93. I got it when I was 26 and I can't imagine not having it at this point. It's never been off the road for very long either. It's a family institution now and selling it would be like giving away the family dog because you got bored with it. I really can't see that any thing outside of a tragedy would make me sell it.
    I think once you get past the 15 year mark, it'll take a significant event to get rid of a car. It's just part of your identity at that point.
    I also have a 65 Alfa GTV that I got in 99. It's two years from getting tenure. I doubt if it's going anywhere either.

  14. Syrax Avatar
    Syrax

    The Silver Seraph isn't that bad. But it's the only one that I think of Bentley before thinking Rolls.

  15. skitter Avatar
    skitter

    My '92 Accord has been in the family since new, and I bought it 9 years ago. I'm very attached to it. When the starter went out, and I push-started it for a month, my only thought was "It's never stranded me!"

  16. TurboBrick Avatar
    TurboBrick

    I've had my Volvo now for 6 years, longest that I've owned the same car and it's on #3 spot in the longest lasting cars of my family. Why should I give it up, it works just fine?
    Incidentally, the #2 and #1 spots are held by a Hyundai Scoupe and Citroen Xantia.

  17. Rust-MyEnemy Avatar

    I've pretty much accepted that my Audi is my home for at least the next 82 years. To be honest, the damn thing is so reliable and well made I can well imagine it outlasting me.
    I'll own other supplementary cars, of course. But I see no sense whatsoever in divorcing the A4 until it explodes.

  18. ak-hilux Avatar
    ak-hilux

    The AK-47 of trucks the Toyota hilux. Too bad I can't even buy one in Canada

  19. alcology Avatar
    alcology

    I'm glad hooniverse finally got around to this story and it sparking a discussion of what we would keep. That rolls is one the most beautiful cars I've ever seen in a picture, I'm going to have to take a trip to see it in person I think. I'm still not sure on the lifer though. I'd like to think I can live with an AMC Eagle forever, but time will tell. Nearly up on 3 years so I guess it's entirely possible.

  20. dwegmull Avatar
    dwegmull

    My "backup car" (a 2006 Volvo V70R) will probably stick around for a while due mainly to the small amount of miles I put on it. It's at 29000 right now, but if things stay put work and commute wise I will most like put less than 500 miles on it this year… If I keep going at this rate it will have about 60K miles on by the time I turn 100!
    My main car being electric, it should last for a long time, as long as someone keeps making batteries for it that is…

  21. ɹǝʌoɹ ǝБuɐɹʇs Avatar
    ɹǝʌoɹ ǝБuɐɹʇs

    <img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v634/Mark12/20-bristol-blenheim-1.jpg"&gt;
    I think I'd have to go with one of these. Designed by engineers, not marketing men. Classic good looks, comfort, power, and luxury. Simple mechanics and manageable size. This dark blue will work just fine.

  22. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    <img src="http://images.cars.com/main/DMI/684/1810029.02.jpg&quot; width="310">
    I might have to find a way of keeping it fueled, though.

  23. CBQ_241 Avatar
    CBQ_241

    I have owned my early bronco since 1985 although it is only used for offroad fun now since it is not really street legal anymore. My wife has had a '66 corvair since 1996 but she is on her second one after a head on collsion. I am currently working on a willys wagon that is be my driver till I die.

  24. Jim-Bob Avatar
    Jim-Bob

    I have owned the same 1979 AMC Spirit since I was 15 in 1989. This does not mean that I will have it forever though as the fuel bills from the 360 V8 would put me in the poor house. So I guess the answer is that I simply don't know. If I had a good enough job where I could afford to keep an obsolete car with difficult to find spare parts running indefinitely it would probably be something cool like a Hakosuka Skyline, a Toyota 2000GT, or an old Holden HK Monaro GTS. I'd also consider a modified Trabant 601 too but it would be hard to keep a car made of Duraplast going for that long. As you can see, it's a hard decision for me. I mean the obvious answer is Schwimmwagen, but that would just be too easy…