Image: Brandon Thibodeaux/Wall Street Journal

It is quite a experience for a car guy to watch their car’s odometer rollover and start fresh in an older vehicle. That doesn’t happen too often anymore, as it’s become commonplace for cars to get replaced every three to five years, because we have become a nation that always seems to need the latest and greatest new widget. Let’s face it, there aren’t many people that hang onto a vehicle for more than 60,000 miles, much less the record-holders of today with well over a million miles?

This odometer has gotten quite a workout from Brotherton’s driving over the years.

Attorney William Brotherton, a resident of Argyle, Texas, is now a proud member of the million-mile club, having spent nearly 40 years behind the wheel of his 1976 Chevrolet G10. The man, aged 65 years, has a deep, abiding love and respect for the van, calling it “Million Miler,” “Ole Blue,” or “Rolling Memory Machine.”

Brotherton recently relayed his story to wordsmith A.J. Baime for the Wall Street Journal. “I was working as a sewage-treatment plant operator in Atlanta, Georgia, when I first bought [the van] new for $3,600. Things like power steering and a V8 engine were options, so to keep the price down, I got the basic van with a six-cylinder engine”

The van followed Brotherton as the years progressed. Jobs changed, kids were born, road trips were taken, and through it all, man and machine were never driven apart. To its credit, the worst mishap that ever happened was a broken steering wheel; beyond that, the paint was redone and the seats were replaced, but that drivetrain is as stout and original as ever.

By now, the van has seen a vast expanse of North America, having traveled north through the Trans-Canada Highway and south into Mexico. Brotherton expects his van to become a family treasure: “It’s still got many miles left in it, and it’s going to stay in the family for a long time.” Our hats are off to the man and his van, and we hope to see his prediction fulfilled.

Image: Brandon Thibodeaux/Wall Street Journal