The truck is still going strong, but will soon be given the rest it deserves
by Sidd Dhimaan, on LISTEN 05:53The million-mile man is all the rage right now. Unless you live under a rock, you would’ve read that a Chicago-based courier named Brian Murphy clocked over a million miles in his 2007 Nissan Frontier. Yes, a million miles! And the truck is still running well. Interestingly, this is the base-spec trim and a manual, too. Congratulations to Mr. Brian Murphy for making it to the elite club that has very few members all across the globe.
The Nissan Frontier Is Built To Last
The truck in question is the 2007 Nissan Frontier that Murphy bought brand-new at M’Lady Nissan in Crystal Lake. Murphy works as an independent delivery driver in Chicago. He’s been on this job for the last 45 years.
He picked up the Nissan Frontier in 2007 in the base XE, King Cab version. It is powered by 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that makes 152 horses and 171 pound-feet of torque.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The Frontier’s odometer doesn’t have a provision to keep rolling after the 999,999-mile mark. So, we perhaps won’t know how much the truck will run before it’s put to rest.
Periodic Maintenance Is The Key To The Longevity
Brian Murphy chose the manual version thinking the transmission will last longer. He drives for 12 to 13 hours and travels anywhere between 300-350 miles every day.
He has never used navigation EVER! Surprisingly, the truck still runs on the original engine. Seeing the condition of the truck, it looks like it was driven out of the lot today. The secret behind the vehicle’s longevity can definitely be credited to impeccable maintenance on the owner’s part. Murphy says he changes the engine oil every 10,000 miles on his own and gets the truck serviced at regular intervals at the same place where he purchased it from. The major changes include:
- Radiator and alternator that lasted about 450,000 miles
- Original clutch replacement at 801,000 miles
- Timing chain replacement at 700,000 miles, that too as a precaution
Nice Gesture By The Japanese Giant
Nissan decided to reward Murphy for this incredible feat by gifting him a brand new 2020 Nissan Frontier built as per his specifications.
Nissan revealed it at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, but it still wears the same body design. I mean, a man who just clocked over a million miles on his 13-year old Frontier will basically be getting a new one that looks exactly like the one he has!
However, the truck will come with a new engine under the hood, so Murphy will feel a huge difference in the way the truck drives. The 2020 Frontier comes equipped with an all-new 3.8-liter, V-6 engine that makes 310 horses and 281 pound-feet of torque. Power will be sent to the wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission.
What Brian Murphy Had To Say
Speaking to The Drive, Murphy said, "They’re not gonna start building the new one with the new engine until mid-April, they tell me, and at that time I can order what I want. They’re also gonna fly me down to Mississippi and watch it be built." An automatic makes sense because Murphy doesn’t plan on retiring for the next six or seven years, at least. He added, "I’m tired of shifting, so I’m gonna get an automatic, and I’m gonna switch to the [new] V-6. They say it gets as good of mileage as the four-cylinder, so I’m gonna go with that. I have to stay with the king cab because I need more space in back than in the cab, and the bed on the crew cab is a little shorter."
Will Anyone Ever Beat The Three-Million Mile Volvo Record?
This is not the first time someone’s crossed the coveted million-mile mark.
Irv Gordon crossed three million miles on his Volvo P1800S. He has done cross-country trips in it as well. Unfortunately, he passed away last year at the age of 77.
In 1998, Gordon made the Guinness World Record for the highest vehicle mileage at 1.69 million. This was not the end; not even close to what the car would go on to achieve. On May 1, 2014, Gordon’s Volvo P1800S hit the three-million-mile mark in the town of Girdwood, Alaska. The four-million-mile mark was laid to rest once Gordon started driving the Volvo XC-60R that was gifted to him by the automaker itself for the achievement.
He never had the idea to create a world record, or intended to put Volvo through a test of sorts. But once he crossed the 250,000-mile mark without replacing a single component, Gordon realized he’s onto something. “I had never had a single repair on the car. Maintenance, yes, but I never had to have a water pump removed or anything like that,” Gordon said. He knew the long-term benefits of ‘precaution is better than cure’, thanks to his experience with the two Corvairs previously. Gordon did go for two engine rebuilds, but the first one was not even necessary according to the dealer.
Final Thoughts
Murphy plans on getting the Pro-4X trim, but is still contemplating on it. The base trim that he owns has a basic radio and manual rolling windows. So, an upgrade will surely make his life much better. He will also move on from the red and maybe go for a dark blue body color. Good choice, Mr. Murphy.
The old truck will make its way to Nissan’s corporate museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Contrary to Murphy’s truck without all the electronic shenanigans, do you think the new Frontier will also last this long if pushed hard? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
