557,000 Miles and Counting (She's 90; Her Car's 45; Both Are Still On The Road)

At 90 years old, this Depression-era great-grandmother from Orlando, Fla., has a lesson for all of us about surviving in a tough economy.
Shes still driving her 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente. Price back then: $3,289.
Thats less than the $4,500 the government gives to trash a car today in the cash for clunkers program.
She jokes her car has been oh-so-faithful. She's better than three husbands," Veitch said. Shes never lied to me, shes never cheated on me, and I can always depend on her.

But with nearly 600,000 miles on the odometer, the real story is in those lifetime warranties.
She paid Midas $42.23 for a lifetime muffler. Such a deal! Midas has replaced her muffler seven times.
Ditto with JCPenney and her battery: Shes had 17 batteries replaced. Even though JCPenney no longer has an automotive department, they still make arrangements to honor her contract.

Then theres Sears and the shock absorbers. Sears has replaced her shocks three times.

Three cheers for Rachel, who has collected for all Americans who bought extended warranties but for some loophole reason, never collected.

As I sat with Rachel in her living room, teapot on a doily, I felt I could be with anyones grandmother in America.

But when we hopped behind the wheel of her baby, the car she nicknamed Chariot so long ago, her bright eyes and tight grip confirmed Rachel, like her car, is an American original.

She picked up her 1970s-era CB radio, flipped over to channel 19 and asked, Is anyone out there?

Static. No answer.

Without missing a beat, she joked, I guess theyre all dead.

If there was ever a person who loves to kid around, loves cars, and is as quick as a rabbit start in a Mercury with a 260 V8, its Rachel.

Shes pushed her car up to 120 miles per hour. The speedometer quits at 120, so I could have been going faster, she said.

Rachel, a retired nurse, enjoys showing off her car to auto enthusiasts.
Her goal (yes, folks in their 90s still have goals) is to one day go toe-to-toe with another funny, car-loving American: Jay Leno.

As they used to say in the old radio days: Stay tuned.
This video: © Copyright 2009 NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved No COPYRIGHT infringement is intended

[@Top5AutoRepairs]

maintenance makes car last longer.

[@pecanthejelly5854]

Top 5 Auto Repairs No shit? I thought you could run a car 20,000 without changing the oil and rotating the tires and it would be just fine! Tell us something else we already know.

[@m42037]

@@pecanthejelly5854 That's what most idiots do today and run over train tracks fast, slam on breaks at red lights, just beat on their cars. Only reason these 1960s cars aren't around anymore is from road salt!

[@supreme2005]

florida helps lol

[@hamburgerhamburgerv2]

@@m42037 yeah. The year is 2834. hundreds of 1960s cars are still on every road. What?

[@lkoepnick4755]

RIP she sadly passed away in may 11th 2017 she sold her comet in 2012 because her eyesight got bad.

[@UmmYeahOk]

I was wondering. Thank you for the info.

[@chilekwainc6059]

At least she made it to 98

[@m42037]

Sold it to who? They better take good care of it and don't drive it in salt!

[@victorblock3421]

@@m42037 I don't know who bought it but it's safe at the wisconsin auto museum

[@m42037]

@@victorblock3421 Oh no that's not what she'd want! She'd want it driven not sitting in a "Auto Mausoleum"

[@griplimit261]

it just goes to show it's not what you drive, it's how you take care of it.

[@cordellwanless1144]

paul austin Those Italian handryers are amazing cars, unfortunately, the only people who can afford them are celebrity's who don't use them properly.

[@jmh4ggg]

Did you not hear? Granny was flooring it, and didn't have to replace half the parts or rebuild the engine. These newer cars a designed to break down so you'll have to pay the dealership long after it's paid off.

[@Djevan41598]

Amen

[@devintolliver92]

"it ain't a toy!" Lol she was ready to protect that car with her life.

[@LuisPerez-gz5ci]

take care of your car and it will take care of you

[@ezgreviews6775]

Luis Perez yup

[@tyrod1234]

She died in May of this year. Rest In Peace 🙏🏼

[@symphytumtribe1582]

Jo Joseph thanks Jo for that information. Awh ... wow.. she did a good long run . Bless her little heart as she herself said of her car.

[@Djevan41598]

@@symphytumtribe1582 how old was she?

[@tankman-ku5zc]

40 plus years with no car payments what a dream.

[@lukebecker1959]

Damn over 557,000 miles that really shows what good maintenance can do

[@kylehammmonds8972]

Now you buy a car truck or van motor goes after 250000 thousand miles almost and transmission the same just about !

[@davidjames666]

RIP. May 11, 2017 at the age of 98. She stopped driving the car in 2013.

[@garbage854]

RIP to her

[@escreveprovictor5522]

Rachel Veitch passed away on May 11, 2017 at the age of 98 in Orlando, Florida. May God bless her family! Sad for that, anyway.

[@playsbass1969]

gONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

[@igotfinz6448]

escreveprovictor RIP Rachel 😔

[@ohhhwolfy2536]

She was so much a part of that car that I'm not sure I'd want to own it. Anything it does that could be considered creepy would make me wonder if her spirit was in the car.

[@victorialouden1912]

I just saw this bless her heart!!

[@ufooooooooooooooooo]

Damn I would've thought she passed earlier looking at the video date.

[@ttkaexe]

RIP Rachel Lucile Mudge Veitch Orlando Florida aug 8 1918-may 11 2017(Age 98)😭😭😭😭

[@nathanmester4585]

KingLOMEGA GT www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/altamonte-springs-fl/rachel-veitch-7407112

[@brandonhagy5347]

This woman is more of a man than most men today

[@myndlink]

This is my kind of woman. They don't make THOSE like they used to either.

[@sovoitechlanes3398]

What a gangster dissing all her ex husbands and loving he car

[@jackcasey7037]

My great-grandma had a 1957 Buick Century in robin’s egg blue. Bought it new in 1957 at age 40 and drove it every single day for the next 45 years. All told, she put 600,000 miles on it plus a little bit of change. The car now sits in my uncle’s garage. It still works perfectly to this day!

[@pauljordan4452]

A buddy's grandfather ran a barber shop for 40 years. His only indulgence was an old Cadillac DeVille. He died at 90 in 2022 and his son still drives the vehicle - it's still working.

[@johnozlocks7317]

I liked this lady, I thought she was cool with her car and the whole story, then she pulls out the 38 snubby, now she's my HERO!! She the boss!!

[@m3chan1zr]

One owner. Drove it at 120mph, drove on the Daytona speedway, packs heat. Coolest person ever.

[@hanphilnoffz8827]

not bad for 60s today is slow average is like average human run 11-18 mph average is 13 mph and you only run 12 mph yep 11 mph I can do that more then 800 meter 12 mph 800 meter is jv think that fast is not

[@ryans413]

Good maintenance and the car will last forever sadly people don’t understand what maintenance is

[@rylan642]

Or don’t know how to rebuild a motor or transmission

[@m42037]

@@rylan642 You're a knucklehead, when it gets that bad you have a shop do it simple

[@mikeroberts5646]

My kind of girl ,don't find women like that in today's world,2 pieces of history all in one God bless this women and her car.

[@SkippyThorson]

This was one of the most feel-good stories I've ever seen. This woman and her dedication to this car is absolutely adorable. I love it! No car today will hold up like that, and no one takes such pride in their ride anymore. That was just way too cool.

[@andrewstarkey6686]

Why dont we see stories like these on the news anymore? Everything is so serious and depressing

[@shawnmcculley2995]

Serious & depressing makes networks more money.

[@Lambo6fo]

Modern cars can easily hit this many miles. Unfortunately, nobody takes care of them.

[@sneugler]

Lambo6fo true, but good luck performing maintenance on it yourself. That's the problem with modern cars; you can't fix them yourself.

[@Lambo6fo]

Snekers unless you are a mechanic, you can't fix most things on a car yourself. You people make it sound like everyone was smarter back then. 90% of people just fill up the tank with gas and drive. That's about it.

[@sneugler]

Lambo6fo I'm not saying that people were smarter back then, but it's simply easier to replace parts in old cars. Anyways, I'd think that people who willingly own vintage cars are interested in keeping it alive themselves.

[@JattAnmoli]

Snekers you dont need to fix them if you get a Toyota. They dont break and plastic doesnt rust.

[@jshepard152]

Anmol S I've been driving Toyota and Honda exclusively for over 20 years. I've got 200k on my 2006 Toyota so far. It's never been repaired beyond brakes and batteries. After 12 years I'm starting to get ready for a new car. I'll sell it and replace it with... another Toyota that doesn't break. They are remarkable vehicles.

[@DRGW485]

In 1963 four Mercury Comets traveled 100,000 miles, stopping only for pit stops and driver changes, taking over 40 days and nights at Daytona International Speedway doing an average speed of 108 mph. 40,000 laps without any major issues!! In 1964 Mercury drove three Comets from the very tip of South America to Fairbanks Alaska. Once again it took 40 Days and nights to travel over 16,200 miles. That's reliability!!!

[@skoal22005]

Grandma is packing heat. She don't play.

[@blacke347]

that little old woman has the mind and heart of a car guy

[@ardiemclelland2039]

She passed away May 11th this year. Her eyesight went on on her a couple of years after this video was recorded. Such an amazing woman. Bless her heart

[@annagreene12]

Ardie McLelland :(((((

[@Anth230]

Ardie McLelland That sucks. She was only two years away from 100. No matter how well we take care of ourselves we can only hold back Mr. Reaper so long. 😔

[@turbosaleen347]

Sounds like she had an amazing life... sad that she's past on.. but the next question is .... is the car still surviving some where.??? ..it would be amazing if jay Leno has it ..😍🤷🏻‍♂️

[@decaturkenfolk]

Ardie McLelland ....the last of a dying breed...RIP...with love

[@decaturkenfolk]

I miss my Mamma...my Grandmother...she raised me and died in 04....she reminds of her....im getting all fucking emotional right now

[@daviddntait]

I teared a bit when she said " bless her heart, she just keeps going..."

[@ir10031981]

She just died on May 11, 2017. almost seven weeks ago.

[@youngali5339]

ieatass 4breakfast 😂💀💀💀💀😂😂

[@lukeallmangaming6060]

www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/rachel-veitch-obituary?pid=1000000185388894&view=guestbook

[@biazer9517]

She lives almost 1 century nice

[@amentetbastet6746]

+nitroman365 that would have been awesome

[@SenditCRV]

I love this woman. Cruisin around with a strap in her comet goin 120 and all while being 90 years old. Increadible.

[@macymorse80]

RastaGMC Sierra ha ha ha ha. that's just way too funny. her strap lol

[@tallpaul9475]

LOL, better than three husbands, never lied to her, never cheated on her, and she can always depend her car.

[@Mrjoecreeper]

Video is 8 years old, yet it's in my recommended. Can't say I'm not pleased though.

[@treboogey00]

I swear you gotta respect people like this 💯

[@bitemyshinnymetalass1569]

I was going to make a crack at Mat lauer but that sweet old lady made my day. She is a gem of a lady.

[@amaxo7165]

That's a beauty! And this lady is awesome. Rest In Peace!

[@andrewschulzsd]

Annabel Lee she died?!

[@joedirtthe3rd]

palmtree486 may 11 2017 at the age of 98. She stopped driving in 2012 when she became legally blind. Rest her amazing soul! Wonder if jay Leno ever bought her car like she wanted haha

[@gtarules1]

Dealers be like "FUCK, no more lifetime warranty shit!" That's why you don't see them anymore. Lol

[@akisflokas972]

I was very sad when I heard that she couldn’t drive anymore! I am wondering if her children sold chariot after Rachel’s death

[@kylehammmonds8972]

They should have kept it in the family and put it on a museum

[@ForgedEggs]

Based granny, loves her ride and packing heat, bless that woman.

[@jonathanlee3284]

Never lied and never cheated😂

[@zelphx]

This woman and I are soulmates. I DEARLY miss my 1964 Mercury Comet Caliente hardtop (two-door). I absolutely LOVED that car; I had it from my teens to my fifties. I got sick, and it was too hard to keep up. I ended up GIVING it away to a former student of mine.

[@truckernation7886]

Goes 120 and “packs heat”, that’s an elder with personality!

[@its_summer68]

this great grandmother is an undying car enthusiast

[@yesman2755]

Have to laugh when people trade their cars in when they’re barely up to 50,000 because they think they’re high mileage. My Skoda Yeti is on 340,000 and ticks over like a watch. Why don’t I trade it in? Because the equivalent to this car is close to £40,000. It’s a no brainer, I’d rather just invest in my current car, just like the lady on this video is doing. A brand new car to her would be a step down anyhow, she’s got a classic car that must attract loads of admirers. Fair play to her!

[@AlejandroP1980s]

Robert Purcell also is a scam nowdays dumb rich people loan new cars and when they down they get a new one so stupid also some break down even with good normal maintenance still like they they don’t make em like they use to why because most things nowdays are made by cheap parts and made in china hmm wonder why when warranty runs out they begin to show some issues also keep the car truck don’t get a new car or truck if you going for a new truck get a Nissan Titan or a Toyota Tundra

[@LectronCircuits]

Her Comet is out of this world. Cheers!

[@marajadeskywalker5992]

i still do the same thing with my parents' old 57 bel air, i take her to work and to the grocery store everywhere, and i have about 645,587 miles on her.

[@tylerkilarski5831]

Now THAT is a car lover

[@mikehagen3785]

This car should be put in a museum.... only because I've read that the owner passed away.....

[@dmc31405]

You go girl. You make me proud. I know your family feels the same.

[@hi-fidude6670]

I'm going to be like her. I'm only 20 but spent years saving up to a 1959 Cadillac that I will never sell for any amount of money. Old cars were made to work, new cars are just too much. Too much buttons, engine parts, computers, etc.

[@Ryan-jt2sp]

CaddyPro'59 new cars with computers work when you tell them to work and are reliable. Old cars run when they want to run. I'm an owner of a 66' mustang and I love the thing, but newer cars are 100x better

[@jeffyjohn5673]

Ha, my Grandmother drove a 67 Ford Mercury Comet. Only car she owned. Drove it till she passed in 97. Love that car.

[@cameronbrule7912]

This lady is an absolute, hands down badass

[@mrbigbigtoe]

I like how she emphasized on “that is factory aIR”

[@nsx1075]

Damn right! they just don't make them like they use to! Well said Granny!!

[@Djevan41598]

1:02 🤣😂I had a bunch of stupid men trying to argue with me. This woman is a savage.🤣😂

[@m42037]

Lot of "know it all's" think AC didn't come out till the 70s, funny. My 66 Ford Galaxie 500 XL came with AC, and was indash not a factory bolt on AC box like this.

[@Djevan41598]

@@m42037 exactly AC came out before the 70s.

[@m42037]

@@Djevan41598 AC came out as a option in the early 50s. By 1956 Desoto had a front and rear AC option. This was/ is a really good beautiful car.

[@Djevan41598]

@@m42037 nice.

[@AlphaGT-R16]

Shes right, they dont make the cars like they used to.

[@xxomarlopezjimenes94]

remie mujic maybe if you service the car it would

[@AlphaGT-R16]

No it still wouldnt. Cars these days are built with cheap parts and made to last only so long.

[@calebstevens7487]

*shows gun * She’s outlasted 3 husband 😂😂😂 oh no

[@sim61642]

Chariot has enterd retierment as of 2012 acumulating 576,000 miles with her best friend , Rip Rachel Veitch .

[@KylePetersonDmaster223]

H.G. C. 2009

[@dodgecummins677]

see and people now days say ford is junk lmao lol i wonder if that old car is still around i would like to put a new engine and transmission in it

[@Toastmaster_5000]

This grandma puts those ricers to shame. Not only does she take extremely good care of her car but actually managed to race it, while still leaving it functional.

[@matthewbaquero]

She's ome of the reasons there's no more lifetime guarantees

[@pringlescan81]

Suffice to say this car outlived some of it's mechanics!

[@jessiemac100]

this lady is awesome I wish she was my grandmother

[@fernandoescobar4387]

You drove it at 120mph? Well, that's as fast as it goes. Lol. She would keep pushing it!

[@king23059]

wow she's awesome a true car lover and we can all take a lesson from her and take better care of our things and make them last longer

[@kodjoblacka]

I need a grandma like this...

[@kodjoblacka]

This is one of the best car stories that's far.

[@salvadorvenegas1781]

Big props to Mercury too bad the brand don't exists anymore

[@67marlins81]

Salvador Venegas I could not agree more, friend......

[@vishouscat]

Rachel Veitch died May 11th 2017

[@shawnmcculley2995]

What a BEAUTIFUL story!!!!!! I heard about a similar story many years ago. An 80 year old travelling salesman got over 600k mi. out of his '77 Pontiac Bonneville. He also saved all his service records.

[@03Venture]

Right on, Rachel! God bless you!

[@jakewilliams8296]

03Venture GOD BLESS RACHEL

[@matttrusty6100]

Shows how long things can last if you take care of them.

[@tauceti3185]

Forge Matt Lauer. Honor this remarkable 95 year old lady. She is positive statement of what our senior years can be if you rise above America's obsession with youth. With her extra care of her 64 Comet she puts all ages to shame. She is a natural wondet

[@MichaelGedies]

Better than three husbands, never cheated. Packs heat. Damn

[@gaylea.griffin9733]

God bless… what a lady and car. ❤❤❤❤

[@ms.sonshine8878]

My dad was a master mechanic and he always said that the best engines were the American V8's.

[@johncabot9058]

Actually the best engines have tight bearing tolerances, and DON'T have Push rods. If you want any engine to last 600,000 miles, never rev it past 2000 RPM, and drive like a grandma.

[@Matt6h]

I have a 1996 ford ranger 2.3 5 speed and it has 476k miles. all original, and technically, I'm the second owner. my dad was the original owner.

[@natenasty6292]

Matt Hendricks I got a 87 Chevy truck with 464,000 my daily driver

[@huesozona1252]

she looks great! being 90s, my uncle had a car like that back in the 60s, I like her, GOD BLESS HER!!, GREAT STORY, GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

[@Robert-fy1vq]

Who could leave a thumbs down? What a Wonderful story.

[@AmericanPride1234]

Driving at 110 mph. Thats my kind of woman. lol 2-12-17

[@TheCompton1963]

2:06 it aint a toy!!!! i love this lady

[@cooldeathman8278]

Older vehicles are better then the new vehicles there bigger there stronger and they dont have electric problems

[@davidmedeiros2856]

As the saying goes they don't make em like they used too- people or cars. One cool old women! God bless!

[@asa1973100]

I absolutely adore this story x

[@weedster6793]

Back in the day when cars was supposed to last forever....

[@ClassicChrome86]

LOVE a classic original! And the fact it has FACTORY AIR makes it even BETTER!

[@billwalton7496]

Ms Lady Said "It's Not A Toy"! LMAO!😂🤣 Respect!

[@praysuguitan779]

The secret to car longevity is basic - periodic change on engine oil transmission oil spark plugs air filter coolant battery tires; better if done a month or two ahead of schedule

[@Msflamingo-wl4qo]

That'll be me & my Challenger one day (i hope)! My Grandma had a 1955 Tri-color Royal Lancer w/a HEMI!!🌹💕😎 Did this awesome lady really pass away recently? Dang. God bless her, her Fam & friends...& her sweet ride. 🙏💕🌹💕

[@TyTybeastmo]

My first car was a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue GLS. It had 398,000 miles on it when I got my new car. That Olds is STILL GOING!

[@sassybelle1265]

You go Granny!!! Good for her 😊

[@mitakabg5621]

she doesnt even look like shes 90

[@arielaguilar5107]

Mitaka Bg It's because they don't make humans like they used to, she is a better version

[@g.private9101]

There is a woman who bought a 57 chevy new in 57 still driving it in 2019. Her only car

[@mrbigbigtoe]

Not her only car. She owned a 1950 Chevy before that

[@lukeswall5999]

She sold it.

[@Jacob-ou5ks]

She sold it

[@antiqueelectronics2462]

57 lady

[@redtra236]

@@lukeswall5999 She made a video with it in 2020 so no

[@2majortwinz]

granny gonna do a drive by

[@luigi55125]

Well, I don't know if she's still alive or not, but I hope when the time came/comes the car gets passed on to someone who will take care of it with equal love, and it doesn't end up junked somewhere. It would be a massive shame for something with such history and love to go wasted.

[@brokehomiejoe1718]

gangsta as grandma she strapped

[@destrik]

GRANDMA PACKIN HEAT LMAOOOO

[@L96OZZ]

Omg she is amazing!! And so is Chariot!! Wow!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@jackkrauser8120]

Dam I would not wanna mess with her she's an example for the elderly I wanna be like that when I'm old

[@macthemain3266]

It's all about how you take care of your car any car can last a life time if you take care of it

[@wyattalvarez4880]

Mac the Main with you know, some exceptions

[@esmeraldagems9487]

Wow she looked good for 90. I would have thought 70's.

[@florjanbrudar692]

My neigbour who is also an old lady still drives the same second gen Renault Clio.

[@maveric0738]

That is just Awesome!! She's a Car Enthusiast!!