Where did the term 'original miles' come from?

[TJ Hopland]

Where did the term original miles come from?  Are there other kinds of miles I just don't know about?

That term is getting right up there for bugging me in ads.  Its up there with the apparent fact that any Oldsmobile engine is a rocket and any engine over 351 is a big block.   

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Original miles comes from the Odometer reading not being around the second time, that is with old cars, going past 100,000 miles.

Bruce.

[Glen]

But wouldn’t the 100,001 mile also be “original” as opposed to “after market” miles “non factory” miles or “restored” miles?     

Somehow “original miles” just does not seem to be the right word for this application. 

[Mike Josephic CLC #3877]

Intersting thoughts.

I remember back in the days of "non digital computer type" odometers
when the used cars dealers routinely used an electric drill to turn back the
mileage.  All of a sudden, a 150,000 mile car became a 25,000 mile car.
This was common practice in the 50's - 70's with many used car dealers.
A friend that worked at a major dealer in the 60's told me so.

I guess that's where the term "original mileage" came from -- however,
who really knows whether the mileage is "original" or not?

This is where your knowledge gathered over many years comes in handy.
For example, if a car is advertised as "10,000 original miles" and the gas
and brake petals are worn thin, it's a fake.  Many other signs are, of course,
obvious to the knowlegeable buyer -- too many to mention here.

Mike

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

But wouldn’t the 100,001 mile also be “original” as opposed to “after market” miles “non factory” miles or “restored” miles?     

Somehow “original miles” just does not seem to be the right word for this application.

But, in the case of the odometer of the car showing 000001 mile, is it 100,001 miles, or 200,001, or 300,001 miles.

It is this reason that Odometers now go up to 999,999 miles, or kilometers down here, in order to try and stop the unscrupulous sellers from understating the actual distance travelled without winding back the odometers.

Bruce.

[Glen]

I understand the concept.  I just think the term “original miles” is incorrect in this application.  There must be a better word for that. 

I think that’s what TJ is getting at too. 

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Mike is correct!
Bob

[Quentin Hall]

The term "original miles " is commonly misused after many years of overuse, however I think that backed up with proper documentation ie log or service books that it could be ascertained to be correct or otherwise. Perhaps "verified miles" is a better term.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Down here, only BMW, Porsche and Mercedes owners get their vehicles "Log-book" correct.

They are the only ones that can afford going to dealers for servicing as nobody else will touch them.

Bruce.

[gjackson15]

What gets all over me is the term "low miles" when a car that is 10-12 years old has 140,000 because it is less than 20K per year of age. Rant Over!

[R Schroeder]

Low Miles . That's the one that gets me too. Does the car know it has low miles because its 40 years old, or high miles because its 6 months old ? Miles are miles .

Original miles doesn't bother me to much. Its like original paint , or tires. It just means to me that it hasn't been touched or something isn't changed.

Another one that I hate is when they swap a 80,000 mile engine for a 80,000 miles engine and then say in the ad it has a new engine.
My friend from P.A. was here last week, and he said he had a new engine put in his 89 Caddy. In the next breath he said it only had 60,000 miles on it.
I said , man it isn't new, its a transplant.

[gjackson15]

Don't get me started on "all highway miles". Like you said, miles are miles. The doors were opened and closed, all systems were engaged.

[Davidinhartford]

"Easy highway Miles"  LOL    Love that one too.  As if 100,000+  of fast miles are better than 100,000+ miles done by a little old lady who drove slow and pampered her car.

Plus the phrase "All original".  except for paint, top and tires.    Huh?

I think the real orgin of "Original Miles" was coined by the person who first wrote:   "Ran when parked".

[R Schroeder]

Oh, thats the one I really like.
RAN WHEN PARKED....................................ha

Or they toss a quick paint job on the car, and say RESTORED.

[Quentin Hall]

What about "Rust Free" when they mean "Free Rust"

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

How about original-one-owner-garage kept-highway-driven-southern miles....

[Terry Wenger]

This all goes along with other terms that are freely used:

Frame-Off Restoration: Was the car turned upside down and the frame taken off the body or should it be Body-Off Restoration which is the normal way of doing things? Frame-Up restoration might be OK.

Other terms that are used frequently, Post coupe; a coupe if it has a rear quarter window has a pillar or "Post" if not it is a 2 door hardtop;" three on the tree", "suicide doors", etc.

Concerning mileage, how about the car with 0 miles on a frame up restoration ? I would be very cautious of a restored car that hasn't been driven or de-bugged yet!

Terry Wenger

[Guidematic]

All just basic salemanship of used cars. Dealers did and still do resort to any term or slogan that will present their offering in a favourable fashion. I often laugh at that term as well. Origianl as opposed to new, replacement, rebuilt or whatever miles? But I do know whety it means.

Low miles is a relative term.

Another that bothers me is the use of the term "Big Block" It is used purely out of ignorance. So far as I have been able to tell, it was to differentiate the Chevrolet 283/327 from the 348/409. Then the SBC and the BBC throuigh the 60's and 70's. Also used to differentiate the differant 400 cid engines from Chevrolet. In any event it was confined to Chevrolet.

Ford had several differant basic engines through the 50's to 80's, but they were generally identified as Y-block, FE, MEL, Windsor, Cleveland, Modified and 385. But I am now seeing that terminology creeping into that camp.

As for the others it is a complete misnomer. Such as calling a 472/500 a big block. So, is the 331/365/390/429 a small block? And the 4.* engines a tiny block?

Chrysler, Olds, Buick used the same basic block with 2 differant deck heights. Chrysler engines were identified as A, LA, B and RB blocks. And then of coarse the Hemi in both generations.

As far as I know, Pontiac also used differant deck heights for it's many displacements. Here in Canada with our Canadian Pontiacs came with Chevrolet engines, but as American Pontiacs began to proliferate, they were differntiated between Orannge and Blue blocks. But I have heard many folk referring the blue block Pontiac engines as Big Blocks as well.

These terms perpetuate through popular culture and generally ar misused due to general ignorance.

Mike

[rwchatham CLC 21892]

Reading an add in hemmings,  all original survivor car with new paint and new interior.  If its been painted  its not all original !!!

[Guidematic]

He he.....

Another of my favourites is "Ready to restore"

Mike