Re: 85 MPH speedometers

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Re: 85 MPH speedometers

bernard farquart

01 Jun 2006 05:08

> Of course. My first car ever was a Ford Cortina estate with a 1500cc
> engine that
> was capable of 100 mph. It was built in 1966. My next car ( a Rover 2000
> TC )
> built in 1970 was good for 115.

I had a TC, I loved that car, but it had massive electrical
problems,(duh, British) and parts were very hard
to come by, since it was grey(ish) market here in
the US. Great ride for the size, though.

Bernard

Pooh Bear

01 Jun 2006 04:50

> >A product of the Naderite know-nothings that controled the Carter
> >mis-administration. Mandated that a speedometers read 85 and note 55
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Given the cars of the 1970s / 1980s, were the top speeds of most of the
> cars of the time significantly higher than 85mph?

Of course. My first car ever was a Ford Cortina estate with a 1500cc engine that
was capable of 100 mph. It was built in 1966. My next car ( a Rover 2000 TC )
built in 1970 was good for 115. my Dad's Jaguar ( 1967 model ) reached 120 mph
once but was probably capable of more.

> Or were the higher
> speedometer speeds just optimistic numbers for people to brag about
> (like the 160mph speedometer I saw in a new, but non-sporty, car)?

Most have a top speed well in excess of what the car's capable of but sometimes
the high-end models will really reach the numbers indicated.

Graham

Timothy J. Lee

31 May 2006 18:03

>A product of the Naderite know-nothings that controled the Carter
>mis-administration. Mandated that a speedometers read 85 and note 55
>in some way (usually its orange when the other numbers are white).
>Speedshops did a brisk business in replacing these with ether Canadian
>spec (which were metric, but still went up to the top speed of the car)

Given the cars of the 1970s / 1980s, were the top speeds of most of the
cars of the time significantly higher than 85mph? Or were the higher
speedometer speeds just optimistic numbers for people to brag about
(like the 160mph speedometer I saw in a new, but non-sporty, car)?

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SP Cook

31 May 2006 11:18

> In the late 70s and 80s, most (all?) cars had speedometers that would only
> go up to 85. Were they mandated by the government? What year did they come
> out? Why 85? At the time the maximum speed limit was 55.

A product of the Naderite know-nothings that controled the Carter
mis-administration. Mandated that a speedometers read 85 and note 55
in some way (usually its orange when the other numbers are white).
Speedshops did a brisk business in replacing these with ether Canadian
spec (which were metric, but still went up to the top speed of the car)
or cop car spec.

Then the NMSL was repealed, Joanie Claybrooke ceased to be listened to,
and TRAFFIC MORTALITY WENT DOWN. Just like we said it would. Because
underposted speed limts and over and selective enforcement of them
never saved one life or one drop of oil.

Now the irresponsible voices of stupidity are again resuming their war
on motorist's rights. Fight them.

Join the NMA.

SP Cook

Ronnie Dobbs	31 May 2006 10:26
In the late 70s and 80s, most (all?) cars had speedometers that would only go up to 85. Were they mandated by the government? What year did they come out? Why 85? At the time the maximum speed limit was 55.

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