What sort of problems ?

The ride was superb. Don't think I've had anything since that matches it, even
my Saabs ( good but somewhat firmer )..

Graham

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

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.

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

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)?

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Then the NMSL was repealed, Joanie Claybrooke ceased to be listened to,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

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.