Quote Originally Posted by Rich View Post
About the original 85MPH speedo.
You can thank the Arab Oil Embargo, the U.S. Congress and President Nixon for the one in your car.
85MPH max speedos were mandated on all new cars sold here when the DeLorean went on the market, including such cars as the Porsche 928 and the DeTomaso Pantera.
That rule also mandated the special font for the 55MPH index mark. The national speed limit was 55 at the time.
The 85 MPH speedometer and highlighted 55 wasn't mandated until 1979, so that is primarily thanks to Jimmy Carter and Joan Claybrook. The law was repelled a couple years later after Reagan took office. I recall seeing some 1980's Honda's that didn't have the 85 MPH speedo, and were made after the law was gone.