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eBay Motors: Mercedes-Benz : 400-Series (item 170242516933 end time Aug-01-08 20:00:00 PDT)

How does that 6.9 have only an 85 MPH spedo when my lowly 280S has a 160MPH speedo....I smell odometer fraud.

Where's John Hubertz when we need him?  He seems to know all the changes in US transport legislation which mandated these stupid changes.

Since I'm not from the US I don't know the dates or the particular law change which brought it about, but there were all sorts of cars around 1980 which got the 85mph speedo.  Chances are you 280S is several years older than that 1980 6.9

John, feel free to chime-in.

Ian.

Ha, don't you love how there's a pin stop on the high side.  I actually though these speedos were for early 300sd's but maybe not.

300SD will do 105mph easy.  No, its a legislation requirement I just forget what the point of it was... and it was dropped soon after introduction...

I.

So I assume the car still goes faster, its just they are taking away your measurement of just how dangerous you are being. That'll work! That sounds real safe!!

It reminds me of a guy with his race bike who tried taping over that part of his tacho after which the bike engine tended to blow itself to bits. He thought it would stop himself from pushing juuuuust that little bit more. Bad idea it turned out - result was he still blew engines, he just had even less control over it!!

I think 1980 was when they changed the stupid laws to have 85 as the top speed on the speedo, i think all cars from 80 to 85? have 85 top on the speedo, even corvettes! had something to do the the 55mph speed limit or something like that.

Very rare US-fitment speedometer that is absolutely correct (and quite rare, as most dealers instantly retrofitted appropriate Canadian-spec units upon arrival).

(heh)  How about an 85 mph USA spec AMG speedo?  eeeeeewwwwww!

This Yamaha 750 had one too....




Honda CBX