Ac cobra 190mph m1 2ould you feel safe?
Discussion
Just seen the new top gear and Jeremy mentioned about the ac cobra doing 190mph down the m1. And this was what got the 70mph speed limit going.So would you actually today feel safe doing that sort of speed in a car that old and on old crossply tires suspension brakes if technology was the same today?
I grew up where the M1 was our nearest motorway, and I don't think we ever went on it without my Dad telling me the story of why speed limits were first introduced...
Then, when I got my first job and lived far from the M1, quite by chance, I met a guy who took part in this testing. The topic came up from his side, and he had all the little details, so I'm sure he wasn't stringing me along.
And, yes, given half a chance, I would give it a go. YOLO, as my daughters are keen on saying ;-)
Then, when I got my first job and lived far from the M1, quite by chance, I met a guy who took part in this testing. The topic came up from his side, and he had all the little details, so I'm sure he wasn't stringing me along.
And, yes, given half a chance, I would give it a go. YOLO, as my daughters are keen on saying ;-)
Thought you might be amused by this, from the Daily Mirror Monday 15th June 1964:
The Ministry of Transport ordered an inquiry last night into the use of the M1 motorway as a test track for high-speed sports cars.
This move came after it was revealed that one car clocked 183mph on the M1 in a try-out for the 24-hour road race at Le mans next week-end.
Police patrols on the motorway have been ordered to keep a lookout for the cars, which are capable of speeds around the 190mph mark.
Superintendent E.S. Turton, chief of the traffic department of Bedfordshire police said:
“If we find cars travelling at that speed with other traffic about, they will be reported with a view to prosecution for driving at a dangerous speed”
A police spokesman said last night that special checks -possibly with radar- would be made on the speed of such cars.
He added that although there is no speed limit on the M1, speeds of around 180mph could be dangerous.
A Hertfordshire police spokesman said: “If a lorry pulled out to overtake and a car came up at this speed, there could be a damn great smash.”
One of Britain’s top sports car bosses said last night: “A number of companies have been using the M1 for high-speed tests for about two years.”
The car that clocked 183mph is an A.C.Cobra, which is powered by a 4,261cc American Ford V8 engine. It sped along the motorway at dawn.
Mr. Charles Hurlock, joint managing director of A.C. Cars of Thames Ditton, Surrey, said last night: “I am unhappy about having to use a public road like this for such tests but British racetracks can’t cope with sustained runs over 160mph.
We had only one run- and we checked to see that the motorway was clear.”
A Royal Automobile Club spokesman said that in an emergency a car travelling at 180mph would need 665yards to stop under perfect conditions. In wet weather, it would need about half a mile.
Originally published on Monday June 15, 1964.
The Ministry of Transport ordered an inquiry last night into the use of the M1 motorway as a test track for high-speed sports cars.
This move came after it was revealed that one car clocked 183mph on the M1 in a try-out for the 24-hour road race at Le mans next week-end.
Police patrols on the motorway have been ordered to keep a lookout for the cars, which are capable of speeds around the 190mph mark.
Superintendent E.S. Turton, chief of the traffic department of Bedfordshire police said:
“If we find cars travelling at that speed with other traffic about, they will be reported with a view to prosecution for driving at a dangerous speed”
A police spokesman said last night that special checks -possibly with radar- would be made on the speed of such cars.
He added that although there is no speed limit on the M1, speeds of around 180mph could be dangerous.
A Hertfordshire police spokesman said: “If a lorry pulled out to overtake and a car came up at this speed, there could be a damn great smash.”
One of Britain’s top sports car bosses said last night: “A number of companies have been using the M1 for high-speed tests for about two years.”
The car that clocked 183mph is an A.C.Cobra, which is powered by a 4,261cc American Ford V8 engine. It sped along the motorway at dawn.
Mr. Charles Hurlock, joint managing director of A.C. Cars of Thames Ditton, Surrey, said last night: “I am unhappy about having to use a public road like this for such tests but British racetracks can’t cope with sustained runs over 160mph.
We had only one run- and we checked to see that the motorway was clear.”
A Royal Automobile Club spokesman said that in an emergency a car travelling at 180mph would need 665yards to stop under perfect conditions. In wet weather, it would need about half a mile.
Originally published on Monday June 15, 1964.
Wacky Racer said:
I doubt it ever really did 190mph, this was in an era when the typical family saloon would struggle to do 85.
I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
It was 185, Jack Sears was testing the AC Cobra Le Mans, which had an aerodynamic coupe body.I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
However, it's a fallacy that it resulted in the 70mph speed limit being imposed. Here's the story:
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3200.asp?...
Wacky Racer said:
I doubt it ever really did 190mph, this was in an era when the typical family saloon would struggle to do 85.
I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
Bear in mind that it was the Daytona Coupe not the open top roadster, so theoretically it could have hit that speed quite easily. However, IIRC the speed was down to the word of the driver, Jack Sears i think, rather than accurateI reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
Jacobyte said:
Wacky Racer said:
I doubt it ever really did 190mph, this was in an era when the typical family saloon would struggle to do 85.
I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
It was 185, Jack Sears was testing the AC Cobra Le Mans, which had an aerodynamic coupe body.I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
However, it's a fallacy that it resulted in the 70mph speed limit being imposed. Here's the story:
http://www.classicdriver.com/uk/magazine/3200.asp?...
slopes said:
Wacky Racer said:
I doubt it ever really did 190mph, this was in an era when the typical family saloon would struggle to do 85.
I reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
Bear in mind that it was the Daytona Coupe not the open top roadster, so theoretically it could have hit that speed quite easily. However, IIRC the speed was down to the word of the driver, Jack Sears i think, rather than accurateI reckon around 150/60mph is a more realistic figure...The new Jaguar 3.8 "E" type was tested at this speed in 1961.
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