manual tranny 240 has a speedo which tops out at 85 MPH, as did many cars built in '81 (later 240s have a more "normal" top speed noted). I think gear ratios, etc., were all set up to "encourage" adoption of 55 MPH.

...and "homey don't go lookin' on the gear casing for NOTHING"...not even the map to the Lost Dutchman Mine.