I have vague memories of the 50 limit coming in I think, but not sure. I was born in 1970 and think I remember going with my dad to the dealers to buy a 50 sticker and weight stickers as a toddler ... so maybe around 1973?? At that time the family outfit was a Morris 1000/Sprite 400 combo so 40 was probably just fine! I do recall the 60 limit coming in when I was around 16 in 86 ... we went on holiday at 50 and came back at 60!
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I passed my car driving test in 1966 and first started towing a caravan in 1975, and I seem to remember the limit was then 50mph. My outfit at the time was a Sprite Alpine, then a Musketeer, both towed by a Mk2 Cortina.
I was born in 1964 and started caravanning at the age of 2, and I can always remember the speed sticker on the back of the caravan and certainly the holidays we had in cornwall and devon on the motorway travelling down there where far quicker than 30/40 mph!
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 28/8/2019
I passed my car driving test in 1966 and first started towing a caravan in 1975, and I seem to remember the limit was then 50mph. My outfit at the time was a Sprite Alpine, then a Musketeer, both towed by a Mk2 Cortina.
Almost identical but passed test in 1969 at 17 years old. Bought first caravan in 1974 also a Sprite Alpine. Towed with Mk2 Cortina and later with a Rover SD1 2.3 auto box when we also changed up to the Musketeer.
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Like IainM, I think it was 1973. Parents had gone on holiday with the van to Scotland and picked me up from D&G where I'd been doing geology fieldwork in the way back; remember Dad saying muttering 50 wasn't much use as we crawled through the Cumberland Gap!
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Quote: Originally posted by VangoMan02 on 28/8/2019
Almost identical but passed test in 1969 at 17 years old. Bought first caravan in 1974 also a Sprite Alpine. Towed with Mk2 Cortina and later with a Rover SD1 2.3 auto box when we also changed up to the Musketeer.
You must be 2 years younger than me then, as I was 17 in 1966. My Cortina was an automatic, the second one I'd had. The first was a Mk3 Zodiac. I always fancied an SD1 Rover after driving one at the garage where I worked in 1968. Never managed to get one though. Bit of a coincidence about the Sprites!
I remember Mum having to walk in front of the car with a red flag.
I think it was only 30mph limits in built up areas until 1965 when the 70 limit came in.
Caravanner in 1960s. We waved to each other and the AA saluted members when passing on their motor bike and side car. Broke gas mantles when making up the front beds.Had Sprite 400 and Singer Vogue.pic on profile!
Quote: Originally posted by misterg on 29/8/2019
Caravanner in 1960s. We waved to each other and the AA saluted members when passing on their motor bike and side car. Broke gas mantles when making up the front beds.Had Sprite 400 and Singer Vogue.pic on profile!
That brings back memories. Grandparents had a Singer Gazelle with I think a Swift caravan. Car was built like a tank and had no power steering but could have pulled anything including your arms out of their sockets at slow speeds!
I think cars had much lower overall gearing back then. I always used to say about my Mk2 Cortina that if it couldn't shift it, it must be bolted to the ground! In a coach-yard I once tow-started a 53 seat 8 ton coach with it, although it took 4 people sitting on the boot to keep the wheels from spinning! It was only a 1500 cc automatic.
However, the car's top speed was probably only about 80mph, and at anything much over 70 the engine was revving like hell.
I have towed from late 60s boats and caravans and can remember the 40 stickers that allowed you to tow at 40 mph instead of 30 mph but cannot remember when towing laws were changed. young ones in our towing friends just laugh about towing at this speed
I am not sure the speed stickers allowed you to exceed the 30 mph speed limit - lol. They were intended to indicate to other drivers on faster roads that you were restricted to 40 mph.