89 LX with 85 speedo? WTF? Even has original V8 vin number?

Speeds8erM-1

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Sep 6, 2000
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Pensacola Florida
There is an 89 LX for sale at a carlot that I have looked at a few times and I noticed it has a 85 speedometer. I checked the vin to make sure it's an original V8 car and it says it is. It's also BONE STOCK. No 89's had an 85 speedo did they? Every 89 I have seen had a 140 speedo. Hmmm.
 
As far as I know, the 85 speedo was standard on all LXs. The 140 was optional for the V8 LX, standard for the GT. I've actually seen quite a few 5.0 LXs with the 85 speedo, though most of them did get the 140.
 
my old 89lx had a 140, but my current 89gt has the 85. from what ive been told, midyear they switched to 140 on all 5.0's, seems plausible as my gt is an early 89.
 
Some early '89's did come with an 85MPH speedo...GT or V8 LX.


By late '89 they all had the 140MPH speedo.


The dash emblem was also a mid-year additon. It appeared on cars built in April '89 or later. Most '89's without the dash emblem also did not get the 140MPH speedo....notice i said Most as the speedo change occured around the same time, so some cars did come with the 140MPH speedo and no dash emblem.