Autobahn Gentleman's Agreement

[Executivesedan]

Good evening!

As some of you know, a gentleman's agreement was created between VW, BMW, Mercedes and Audi (and Opel?) to limit their cars to 250 km/h. Porsche did not agree to this of course. What I am wondering was when this was agreed upon?

I found a source (link below) saying it was in the 70s and this is what I can vaguely recall from what I have heard as well. But in what year? None of them had commercial production cars capable of that sort of speed back then. From what I have gathered, this would only be relevant in the late-ish 80s. Anyone care to chime in?

Here is some reading for the interested:

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2006/12/by-thy-speed-limits-thy-shall-be-known/
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/gentlemens-agreement-not-so-fast-sir-47736.html
http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=97930

 

[LaArtist]

Surely there were cars back in the 80's that could reach 250km/h

Example
The Hammer AMG top speed 305km/h

Hell even back in the 50's the 300SL did 250-260 km/h

PS
Just a fun fact the 1909 Blitzen Benz had a top speed of 225km/h

 

[ACE]

BMW initiated the voluntary limit in 1987 when it introduced a V12 version of the 7 series, defusing a German legislative effort to impose autobahn speed limits. Mercedes, Audi and others adopted the voluntary limit, but not Porsche.

http://www.just-auto.com/news/car-makers-dropping-250kmh-speed-limit_id74149.aspx

 

[Rolf]

ACE this sounds correct as I remember in the 80's the first Mercedes model to be limited to 250kmh was the W126 560SEC/SEL and BMW model was the 1987 750i/iL. Audi followed with the first generation A8.

 

[Human]

Either way you gotta give it to the Bundestag, they respect their HUGE motor manufacturing industry. What other government will let you stretch your cars legs to 250km/h legally anyway.

 

[Executivesedan]

Thanks! I figured it couldn't have been in the 70s. My first link is an iffy source. Was the main reason for this the environment (not the CO2 kind but the CO kind) safety, or even noise? "Hammered out by Alliance 90", was that it?