In 1982 jurisdictions began (out of desperation) using the two-door Ford Mustang LX equipped with the 5.0-liter high-output V-8 engine as a pursuit vehicle. American sedans had gotten so slow it was well known that anything with more than a pair of squirrels on Ritalin under the hood could walk away from Johnny Law. But the Mustang, with its 132-mph top end and 7-second 0-60 capability, put an end to many speeder\ufffds plans.
A 1982 4-cylinder wouldn't be almost as powerful as a 1982 [link|http://home.pon.net/hunnicutt/history_79_93.htm|157 HP] 5 liter V-8 (unless it had been massaged). (Power translates into ultimate speed, if all else is equal.)
I suspect your speedometer was highly optimistic (or had the wrong size tires). Or there's something you're not telling us. :-)
Cheers,
Scott.