A strange thought just popped into my head. If car derived vans are subject to car speed limits, are van derived cars (Doblo, Kangoo) subject to van speed limits?
Chicken and egg. Technically a small van that was then produced as an MPV is subject to the same speed limits as a 7.5T lorry. The MPV made from it is subject to the same limit as a car, unless it has more than 8 passenger seats (minbus). This was a issue with LWB landrover station wagons years ago and there is actually a clause in the UK construction and use regulations exempting vehicles "made by Land Rover and called a Landrover" from the minibus requirements. I had a 12 seat SIII years ago, very "cosy" with 12 up.
Roert G8RPI.
The speed rules about vans was written a long time ago, when we really just had car-derived vans, and larger vans.
Now we have a whole raft of small vans, not derived from any car, but just as competent, but subject to the lower speed limits of the larger vans. The car derivative is classed as a car, so is subject to car speed limits.
e.g. A doblo van has limits of 50 on a single carriageway, and 60 on a dual, but the Doblo car has 60/70.
The Vauxhall Corsa van, fitted with the Fiat 1.3 diesel engine, as used by Royal Mail, is allowed to do 60 on a single carriageway, and 70 on a dual, but due to its gearing makes a hell of a fuss at anything over 55mph. The Fiat Fiorino/Peugeot Bipper, is restricted to 10mph less, although much more capable.
Some police forces either don't know, or don't care, but some are very hot on it. Devon & Cornwall are very hot on vans exceeding their limits.
Pick-up trucks are usually classed as commercial vehicles, including the double-cab ones, so are subject to the lower limits. I've met a few owners now who've had their holiday to Cornwall spoilt having been stopped at 70 on a dual-carriageway. If more police forces enforced this, we could lose a lot of pick-ups.
A 3.5 tonne van is subject to:
Single carriageway - 50mph, Towing - 50mph
Dual-carriageway - 60mph, Towing - 60mph.
Or whatever lower limit is in force for that stretch of road.