[blucar]

A lot of people have the mistaken believe that an engine should run a temp 160 degrees or lower. Prior to the advent of lower emissions on vehicles, the recommended temp's by most manufactures was 180 degrees, now it is close to 200. Most original equipment temp gauges show 'normal' in lieu of an actual temp.

A good coolant, not water, in a well maintained system with a pressure cap will not boil until the temp get above 230, water boils at 212.
I have never had a problem with over heating on my '36 coupe with an original radiator while driving in the western deserts and Los Angeles traffic. I have driven the car over 94k in the 68 years I have owned the car.
I am in the process of freshening the car up, it was past due. One of the things I am going to add to the engine is a modification to the radiator to accommodate a pressure cap and a coolant overflow tank.