You don't actually need the length of the string to answer your problem about the car's velocity.
There are only two forces acting on the bob, the weight of the bob itself, and the tension in the string.
The bob is supported vertically and the bob is moving in a circle so must have a centripetal acceleration. How does the tension in the string provide both (vertical) support for the bob and centripetal acceleration/force on the bob ?
Edit: the bob isn't supported vertically. That implies the string is straight up and down. The string is only vertical if the bob is moving in a straight line at constant velocity. Since it is moving in a circle, its inertia will tend to make it swing outwards from the vertical and away from the centre of rotation. BTW, this is a problem on centripetal force/acceleration.