Antenna installation

[JohnnyO]

Hi everyone, brand new member to the site with the first of what I'm sure will be many questions. I want to put a radio in my 66 Midget, going to use the radio console from Moss Motors for installation under the dashboard. My question is two part, a)Did the 1966 Midgets have radios as options out of the factory, and b) if so, where was the antenna mounted? Thanks for any help!!...

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Johnny -

Welcome to the BCF! Not sure of an answer, but radios were generally dealer items back in the day. Antenna location was variable, some even side mounted just in front of the driver or passenger door.

More folks in the know will be along directly with more definitive answers.


Mickey

By the way, your Midget looks great!

 

[spritenut]

Most antennas were mounted on the right fender. This spot made it easy to reach the wire and fish it through the firewall and to get to the bottom of it to hold and tighten.
Some had the antenna mounted on the cowl again on the right side but if (when) it leaked, the water came inside the car and all over the wires behind the dash.
Of the 66 Sprites or Midgets I have had over the years, I would say that 2/3s had the antenna mounted on the fender.

 

[jvandyke]

J

By the way, your Midget looks great!

Amen, wow. That's stunning.

 

[JohnnyO]

Hey thanks for the answers and compliments!!! Still not sure if I really want to drill a hole in my car's fender, or if I'll like the looks of it, maybe I'll just play mp3's....

 

[JPSmit]

Johnny, first off, welcome, secondly you aren't the only one who is "drill averse" when it comes to bodywork. Here is a link from a while back with some discussion of hidden antennas. I have a vague recollection of people using a boat antenna hidden too.

as has already been said, pretty car!

 

[Whitephrog]

I seem to recall that someone made a mirror with a built-in antenna back in the day. I've seen them on eBay from time to time.

 

[JohnnyO]

Yeah, I was thinking of hiding it somehow... hey JPSmit, I think you forgot to put that link in your post.

 

[jlaird]

Lovely Midget Johnny, think I would not drill either.

 

[JPSmit]

Yeah, I was thinking of hiding it somehow... hey JPSmit, I think you forgot to put that link in your post.

:blush: oops

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/ubbthreads.php/topics/479389/1

 

[Billm]

J
Do you show up to any of the ABFM's around here? I don't remember your car.
By-the-way, I have one of those mirror/antenna's new-in-box if anyone wants/needs one.
BillM

 

[Whitephrog]

Bill

Remind us as to who made those.

 

[jvandyke]

I made an under dash, in front of shifter console out of a cigar box, hey don't laugh it worked well, was removable in seconds and didn't ruin the "old school" look of the dash. I also didn't want on antennae so I just crammed it length wise up across the underside of the rear of the cockpit (no attached top on mine, don't know if there is room with).
pulled in FM stations just fine, AM no.

 

[Billm]

Ray
My garage is a bit "full" right now and I can't find it but when I do I will post a photo or two.
Bill

 

[Gliderman8]

I too did not want to drill a hole in my freshly painted TR6.
I ended up buying a Blaupunkt amplified antenna. It mounts in front of the mirror and there is a thin wire that attaches to the inside of the glass....

 

[Billm]

Ray
I knew that if I stopped looking for it it would show-up!
Here are some shots of that mirror/antenna combo.
Bill
If anyone wants it it is $75.00 plus shipping
Bill

 

[Guest]

I wonder if the windshield frame could be used as an antenna?

 

[Whitephrog]

Bill

That's the one I was trying to remember.

 

[DrEntropy]

I wonder if the windshield frame could be used as an antenna?

It's th' ground (base) leg. Not much good for attenuating,

 

[Morris]

I made a pretty kick butt antenna for my car by running a piece of thin coil winding (I got it at Radio Shack) along my roll bar. I connected this to the center wire on the antenna coax. I then grounded the antenna to the frame at the base of the roll bar.

I made this antenna because the ones I bought "over the counter" were ugly and did not work very well at all.