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Legal Bill

Jedi Knight
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Hi everyone. I've been shopping on e-bay for a radio to use in my 65 3000. I am torn between old radios with the switch to go from negative to positive ground on the one hand, and a new radio with a power booster/converter on the other. (yes, I'm aware that I can convert the car to negative ground. I won't be doing that.)

Anyway, in my search, I cam across this radio on e-bay:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-Bug-Be...=item35a454ade7

It seems similar to one that Moss sells, but I think it looks more original with push buttons that look like old car radio push buttons, and a face screen that looks like an old radio dial. Apparently, when you turn it on, you get a digital read out. Let me know what you think. If anyone has one, please let me know how it fits and works in a stock 3000.

Thanks.

Bill
 
I think that people who do not know what the 60's radios looked like will not question it. But people who do, will comment that it's an after market radio, and not period correct. It has an AUX button.

I mention this because you commented prior that this car is a very faithful restoration. With the exception of the materials used for the brake lines, it could do pretty well in a concourse.

If it were me, I'd put in the correct radio if I wanted one.
I think they show up from time to time on Ebay.
My two cents Bill.

Roger
 
Thank you, Roger. You raise excellent points. I'm toying with the idea of buying one radio for regular use, and another for show. The old BMC AM radios are offered on e-bay for redicuous amounts. Do you know if there was an AM-
FM option back when the car was originally sold?
 
Legal Bill said:
Thank you, Roger. You raise excellent points. I'm toying with the idea of buying one radio for regular use, and another for show. The old BMC AM radios are offered on e-bay for redicuous amounts.

:savewave:
Do you know if there was an AM-
FM option back when the car was originally sold?

Yes many dealers installed the Becker Mexico, which has the capability of operating on either POS or NEG ground power systems. Fwiw--Keoke
Click to expand...


I forgot to mention in my reaction was that radio is mighty pricy in my opiion
 
Thanks for the info on the Becker Mexico. I'll keep a look out for it.

As to price, for a modern radio in that retro package, you really don't have much choice. Moss has something similar, but it looks even less authentic. The alternative, I guess, is to take a period correct radio and have a shop install a modern radio inside it. I'll bet that costs much much more.

In any even, it does not matter because the radio I linked in the OP is too wide to fit inside the console. I measured last night and crossed it off the old list.
 
I just checked e-bay for Becker Mexicos. You get quite a variety, and most of them have an asking price of as much or more than the radio I mentioned in the OP. I think that all of the offereings at the moment are for radios that were of a later vintage as they offer cassette decks and are negative ground only.

I have also seen a number of vintage car radios being offered on e-bay from a seller in Germany. The autions claim the the U frequency is the same as FM here. Interestingly, the have the old PIN socket in the rear that the seller claims will allow you to use an i-pod. the say they sell a cable to allow you to plug in to the socket. Any opinions on that option? Here is an example:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-PORSCH...sQ5fAccessories
 
Legal Bill said:
Interestingly, the have the old PIN socket in the rear that the seller claims will allow you to use an i-pod. the say they sell a cable to allow you to plug in to the socket. Any opinions on that option? Here is an example:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/VW-PORSCH...sQ5fAccessories
Click to expand...

Don't know a heck of a lot about the period stereos. Know a bunch about I-pods though. There's three ways for an external piece of equipment (car radio) to interact with an I-pod. The most common method is to use a splitter in the headphone jack. All music control is handled via the Ipod with the headphone output being supplied to the radio for amplification and delivery to the speakers. The likelihood is that they have a connector that goes from the headphones to that 6 pin socket.

Next method is the radio/cassette type output from the headphones to the radio. The former is a low power localized radio signal (fm) that the radio can pick up (providing it can handle FM). The latter is using one of those old cassette adapters plugged in to the headphone jack.

The final method (which is used by the newed Ipod enabled stereos) is to hook in via th ewide Ipod plug at the bottom of the unit. This allows the stereo full control over the Ipod, recieves the music, and charges the unit.

I've been pondering all this of late because my '60 BT7 didn't come with a stereo, but I would like the ability to listen to tunes while driving. My present thought is to build a rechargeable stereo unit that can drop onto one of the rear seats and accept an Ipod as source. It's fairly easy to build, the difficulty comes in the power consumption. Higher volume = greater power draw. So, the next trick is to figure out how to connect it in a clean (and easily removable) fashion to the car's power so that it'll self recharge.

Jody
 
Bill,
What will you be using for a speaker(s) and placement?

Upgrade, same size center speaker only?

If so, don't expect to much in sound quality or volume .

I can appreciate the amount of effort you're putting into researching finding a period looking radio. That may or may not have more power and be ipod compatible. You've brought up the option of having a modern radio installed in a period case.

Or having a correct Healey radio for the shows and a more modern one for more options of power, fm and maybe ipod. That may lead to how to easily swap out the two. You might be able to get some ideas from the custom installers about making a forward or reverse slide out tray that will accommodate both radios.

Some people simply put in a stock radio or a blanking plate and use an ipod with earbuds.
Or some guys like me (not concours) use modern stuff but hide it. But if your a concours judge, you'll find it by poking your head under the dash.

Roger
 
Legal Bill, a random thought is to go with the stock original radio for shows and have a Secret Audio unit that is easily removeable hidden somewhere. While this is just a variation on some of the thoughts on this thread, the Secret Audio may be easier to install in a hidden location, it will work with an ipod,it has a remote RF controler, and the display could have a temporary attachment point. I agree with Roger that the speaker issue is worth considering at this point since the original is marginal. Secret Audio

Steve
 
I think my current options for a sound system are:

A. A period correct, AM/FM stereo radio that fits into the console. Two modern speakers would be "hidden" under the dash, mounted on the firewall. One speaker would be installed in the console. If I was going to a show, I'd disconnect and remove the stereo speakers and connect the wires to the single speaker in the console.

B. A modern stereo that fits into the console without cutting. Again, two modern speakers under the dash and a single speaker in the console. Plus a period correct, BMC AM radio. If I'm going to a show, I take out the two modern speakers and swap out the modern head unit with the BMC AM radio.

Trying to fit a modern stereo into a vintage head unit sounds like too much work and is probably too expensive.
 
HealeyPassion said:
Legal Bill, a random thought is to go with the stock original radio for shows and have a Secret Audio unit that is easily removeable hidden somewhere. While this is just a variation on some of the thoughts on this thread, the Secret Audio may be easier to install in a hidden location, it will work with an ipod,it has a remote RF controler, and the display could have a temporary attachment point. I agree with Roger that the speaker issue is worth considering at this point since the original is marginal. Secret Audio

Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'll take a close look at that.
 
Maybe you could fab a small enclosure for which ever radio used thats hidden behind the radio blanking plate with 3000 motif or speaker grill. The cover would be hinged to gain easy access. I personally dont care for the appearance of one on the dash. My bugeye had a nasty rectangular hole on passanger side that I had to weld up. I prefer not to have one if it involves butchering something to make fit. Even with period correct radio, it still looks out of place on a Healey.
 
Hello ,

do you like to have my honest opinion ? ....No fish no meat....


Bye- michel who is an absolutely original fan
 
Terry, that is not a bad thought. I'll look at the cover and try to figure out if there is some way to just pop that over the console hole and hide a radio. Maybe a radio mount that can allow the radio to slide back away from the console? Interesting idea.

Michael, the Austin Healey on-board refrigerator is notoriously unreliable. I only use mine for soda and water.
 
I have one of those custom auto sound retro stereos. They don't list any for triumphs but they do have universal ones. I can't exactly explain the looks and practicality as it's currently wrapped up soon to be placed under an artificial tree (showed up on my door step with "custom auto sound" on the return address, that's how I know)
 
Bill, of course this radio looks good but here's some other points not mentioned. If you're going with period style where's the speakers going? With that much power it'll support quite a few speakers.

Of course with an original type you can find a FM converter and yes you'll also be able to connect the 8 track tape player you've been wanting.
 
Ha ha, 8 tracks!!! I Would mount dual cone speakers on the fire wall aimed back at the occupants and probably put a third speaker behind the grill in the console. Everything would be screwed into existing holes, or brackets connected to exiting holes. The entire system would be removable.

Moss has a retro-look radio too, but I think the snout of the radio is a bit too big for the original opening in the Healey console.
 
Legal Bill said:
A. A period correct, AM/FM stereo radio that fits into the console.
Click to expand...

Bill,

You should probably separate "period" and "correct" as related to FM stereo.

My very first NEW car was a 1967 GTO. It came with the very latest in a FM MONAURAL radio. I installed a Motorola "Vibraphonic" delay line (echo) to the rear deck speaker to simulate stereo.

FM Stereo came into being in about 69 or 70. I helped a friend upgrade his Kansas City FM radio station to FM stereo in 1970.

I'd say that for your 65 Healey, there were no "correct" FM stereo radios. "Period" may apply.

Tim
 
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