{"id":1293079,"date":"2022-09-27T08:06:51","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T07:06:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/?post_type=issue_content&p=1293079"},"modified":"2022-09-27T08:06:53","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T07:06:53","slug":"ancient-ice-retro-radios-for-your-classic-car","status":"publish","type":"issue_content","link":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/archive\/article\/november-2022\/132\/ancient-ice-retro-radios-for-your-classic-car\/","title":{"rendered":"Ancient ICE: retro radios for your classic car"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

One of the few things that niggles me about my 1989 BMW 635 is that it came with a horrible \u201990s radio \u2013 all swoopy chrome and flashing lights.<\/p>\n

I could search for the correct period radio-cassette, but then I\u2019d miss out on DAB, Bluetooth and BBC podcasts. So I\u2019ve been investigating alternatives. As a result this column is less about collecting than finding suitable old-looking things for the classic car you\u2019ve already collected.<\/p>\n

If you do want a period radio that matches your car\u2019s age you\u2019ll find dealers at the big autojumbles as well as online. And once you\u2019ve found the right head unit you can have it invisibly converted to VHF, DAB or Bluetooth (including hands-free phone) while retaining the original look. It will cost, though: expect to pay \u00a3400 upwards for a mid-range upgraded unit, while specialists Tadpole Radios ask \u00a31800 for a DAB and Bluetooth-converted set for a 1960s Rolls-Royce. At Chrome London there\u2019s a range of period radios any of which can be modernised, starting at \u00a3295 for an original VW campervan radio (plus \u00a355 for MP3\/iPod connection) right up to a hens\u2019 teeth original Becker for a BMW 507, now with all digital doo-dahs \u2013 \u00a33795. But a 507 is worth a couple of million so it\u2019s peanuts.<\/p>\n

There are also DIY Bluetooth conversion kits available if you\u2019re brave enough to try your own electro-vivisection. Another option is to buy new: Blaupunkt has cottoned onto the classic market and makes cleanly styled black units which would look fine in a 1980-2000s vehicle. The Bremen (\u00a3330) offers DAB and Bluetooth in a smart design which appears to have a cassette slot, but which conceals USB, SD and 3.5mm aux sockets. A decade ago Becker updated its Mexico unit with DAB, Bluetooth and even satnav, but that was the last of a famous line and is now hard to find.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re happy with a generic look, Classic Car Stereo and Moss Europe offer vintage-looking twin-spindle head units with chrome or black fascias hiding DAB and Bluetooth functions, from \u00a3159 on. American makers Retro Manufacturing also makes a very compact head unit with a wide \u2018pick and mix\u2019 variety of fascia and knob types in all finishes, so you should be able to suit a pre-war car up to the 1960s.<\/p>\n

\n \"s-l1600-1\"\n
\n

Eight-track cartridge players offered non-stop music, and some classic owners still like the idea<\/p>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n

As with any radio you will need an aerial, and electric ones for FM are easily found at \u00a330 and up; for DAB you may need an amplified unit and there are a variety of windscreen or concealed ones on the market.<\/p>\n

Maybe you don\u2019t want to spoil your open tourer with any sort of visible audio. If so Classic Car Stereo has hidden music, with concealed speakers and Bluetooth receiver. Or there\u2019s a man in America who makes a particularly neat standalone 100W Bluetooth kit, just a single pull switch that he can match to your existing knobbery. After all, you can stream any audio you want from your phone.<\/p>\n

Going further back, there are still 8-track cartridge fans, and one of these non-stop players could look cool in a \u201950s convertible \u2013 about \u00a320 onwards. And yes, you can still find pre-recorded cartridges, although you\u2019ll have to settle for music up to the mid-1980s when the 8-track had reached its sell-by date.<\/p>\n

There have been record players too, featuring crushing needle weights to minimise scoring your favourite 45s. Using on the move not recommended, but a cool accessory for a 1950s or \u201960s open boulevard cruiser.<\/p>\n

\n \"67021\"\n
\n

Becker\u2019s final Mexico hid Bluetooth, phone and discreet satnav behind its classic-look fascia<\/p>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n

But the big boom from the \u201970s onwards was in cassette players, growing in sophistication from dead simple \u2018push to play\u2019 to absurdly complex 1990s equipment, when equalisers and VU meters boomed and flashed on your dash. You can find plenty for all eras, from \u00a320 on Ebay (but a gamble whether it works) to several hundred from a specialist supplier refurbished and tested. An \u201980s or \u201990s tape deck from quality names such as Blaupunkt or Becker will cost you more than a new head unit, perhaps \u00a3450. But don\u2019t worry \u2013 you can still use your iPod by buying a Bluetooth cassette adapter for a tenner.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve probably thrown out your CDs \u2013 in a few years you\u2019ll regret that when CD follows the cycle of becoming retro-stylish, like vinyl and even cassettes, which are now seeing new music releases. But if you still want to enjoy your musical beer mats you can combine those with DAB, MP3 and Bluetooth in one of Continental\u2019s range which would nicely suit an \u201980s or \u201990s European vehicle, but are increasingly hard to find. And having done my researches, what will I buy? Since I too rarely drive the car, I see that for \u00a330 you can buy a new retro-look Bluetooth receiver. I think I\u2019m going cheapskate.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Motorola<\/p>\n

Motorola magic<\/strong>
\nChances are your Jensen Interceptor no longer has its original radio. Here\u2019s the factory spec unit, upgraded to Bluetooth and phone functionality. DAB option available.
\nFor sale Chrome London, \u00a32295<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Becker<\/p>\n

German style<\/strong>
\nWith its ivory buttons and knobs this Becker sits beautifully in a BMW 507, or other 1950s German classic. Upgraded to modern tech.
\nFor sale Chrome London, \u00a33795<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Dial-a-tune<\/p>\n

Dial-a-tune<\/strong>
\nClassic 1970s Pioneer KP500 radio-cassette, serviced and tested. For under-dash Installation. An auxiliary input can be fitted for around \u00a325 extra.
\nFor sale Ebay, \u00a3299<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

\"Push-button<\/p>\n

Push-button player<\/strong>
\nFM\/MW radio refurbished with 180W output and aux input for iPod\/MP3. Bluetooth and phone options extra.
\nFor sale Tadpole Radios, \u00a3918<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"author":750,"featured_media":1293095,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[118740],"tags":[],"issue_decade":[122153],"issue_year":[129434],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_content\/1293079"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_content"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/issue_content"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/750"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1293079"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_content\/1293079\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1298948,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_content\/1293079\/revisions\/1298948"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1293095"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1293079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1293079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1293079"},{"taxonomy":"issue_decade","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_decade?post=1293079"},{"taxonomy":"issue_year","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.motorsportmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/issue_year?post=1293079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}