- 67-68 AM/FM firebird Radio rep - RYAN1 Bio 1/24/07 14:39


Ebay link

I was exited until I saw the price. I hope they will come down over the next year or so.

Bought one two weeks ago, paid $625.00. Probably no chance to get it for the reserve they spot ($595.00). "Someone" always will raise the auction, perhaps some buddies of the seller... Not sure about that...

I´m still waiting on its delivery but already got sent an invoice after payment. At large the seller made an honest impression on me.

I will take some pics when it finally has arrived (radio has to be prepared for use in Europe) and will tell you about its quality. One of its advantages: it only shows a depth of 2 1/2 inches...
BTW, the knobs are not correct for a Firebird (Camaro knobs) but you can purchase them at several part-suppliers. Bought mine from Terry ( http://www.firebirdman.com ) of this board, can highly recommend him. But that´s no news to most of us...

Cheers

Thomas

$600 is not bad for a AM/FM radio that has current technology. An original AM/FM Delco, untested that may or may not work will set you back $3-500. Add another $250-350 for cleaning, testing and repair and you have a correct concour ready radio.

I say go the repop route if a quality piece. If you have a rare one of 100 car, by all means originality it away!

Looks like a good piece though. I really like the MP3, IPOD, CD or XM (satellite) inputs. Really good for cruises without the headaches of splicing or wires. And the rear of the radio offers plenty of maneuver space. Easy IPOD or XM docking with an original look? I am sold.

Rohrt, get the radio yet? I wonder if they will make them with 67 firebird walnut faceplate or whether you can use the original faceplate?

Still waiting for mine but it first has to be converted for european broadcast. On ebay they don´t name it Firebird but Camaro radio when you look closer... So there´s no burlwood radio bezel but a black one included. It´s the same you can buy at CI, spotting the correct original dimensions. As mentioned before they are including the Camaro knobs only, you will have to change them yourself.

There´s another source in the net - http://www.antiqueautomobileradio.com - although I think that´s the real manufacturer behind the radios offered by a salesman on ebay´s. I contacted them just one week before I bought the one from ebay´s, asking if there will be the correct outer Firebird style available, too, and that´s what they replied:



I bought the one from ebay because I didn´t recognize that ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE RADIO, INC. probably is the manufacturer for the radios sold on ebay, too. The radio still wasn´t available from them so I thought I would get it faster buying from ebay. Fool that I was...! You´ll get the same radio from both sources but you don´t have to bid on the regular price of $595.00 at ANTIQUE AUTOMOBILE RADIO, INC.

I've got a Custom Autosound radio now. I wonder if that faceplate would work.

CI sells radio bezels for aftermarket radios, too. Not diecast as the originals but with a narrower spacing between the knobs and with two different sized center holes. They are available black, walnut and burlwood but the burlwood´s not correct.

Just flip through their (if possible printed) catalog (their new online site is a PITA) and look for parts #RB100S (black, small opening), #RB100L (black, large opening), #RB200S (burlwood, small opening), #RB200L (burlwood, large opening), #RW200S (walnut, small opening) and #RW200L (walnut, large opening). Price is 29.95 ea.

Their comment:

Thanks

It took some time but finally, my new repro radio has arrived! Still had no chance to change the knobs to the correct Firebird items (still showing the Camaro knobs) but this shouldn´t be of any major concern.

As promised I will post some pics of the radio solely, soon to be followed by pics after installing it back into the center dash bezel.

That's a short radio. Cheater. Was it 'half' price?

Unfortunately, NOT! Pretty much the contrary... You remember how you frustrated me proofing my dearly bought 68 radio being a 78 version? Had no nerve looking again for a mint original radio, then converting it to european broadcast and paying a small fortune for a subpar radio that only works when you don´t cruise around...
Decided to go the other way round: original looking shell and modern inner life...
Hope it pays off!

Looks Great!

The price has come down a little from when they first came out. I hope by the time I get my car on the road their is still gas and the radio are even cheaper.

Just wanted to keep my promise posting a few pics after the radio has been installed (only the knobs are still missing). Looks stock - at least in my opinion. But it´s everything else but stock: each button has it´s own (new) function, it´s really complicated to learn how to play this radio.





BTW, you also see what we discussed some topics ago: the dash bezel is redone with the new burlwood from "The Paddock", looking well but not completely stock (the radio bezel and the ashtray are still 68 parts so you can recognize the slight differnce). Thought you might be interested, John (nashville68bird) once asked for futher informations...




Cheers

Thomas

Just to keep you posted:

Looks great - I saw it has a MP3 input. Very interested in that. It's a must have for any new music system.

would love to see it installed and hear about how it sounds!

well sorry-I SEE it installed now! Duh! Took a while for the pics to load.

Where is that IPOD input? Is it the pin style or the USB thing? I had a pin plug put in in place of my CD changers on my modern vehicles, and I use my IPOD all the time. So this is a must for me.

Sorry for the large pics. Already have scaled them down in resolution...









Input is on the rear side of the radio. Have pulled it into the glove box, easy to install and doesn´t show from the outside...

"Euro" means for european broadcasting...

Here´s once again the link:
http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/newradio0F.htm

Cheers

Thomas

Definately on my list right after the new red lines! If it works as good as it looks, this is a great product!

Thats a good company, they also retro fitted my 57 Studebaker am radio...

With this company, do you have to send them a core for this. Or is this just a new unit?

They just build a new one.

I installed the repro from Classic Industries. Very nice unit. Also had output for subwoofers as well. I know you guys are gonna kick my a$$ for this, but I sound deadned and carpeted the trunk. Installed two amps (1700 watts) full size spare and two 10" subs. Two 6x9's in the package tray (No cutting required), and two 6" rounds behind the back seat. No door panels cut.

Ok, I am going to take the plunge and buy the unit today.

With the Microsoft live rebate going on, I can get one for $436.50

Reproduction Radio

I am also going to go for the reproduction stereo single front speaker listed here:

Dual cone speaker

I think I can get $100+ for my working AM radio to offset the price a bit more.

I am trying to figure out how to do a rear install of speakers that will look factory. Any suggestions?

Took a month for them to build and ship it, but the radio arrived yesterday and I have to agree it looks very convincing.

I am still looking for pictures of a vert speaker installation to reference for the rear.

Pics are hard to get due to the way they are installed. Here's an illustration, though.
http://thefirstgensite.com/library/68sm/acc/acc46.jpg

Put the top up. On the trunk side of the back seat support, locate four screw holes on each side. Place the special convertible rear speaker enclosures, which are shallow folded cardboard boxes that look like oversize, overthick fast food clamshell box halves, and screw the speakers in to the boxes into the braces using the male-female studs.

Now mark your convertible well to cut for the speaker grilles, pulling it down so the fabric lays nicely over the speakers, leaving just a little slack. Cut the openings in the well liner, install grilles to speakers and screw them into the studs.

Then put your top down, and you won't hear a thing. At least not anything decent.

The diagram definitely helps. Was nothing like I was thinking.

Going on 3 years and the price has still not come down.

Didn't the original say Pontiac on the front?