Is it true that the rear speakers on a 67 convertible were located behind the seat? Can anyone provide pictures? Also, how is the sound? How well can you hear the speakers through the seats? Thanks!

I'm not sure if the 1967's are like the 1969's, but this is what the rear speaker option looks like on a 1969 ragtop Bird.

Mike

I have the rear speaker option in my '68 'vert. (and yes, only one speaker was the option, the radios could not power three speakers). With the top up, it relatively works OK. With the top down, its useless.

Another cool, somewhat unusable option, common on these 'birds. I generally have the fader turned fully to the front speaker, thus not using the rear much at all. 98% of my 'vert driving is with the top down.

It looks just like Stealth's picture, and yes, '67-'69 are the same.

Thanks guys! I had no idea the third speaker was installed in that location. I run my firebird top down 98% of the time too haha! I'm running the original am radio with just the original center dash speaker. It's ok, but hard to hear at higher speeds, so I was thinking of adding a rear speaker(s). Nothing high tech, just want more sound coming from the rear. I like it original, so I'd like to avoid cutting holes. Any suggestions?

Any truth about the speakers originally being mounted in the back of the rear seat pointing towards the front of the car? If yes, you would think that the sound would be muffled by the seat itself, but a little more sound is better than just the original dash speaker right?

I've never heard that one. No, that would not be correct, nor would it much matter for sound. Those old radios don't put out much power, that's why so many of them have been tossed over the years.

I'm satisfied with the volume when I drive with the top down. It's not like a new car, but think of it as nostalgia...

It's all part of the 'old car' experience.

You can always hide a different radio in the glove box, or have your radio upgraded with new internals and power plant for higher volume.

Your car looks just like one 'THE BIRD' used to own. He live(d?) in Roseville, CA.

"Your car looks just like one 'THE BIRD' used to own. He live(d?) in Roseville, CA."

That's me! I got rid of the personalized plates and screen name and went with the original black and yellow plates. Maltese Missile and THE BERD are the same.

aha! So that's my '67 radio in your car. Did you have that reconditioned?

I use a couple of 6X9 speakers in boxes behind the front seats...don't usually have rear passengers so foot space is not an issue.

Here's what they look like (although not in place in the pic)

I like a stock looking car myself but with hidden upgrades. That said I have yet to find a decent solution for a better sounding system in a convertible that I like.

I had a AM Radio converted by Turn Switch for my 64 Tempest Convertible and will most likely do the same for my Bird.

Most go with the kick panel speaker but I like my vents. A good set of kick panel speakers do sound good.
Sound quality will only be OK using an under dash speaker. I have used both a dual Kenwood and a dual coil style single cone speaker.
The factory rear speaker(s) have been covered and as stated are worthless when the top is down.
Most other options involve cutting metal Doors or side panel in the back seat area
The only other option is a floor speaker setup like trucks use. I tried to see if Undercover II speaker would fit under the seat and they do not.

I did see at a car show where one person had drive in movie theater speakers hanging on the inside of the car. I thought that was kind of cool.

Yes, it's your AM radio in my car. I had it reconditioned and it works great!

Jeff - Thanks for the pic. That is definitely something to consider. I rarely have passengers too.

Question. I removed the rear seat bottom easily, but couldn't figure out how to remove the back upper seat. Please tell me it's easy...

It's easy...

LOL...yes it is.

Once the bottom is out, the seat back is fasten on either side (see red circle) by on bolt. Remove these and lift straight up and out.

Two bolts at the bottom of the upper seat. Those bolts hold some clips that are tied to the seat springs. You unbolt, then lift the seat back straight up. The seat springs go over a couple of 'hooks' mounted to the car body.

Much easier removing the seat back than the seat bottom.

Unless of course you have a fold down rear seat. Those mount on hinges at the bottom sides of the seat, and the hooks I mention in my previous response would not be there.

Awesome thanks! Where the heck is the 6X9 supposed to fit haha! In that center open space area?

That space is for a convertible top motor as seen in post #301980. Nothing to stop you from trying to put a 6x9 in that space but its not the factory location as already show in post #301955.

They only way to do it like the factory did would be to purchase the speaker housing parts and hardware. There should be more pictures of this if you search the archives.

Couple of observation about the speaker housing some are cardbord and I have seen some in metal. Also the size of them don't offer much room for any good size magnet on the speaker. The factory 6x9 used in them were complete crap much like what was used under the dash.

Agree, most were cardboard and lasted only a few years. I found some OEM metal ones from a '68 Camaro a handful of years back. I picked up a repro (stock) speaker for mine. It fit well, but not much room for anything bigger. I'm still not sure why the 'Maro ones were metal, and 'bird ones were cardboard. But the size and shape was identical.

Metal ones could be fabbed up pretty easy. Just a few pieces of sheet metal tacked together. (I may have some measurements lying around somewhere, can't remember) There were a few threads going around back then. Maybe 2010 - 2011 vintage?

I think the cardboard repops are around $10 from Classic or Ames.

For now I leave my original AM radio installed and just stream music from my phone and a Bluetooth speaker. Works for me

tr709,

I play music from my iphone through my original am radi0/center dash speaker, but it's not loud enough. A tried adding a bluetooth speaker, but it instantly shut off the dash speaker. So I need to use one or the other, unless I'm doing something wrong?

Isn't there another factory location other than post #301955 that's attached behind the seat via the sheet metal bracket? Anyone have a pic of the original location?

This is the only original location for a 68 with a single rear speaker.

Thanks!

Hi Harold, Do you have a picture or two of the mounting brackets of your spare tire and jack? I too have a jack that mounts high, but I cannot find any of my pictures that are legible of where the spare tire hook bracket goes? I do see where my jack bracket mounts but again not the tire hook?

If you don't mind posting a pic or two that would be great.

Thanks.

Here you go.

Thanks Harold. The bracket that mounts angled is in the same place as my 69 but on mine it's straight across. I don't have any Idea what it had when new (space saver spare or full size) but that hook location is clear in your picture. Mine have too much glare to see it.

My PHS doesn't show anything regarding a space saver tire... again thanks for the photos.

Space saver was standard starting in 68. So only a full size spare will be listed on PHS if it was ordered as an option.

None of my 'birds have that 'Z' clip mounted like that. They are all straight across. (three space savers, one full size)

Great, now I need to add the space saver to my acquisition list eventually - those aren't cheap are they? Thanks again.

There were also factory kick panel speakers & grills. You can mount some quality 4"x6" speakers in the factor locations and have it still look stock. But, if your going for 100% originality to what your build sheet indicates, then, that may not be an option? But if it is an option:

Kick panel speakers

Tweeters

You can also upgrade the stock single 4" x 10" dash speaker to any one of the many dual speaker options out there.
I've added an amp and a sub close to the stock rear speaker location, the kick panel speakers, the dual dash speakers, (stock radio in the dash, hidden stereo in the glove box) I have a set of 6"x9" in boxes by the rear cocktail shakers firing forward towards the only open areas from the trunk. I also have tweeters hi up in the pillar trim that no one notices unless I point them out. I have an MP3 cable coming up through my console compartment for an iPod or my phone. It all works great, sounds great top up or top down and best of all is that it is all hidden and looks factory (kick panel grills are the only thing you can see)

Just some additional ideas. This has been an active topic in a few different threads if you would like to search for more here.

Keep us posted on how it all comes out.

Nice looking Bird! Love that color.

Pardon my rotten rusty metal…. But here’s the space saver spare clip location