Any years Classic Radio Restoration Thoughts

[Clewisiii]

Ok. I will need to decide what to do with my radio.

Many of the radio restoration guys I have found say they have stopped doing original restorations and have now switched to radio conversions. They said due to the extra labor required it is no longer worth it to them.

I am not opposed to that. I would want some type of FM. Maybe Bluetooth.

What are your thoughts.

My current radio actually played. But looks very rough. I do have another in my parts car.

[J. Russo]

This place converted my 1941 radio.

https://www.joesclassiccarradio.com/

[Patrick Fant]

Sorry, but what year car did all this come out of?  The pile of parts does look pretty rough, but savable as long as you can get the valves (tubes.)  I thought about the modern conversion too, but then my wife convinced me to not gut that beautiful and still working radio.  I am glad I left it in tact.  I have a Bose Bluetooth speaker hidden that pairs with my phone on Spotify where I have my Cadillac playlist saved.  Then when I want the news I run up the electric antenna like they did in 1956 and let the Wonderbar find the stations I have on preset.  It's Beach Boys time all over again, until I hear the news then it is back to reality which is not nearly so fun.  That's my take.  pat

[Clewisiii]

This place converted my 1941 radio.

https://www.joesclassiccarradio.com/

Yes I looked at joes. Between restoration and conversation they are another source who have stopped restoration.


Patrick this is a 61 am only.

[V63]

Here is a "reproduction audio"  with faux AM dial but conceals a fully amplified stereo, HD radio, BT, hands free telephone. External Amplifier Expandable.

  I adapted the original knobs (not easy) , including audio labels (original back lights)   behind knobs

The sound is absolutely wonderful even to an audiophile!

$400 if memory serves.

[David Greenburg]

I've left my '61 radio alone so far, even though it's only useful for the occasional baseball game or news.  But had my '60 converted by Gary Tayman, and I'm very happy with it. It looks completely stock and the wonderbar works. But it has FM stereo and Bluetooth, and he'll tweak it depending on your power/speaker needs. I'm only running 2 speakers, in the original locations, because this car is never going to be a listening room, and I didn't want to cut anything to add speakers.

[Clewisiii]

I've left my '61 radio alone so far, even though it's only useful for the occasional baseball game or news.  But had my '60 converted by Gary Tayman, and I'm very happy with it. It looks completely stock and the wonderbar works. But it has FM stereo and Bluetooth, and he'll tweak it depending on your power/speaker needs. I'm only running 2 speakers, in the original locations, because this car is never going to be a listening room, and I didn't want to cut anything to add speakers.

David, does he have a shop or does he work independently.

[Michael Petti]

Phillips Electronics redid my radio. AM only. Works great. I listen to talk radio and in Fall I get football.  Love my rebuilt AM radio.

[PHIL WHYTE CLC 14192]

Keep your radio original and use a Redirad to link up your phone for your choice of music. You can't beat the sound of a valve (tube) radio.

[35-709]

Gary Tayman (Sarasota, Florida) did the radio in my '50 Packard.  Everything looks original on the outside but all new components on the inside.  He has all kinds of options like bluetooth, etc., if you want them.

 https://www.taymanelectrical.com/ 

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Try Precision Stereo Repair in Utica, NY.  They rebuilt my 1967 Wildcat radio and upgraded the capacitors.  The sound quality was fantastic!  The pricing is fair too and the turn-around time is usually 6-7 weeks.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Also on a side note do NOT convert it to Bluetooth.  Sure its nice to have a modern amenity in the radio but they tend to fail quickly according to several sources I've spoken with.

[bcroe]

An old radio can be made to perform like new, when
refreshed along with the speakers.  I fear though
the background noise on the AM is much more severe
today, than decades ago.  And any radio noise
supressors in the car must be functional.  Want
more than new, get the upgrade/conversion and the
extra speakers.  Bruce Roe

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Bruce you'd be surprised at the radio quality of AM.  I'm able to pick up a 60s/70s station in Tucson from the east valley.  The sound quality is incredible.

[eldofever58]

The biggest problem with these conversions is that they use a cheap Chinese tuner and amp board, and the replacement dial scale sticks out like a sore thumb. My personal preference is to restore the factory radio (pretty much all parts are still available), but add an aux-in cable which you can tuck into the glovebox when not in use. That way you can still pull in the AM oldies channel on Saturday night, the Wonderbar and push buttons are still functional, and you can listen to your phone/MP3 source with real tube amp sound when you want to.

[jwwseville60]

Keep your radio original.
Its mostly commercials anyway.
An iPod and portable speaker is not a bad solution.
I listen to Johnny Cash, Sinatra and classical in the Caddy.

[David King (kz78hy)]

I used Charles Sigfried to rebuild my Brougham radio and he knows the wonder bar system well.  Still works good after 13 years.

http://www.nadjaart.com/web_design/webwork/charles/index.htm