Are AM/FM radios REALLY this expensive?

[Imperialist67]

That LOOKS to be the same item. as best I can tell, there were two types of AM/FM then, either the "standard" with thumbwheels as pictured, OR the search/seek (like the old Town & Country) style that has foot-controlled seek button, and knob controls. For the more deluxe with knob controls, etc., you will have a different dash plate, so that kind of swap has to also include the dash plate, which I think means it would have to come from a New Yorker to get the woodgrain dash plate. With this pictured radio, you could pretty much swap it out for the AM unit it probably already has.

When I got mine two years ago, I picked up a period Motorola FM adapter that we mounted onto a bracket attached to the hump, as I didn't want to attach anything to the pullout ashtray, etc. Meant to be a temporary fix, but I have really grown to like it (has a great look when lit up, especially when it picks up a stereo signal!) , and am not sure what to do with the OEM AM/FM.

If you're willing to do the clean-up work on it (often the thumbwheels have to be taken out/cleaned), this radio is a "steal" compared to what I paid. At least mine came from a really good seller, and was practically in NOS condition, which I can pretty much "plug and play" into my dash as is.

I also have this regrettable habit of buying parts "because you don't see them much," and can sympathize with you. I'd say grab it while you can, and either repair/restore, or sell off later...…….

 

[300C]

I have the same problem, so many parts bought "because" and now....they're warehoused waiting for the right time. I think we're all guilty of this insanity to some degree.

 

[cbarge]

I have the same problem, so many parts bought "because" and now....they're warehoused waiting for the right time. I think we're all guilty of this insanity to some degree.

That's how the Mopar hoarding starts!! Lol

 

[boltupal]

I just sold a working FM AM for 64 Imperial . 50 bucks ,shipped it to Rhode Island.

 

[300C]

That's how the Mopar hoarding starts!! Lol

..and to which there is seemingly no damned end!

 

[Mike66Chryslers]

well i struggled to remove the famous ash receiver and get the old radio out only to find that the Retro Radio for a dart- will not work (didnt realize the dial was so far back from the thumbwheels and buttons when i gave them the measurements. sent it back, found Taymann electrical website and sent it off yesterday.

That is unfortunate. I installed a Retrosound Redondo radio in one of my 66 Chryslers. Very happy with it so far. It looks like the factory radio when not turned on unless you look really closely, sounds good, adds FM stereo, Bluetooth, MP3s from USB stick, aux. in. Optional satellite radio adapter available.

 

[mr. fix it]

Going by what Murray Park told me, and the '67 Chrysler promo literature; there were two different radio options, either you got the AM/FM w/thumbwheel (in place of the standard AM), or if you opted for the search-signal/foot-switch tuner, you had the radio shown in this photo. Knobs are different, and it resembles the one in my '67 Imp. This would be a more involved swap in my New Yorker, and I'm REALLY reluctant to do anything to its pristine dash.......

Over the summer after taking delivery on it, I fitted the New Yorker with a 60's Motorola FM adapter, and added a rear speaker. Had to mount it on a floor bracket, as the dash tray (we all love so much) prevents mounting anything under the dash. Works fine, easy to reach, looks correct for the era (especially when lit up at night) and it only cost $40. Only trouble is it leaves no place for a cassette adapter, I also like to use cassettes on long drives.

I have to think on it some more as $425 (not w/installation, either) is a major investment/minor improvement proposition.

THANKS MUCH for everyone's input.

View attachment 155514

View attachment 155516

I remember these units. I paid something like $40 for the first one and it was a God send compared to the AM static.
One if i recall had a concert sound button which was cool to listen to but no good at a drive in once the FM frequency showed up

 

[Jon O.]

That LOOKS to be the same item. as best I can tell, there were two types of AM/FM then, either the "standard" with thumbwheels as pictured, OR the search/seek (like the old Town & Country) style that has foot-controlled seek button, and knob controls. For the more deluxe with knob controls, etc., you will have a different dash plate, so that kind of swap has to also include the dash plate, which I think means it would have to come from a New Yorker to get the woodgrain dash plate. With this pictured radio, you could pretty much swap it out for the AM unit it probably already has.

When I got mine two years ago, I picked up a period Motorola FM adapter that we mounted onto a bracket attached to the hump, as I didn't want to attach anything to the pullout ashtray, etc. Meant to be a temporary fix, but I have really grown to like it (has a great look when lit up, especially when it picks up a stereo signal!) , and am not sure what to do with the OEM AM/FM.

If you're willing to do the clean-up work on it (often the thumbwheels have to be taken out/cleaned), this radio is a "steal" compared to what I paid. At least mine came from a really good seller, and was practically in NOS condition, which I can pretty much "plug and play" into my dash as is.

I also have this regrettable habit of buying parts "because you don't see them much," and can sympathize with you. I'd say grab it while you can, and either repair/restore, or sell off later...…….

View attachment 305883

These are incredibly cheap, and they work well for us. I have had one in my am-only car as long as I have had it.
That combined with one of these:
https://www.amazon.com/Transmitter-...m+transmitter&qid=1564676492&s=gateway&sr=8-8
You can play pretty much anything you want.

 

[WissaMan]

It takes ALL of that. The speaker wiring is extra. The front 3.5" speakers were "surface mount" on the '68s, one on each corner of the metal instrument panel piece, with the 4x10 in the middle. Rears would be the normal 6x9 speakers.

FYI, our 68 NYer has the AM/FM stereo multiplex radio and in the back it has 4x10's, not 6x9's. I don't think the front middle 4x10 was connected. At least, I couldn't really tell that there was any sound coming out of it at the time.

Was the unit in the trunk the output amp? i.e., could it be replaced with something modern assuming the wiring can be figured out?

 

[WissaMan]

Actually, upon looking the wiring diagram in the 1968 Chrysler SM, it looks like the front middle speaker is connected. However, the wiring diagram is not complete as it doesn't seem to show the rear speakers or fader circuit for the stereo multiplex unit.

 

[cbarge]

Actually, upon looking the wiring diagram in the 1968 Chrysler SM, it looks like the front middle speaker is connected. However, the wiring diagram is not complete as it doesn't seem to show the rear speakers or fader circuit for the stereo multiplex unit.

In the FSM, the optional electrical equipment wiring diagrams is in the accessories section of section 8.
Hope this helps

 

[WissaMan]

I'm still not finding it
The diagrams show wiring for some of the stereo radio system, but I can't seem to find the rear speakers or the multiplex unit itself. I do see a unit that's labeled as "crossover". Is that the multiplex unit?

 

[MoparJim]

While walking the swap meet rows at the Mopar Nats on Friday morning I stumbled upon an AM radio from a 67 Fury (it says "Transaudio by Plymouth" on the faceplate rather than "Solid State by Plymouth" as in 68) that appears to be in really nice shape for just $25. It is very clean and nice and the wires were even unplugged when it was removed rather than simply cut as always seems to be the case. I decided to grab it as a core for an upgrade to a modern sound system in my 68 Sport Fury. I got the car back in 2004 and the original AM/8-Track has never worked and I have no interest in screwing around with 8-tracks again anyway, so an upgrade appears to be my best option. I appreciate all of this shared info as I try to decide how best to proceed, so thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences. One thing that I do find intimidating, though, is that due to the location of the stock radio relatively high in the dash, swapping this out looks like it will be a fairly major project. Granted it is not an original AM/FM, but I want to be able to play my i-pod through it and I wouldn't want to gut an original AM/FM anyway, so for $25 and because it is in such nice shape I figured I would be crazy not to jump on it.

 

[Big_John]

While walking the swap meet rows at the Mopar Nats on Friday morning I stumbled upon an AM radio from a 67 Fury (it says "Transaudio by Plymouth" on the faceplate rather than "Solid State by Plymouth" as in 68) that appears to be in really nice shape for just $25. It is very clean and nice and the wires were even unplugged when it was removed rather than simply cut as always seems to be the case. I decided to grab it as a core for an upgrade to a modern sound system in my 68 Sport Fury. I got the car back in 2004 and the original AM/8-Track has never worked and I have no interest in screwing around with 8-tracks again anyway, so an upgrade appears to be my best option. I appreciate all of this shared info as I try to decide how best to proceed, so thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences. One thing that I do find intimidating, though, is that due to the location of the stock radio relatively high in the dash, swapping this out looks like it will be a fairly major project. Granted it is not an original AM/FM, but I want to be able to play my i-pod through it and I wouldn't want to gut an original AM/FM anyway, so for $25 and because it is in such nice shape I figured I would be crazy not to jump on it.

View attachment 309850

I think that's a radio out of the accessories catalog. These are pages from the '68 and '67 accessory catalogs.

Of course, the pictures really don't prove anything, but I've always wondered what the differences in the face plate call out meant and my theory is the Transaudio is a dealer installed radio. I remember seeing many new and used cars back in the sixties without radios so I'm not surprised if the car came with no radio and the dealer put one in for a customer.

 

[PackardDon]

The unit in the trunk of my 1965 LeBaron is the concert hall device and is a simple mechanical reverb with springs between a pair of transducers. There’s a dash knob to control how much of the rear sound goes through it but fully-enabled, it sounds like you’re in an empty airplane hanger.

 

[Imperialist67]

Working reverb is way cool, far and above my favorite option. It is the same spring reverb set up used in Fender (and other) guitar amps, most of which were made by Gibbs, who made them (I think) for Motorola Vibrosonic.

 

[cbarge]

Working reverb is way cool, far and above my favorite option. It is the same spring reverb set up used in Fender (and other) guitar amps, most of which were made by Gibbs, who made them (I think) for Motorola Vibrosonic.

I installed a nos reverb system in the Boab. Works well!!

 

[Snotty]

Sorry guys, but reverb is dreadful, and so '60s in an automobile.

 

[rapidtrans]

Mine is inoperable and just the fader part of the switch works.
As I recall it just created delay or echo effect. It was a cool effect 'till stereo was offered.
The Mopar AM/FM "Multiplex" radio we had in one of our 69 Plymouths was a huge advance.

 

[Mopars & Missiles]

....As I recall it just created delay or echo effect......

Exactly, its just a variable electronic delay circuit.