Radio La La

Post by **Ruby** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 8:58 pm

When I recently got my Moggy, one of the previous owners has cut into the original door trims to make a half arsed attempt to install a CD player of some sort. I'm not sure what makes me more angry, the fact that he has cut into the original trims (it has such a lovely interior apart from that!) or the fact he only got half way through before quiting.

Since the damage has been done, I am thinking of doing a proper job. What I am interested in is installing a retro radio. Nothing else. One with the push button presets. Does anybody no where I can by one? Is a breakers yard my best bet or is there an online store?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Post by **nebogipfel** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 9:14 pm

Period radios come up often on Ebay, if you do a search for the better names such as Motorola or Radiomobile you should find what you are looking for.

Do bear in mind that most of the earlier radios from the sixties and seventies are MW and LW only.

There are companies around who will convert them but I think it's pretty pricey.

Nowadays most of the popular stations are on FM

Post by **alex_holden** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:10 pm

nebogipfel wrote:Nowadays most of the popular stations are on FM

And DAB.

Post by **bigginger** » Wed Nov 22, 2006 10:14 pm

...and short wave - if having an audience of 20 million means they're popular...

Post by **nebogipfel** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 1:34 pm

Anyone else got another wavelength of the EM spectrum they'd like to add

Post by **alex_holden** » Thu Nov 23, 2006 2:06 pm

Perhaps this is a good place to point out that iTrips and other similar short-range radio transmitter devices (used to send audio from a portable MP3 player to a car stereo) are finally going to be legal in the UK from the 8th of December.

Post by **alyn18051960** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:04 pm

Hi!

After getting my first Moggy earlier this year it was always my aim to add a period radio to her. After much searching I came upon a place called the Vintage Wireless Company, near to where I work in Sale, Cheshire.
Here they take old retro radios and can convert them to receive FM. Ideal, if a bit pricey! But then, having spent about four grand on my newly restored moggy, whats £200!?!?!

Good ol' eBay is great for locating Radiomobile or Motorola radios and they sell on there for anything from £20 to £60 depending on it's condition. One recently even went for £125! However, if you want to have it converted to FM, V.W. Co. recommended that I look for one in good cosmetic condition, that doesn't actually work! Much of the radios guts will be ripped out for the conversion so it doesn't matter and I got my Motorola one for £18 because the seller didn't know if it worked. It has been converted so that four presets are for FM while the fifth is for MW and for an iPod connector which they can also fit. V.W.Co. can supply the radio too but finding one yourself will save you about £60!

Hope this, my first post here, is of use! Good luck!

Cheers, Alyn

Post by **JimK** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 1:26 pm

Certainly is of use, thanks. Do you have a website link for that company?

A period radio with an iPod interface would be great - I can hide the sub and amp in the boot but a modern head unit will stick out like a sore thumb.

Post by **RogerRust** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:44 pm

I'm not going to have a head unit at all just a beefy 12 volt amp and a plug for my MP3 player. There big two holes under the dash just asking for 6X9s. If I can get a good DAB walkman I'll plug that in as well.

Post by **JimK** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:15 pm

I want a head unit for its clearer controls than the iPod. The Sony unit in my Fiesta has a control mounted on the steering wheel rim. That's nice, but the mount can't cope with the narrow Minor wheel rim.

Post by **chrisd87** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:53 pm

I just use a cheap tape player fitted in the driver's glove box and one of those adapters that you stick in the tape deck connected to my CD walkman that jams nicely under the heater. Not very convenient when changing CD on the move but it does work.

Nikki (i think) had a nice idea a while ago about connecting some minor-style switches on a dash panel to control an ipod hidden away in the glove box.

Post by **JimK** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:11 pm

I had one of those tape adaptors before I got a CD changer, and I'm afraid I thought the sound quality was terrible. The other thing was that traffic reports didn't stop the CD.

The driver's glovebox is going to have instruments in the front, so that's out. I'm thinking that under the driver's glovebox to the right of the steering column, with the iPod to the right of the speedo.

Post by **Furrtiv** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 6:37 pm

I'd love to have a CD player and radio (permanently tuned in to Radio Two!) in my moggy, but wouldn't the sound of the car's engine drown it all out, or at least muffle it?

Post by **JimK** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:14 pm

Depends on the stereo and speakers. I'll probably end up putting some sound-absorbing material on the bulkhead and underside of the bonnet.

I like the sound of the engine, but there's such a thing as too loud...

Post by **chrisd87** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 7:37 pm

I have to turn my radio up ear-splittingly loud to hear it above about 50mph. When I was doing 70mph for hours on end today it was up so loud the (admittedly very tinny) speakers were distorting and buzzing but it does still help to keep you amused.

Post by **minor_hickup** » Sun Dec 10, 2006 11:07 pm

Mine now has a JVC headunit tucked away in the glove box. I cut holes in the door cards for the speakers. I was reluctant to do this, but they were way beyond 'good condition'! With 4 4" 150W speakers I can hear it fine. But I have a new Bosal mild steel exhaust which i suprisingly quiet.