Car Radio

[martinstag]

My 1972 Stag still has the original MW/LW push button Motorola radio fitted which of course can only pick up BBC Radio 4 on long wave. I am trying to keep my car original looking so does anyone know of anyone who could fit a DAB receiver into the casing of the original radio whilst retaining its exterior appearance.

[Phil S]

it can be done, was chatting to a Paul when he picked a rad up from me last Wednesday and he had his radio fitted with modern innards but didn't ask who did it

[Always wanted a Stag]

I have an upgraded '70s Radiomobile 1085X from Tadpole Radios which I am very happy with.

They will also upgrade your own unit:

Standard Conversion of Your Radio (Electronics changed within the original radio box)

• 4 Channel amplifier with 45 Watts RMS per channel. 180 Watts RMS Total.
• Full range Digital Stereo FM and AM tuner.
• Supply voltage: 10-15V
• Negative or Positive earth (Made to order)
• Typical current consumption < 3 Amps
• In line fuse rated @ 10 Amps
• IPOD / MP3 connectivity (cable supplied)
• Electric Aerial output

Standard Conversion (stereo FM, AM and Ipod/Iphone connectivity) -
£450.00

https://www.tadpoleradios.co.uk/OwnStandardConv.aspx

Best regards

Paul

[SaphireSpud]

Hello Martin,
I like Paul's suggestion but it is a lot of money. If you are keeping your Stag for a long time why not fit a more modern stereo if you need some sounds. I have a fairly modern unit which accepts a USB input so I can play whatever I fancy ( Ironically 70's music). Then, if / when you decide to sell your Stag put the original radio back in and the buyer will love the originality! Of course, we ( my wife and I) spend more time listening to the sound of the engine and the sounds of nature as we pass by. Hope this helps.
Regards, John. (Stag owner for 9 years.)

[djtaylor]

Of course, we ( my wife and I) spend more time listening to the sound of the engine and the sounds of nature

This^

Best soundtrack ever.

[garyf]

+1 to #5 I couldn't hear anything above that gorgeous engine sound if I wanted to lol
My speakers are coming out...
btw a mate of mine has a mk 1 escort van and he hasn't got a radio,just one of those bluetooth speakers behind the dash where it can't be seen.Works a treat
have to post a pic soz it's done around 30k miles from new

[stagmark]

Im sure you have probably come across these...

https://www.raysmith.co.uk/retrosound-classic-en/san-diego-classic-dab-car-radio-black-scalloped-classic-spindle-style-radio-with-bluetooth-usb-and-aux-573812716?sort=p.price&order=DESC

I have a retrosound unit in my stag - when it is off it does kind of look like an old unit, but has benefit of modern tech - usb input, Bluetooth etc. Can take a photo of it later if of interest...?!

I just need to sort the speaker(s) our in the old girl to make use of the unit!!!

Cheers
Mark

[martinstag]

Hello Martin,
I like Paul's suggestion but it is a lot of money. If you are keeping your Stag for a long time why not fit a more modern stereo if you need some sounds. I have a fairly modern unit which accepts a USB input so I can play whatever I fancy ( Ironically 70's music). Then, if / when you decide to sell your Stag put the original radio back in and the buyer will love the originality! Of course, we ( my wife and I) spend more time listening to the sound of the engine and the sounds of nature as we pass by. Hope this helps.
Regards, John. (Stag owner for 9 years.)

That is a possible solution but the originality would be compromised while the car is in my possession.

[Always wanted a Stag]

Hi Martin

I was fortunate with my Tadpole radio in that I bought it half price from eBay. A guy was selling it because he’d bought it for his ‘60s Mini Cooper and then realised that it wasn’t a ‘60s radio so he bought another Tadpole radio to fit the period (well that was his story anyway).
Always useful to keep an eye on eBay, just in case.

Before that, I’d used a refurbished Ripspeed CMR-i4000 radio/CD/MP3 from Halfords which had an iPod connection lead. This was great but I was never happy with the look of the modern unit (especially the digital display). The unit had a removable face and I used the face of an old Blaupunkt Hamburg radio that I could put in it's place to make it look like a period unit - at least whilst I wasn’t using the Ripspeed.

What you might consider is a modern radio unit located in the glovebox with a connection to a iPod (either a lead or Bluetooth). You should be able to adjust the volume and track from the iPod and if you have a passenger, you’ll be able to have him/her adjust the unit in the glove box for the settings whilst the radio is in use.

As an aside, I use a Retrosound 7” x 5” Dual Voice Coil speaker which is squeezed into the speaker position in the dashboard, backed up by two modern Sony speakers in the rear cubby holes but covered with Sony speaker covers from a pair of Sony SS11 speakers that I bought in 1973 for my Austin Allegro when I was learning to drive.

My solution is not the cheapest but as I’ve had the car now for 7 years and have no intention of selling it, it’s been a worthwhile investment so far.

Good luck

Paul

[DJT]

That is a possible solution but the originality would be compromised while the car is in my possession.

No Stags left the production line with radios in them. They were all a 'dealer-fit' option. Many were fitted with 8-track units, hence the large opening. So 'originality' is dependant on what the original owner specified when it was ordered/delivered. Changing the I.C.E. unit is no real difference to changing the tyres. Fit what works at the time; a future owner can revert to 'originality' if they wish, but in the meantime I'd fit something that fulfils my listening requirements. Just my opinion........

[Andy S]

I used a converted original Grundig in my Spider from Chrome London. Very pleased with the look and sound. They have a choice of old units; which you can choose which features to add.

In the Stag I’ve used one of those retro looking units you can pick up on eBay. It’s cheap and has all the features, but it doesn’t look right. Shiny plastic chrome doesn’t fit the Stag interior.

More successful was fitting one of those dual cone speakers that replaces the existing speaker in the dash.

Andy S

[Neil in Deal]

Good evening all,
I've also taken the plunge on the radio side of things. Am trying to keep things looking as standard as possible, so no speakers in the doors or rear, and I want to keep the original speaker cover looking original.
Took out the original dealer fit "Unipart" MW/LW unit. Looks like a rabid beaver was tasked to fit it!! Luckily the 4 areas where the horizontal bits of the mounting frame sit were covered by the black plastic plate.
I have purchased a "Vintage 100" FM/DAB spindle-mount radio and a 5" x 7" dual voice coil speaker from Autosound Classic Car Radio of Bradford.
They advised that as far as they knew, Stag owners fitted the speaker by removing the glove box entirely to give access to the speaker area.
Needless to say, the fixing lugs on the new speaker probably won't line up near to the original screw holes, as the speaker is physically a fair bit bigger than the original.
(As yet, haven't removed the glovebox to see how well the speaker will fit.)
Also, the set requires both an ignition switched AND permanent plus 12v supply. [To keep the station memories etc. when the ignition is switched off.
The ignition switched supply is no problem, I'll be using the original one.
Any suggestions from anyone who may have done similar as to:-
a) fitting the 5 x 7 speaker and
b) where to take the permanent 12v feed from ?

Any advice much appreciated.

Neil.

[SaphireSpud]

That is a possible solution but the originality would be compromised while the car is in my possession.

Hello Martin,
originality is much over-rated! Very few (if any!) Stags are totally original. Use yours and enjoy it.
If anyone should criticise you for lack of originality tell them to get a life! (and mind their own business!)
Regards, John.

[martinstag]

No Stags left the production line with radios in them. They were all a 'dealer-fit' option.

The radio fitted to my car was a dealer option from new which in my opinion makes it 'original' and the look of which I wish to retain.

[Andy S]

Good evening all,
I've also taken the plunge on the radio side of things. Am trying to keep things looking as standard as possible, so no speakers in the doors or rear, and I want to keep the original speaker cover looking original.
Took out the original dealer fit "Unipart" MW/LW unit. Looks like a rabid beaver was tasked to fit it!! Luckily the 4 areas where the horizontal bits of the mounting frame sit were covered by the black plastic plate.
I have purchased a "Vintage 100" FM/DAB spindle-mount radio and a 5" x 7" dual voice coil speaker from Autosound Classic Car Radio of Bradford.
They advised that as far as they knew, Stag owners fitted the speaker by removing the glove box entirely to give access to the speaker area.
Needless to say, the fixing lugs on the new speaker probably won't line up near to the original screw holes, as the speaker is physically a fair bit bigger than the original.
(As yet, haven't removed the glovebox to see how well the speaker will fit.)
Also, the set requires both an ignition switched AND permanent plus 12v supply. [To keep the station memories etc. when the ignition is switched off.
The ignition switched supply is no problem, I'll be using the original one.
Any suggestions from anyone who may have done similar as to:-
a) fitting the 5 x 7 speaker and
b) where to take the permanent 12v feed from ?

Any advice much appreciated.

Neil.

Hi Neil,

Generally fitting the speaker was straight forward. Removing the glovebox interior was a few screws.

It’s a very tight squeeze to get the 5x7 Speaker into place. It will go in and wedges in without any danger of moving. No need to fix in place. It wedges in between existing speaker mount and the metal heater duct.

Take care with the speaker cables because you want to attach them to the speaker before you fit. On my first attempt 1 came detached and it was very difficult to reattach with the speaker in place.

I also removed the speaker grill lugs to make sure they didn’t puncture the speaker when I refitted it. I replaced them with clear mounting tape.

I Was lucky with power because previous stereo had wiring I could reuse. However, Cigarette lighter on mine is permanent live and this is where it comes from.

Andy S