This is a question I have posed before without much success at a definitive answer. I'd sure like to know about the Series I cars as I'd put it - working or not.
I was always under the impression that zero cars were stocked with 'factory' radios, that this was a dealer installed item. And that can vary extensively when you think of it in global terms. I always thought the preferred unit of the time was the Becker Grand Prix I mean that Becker was 'the' radio in the earlier cars if I'm not mistaken
I completely agree that the dealer fit the radio. The Becker GP or Mexico were pretty dated by 81. Alpine hit the scene in the 80's with radios like the one in my '78 (likely not original). I think your best move is to find the best period-appropriate model. The Philips looks good but very rare in the US. That Blaupunkt is a mid-level model. Image Unavailable, Please Login
My apologies for beeing slightly off topic. But for the earlier 400, Ferrari left us a clue in the official brochure 132/76. Voxson Quadrophonic Stereo is what I concider the "holy grail" of 400 stereos. (Seems to be impossible to find though) Maybe there are clues in the 400i brochures as well ? H Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Not sure that would say anything more than thats what was put in for the brochure at the time. 308's and boxers of that same time frame had dealer installed radios, before or after a customer purchased a car I wouldn't know - probably happened both ways. My BB has a blaupunkt berlin 8000 gooseneck radio and its original to the car including the manuals. Im betting my phillips in my 400i is original because that radio as far as I can tell was introduced in 82 and it looks old as dirt. 82 was the first year a boxer came standard off the assembly line with a radio (pioneer) and they all had the same one from 82-84. I wonder if ferrari did that across the board or just the flagship at the time?
In the manuals for an 81 car I had, there was a Blaupunkt manual with it....predating the SQR series. I can't remember what it was....
This was the Blaupunkt Toronto installed in my 1983 400i before I replaced it with a Nakamichi setup. Image Unavailable, Please Login
This from a photo I had in my collection. No name though http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=2173567&stc=1&d=1450639600 Image Unavailable, Please Login
From what I remember of car stereo shops in the 80's Phillips didn't have much aftermarket support compared to Alpine, Concord, Blaupunkt etc.
Here's what Becker shows for the Mercedes between 1981-1985, the Becker GP 612: Mercedes-Benz Becker | radio and amplifier repairs The majority of the dealers of our cars were European, weren't they & then imported over here 'at some point'?
Interestingly enough, Eurospares shows the Blaupunk Toronto: Ferrari 400i (1983 Mechanical) - Electrical System, Fuses and Relays: Page 102 | Order Online Eurospares
Eurospares also shows a Panasonic: Ferrari 400i (1983 Mechanical) - Electrical System, Fuses and Relays: Page 102 | Order Online Eurospares
If the dealer installed the radios, does that mean that the cars came from the factory with all the speakers, wiring and antenna installed but just with no radio?
