Is it possible to find an original radio for my 328? | FerrariChat

Is it possible to find an original radio for my 328?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Jedi, Mar 19, 2008.

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  1. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
    Moderator Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Mar 18, 2008
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    Seattle Area
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    Dave
    I hope this isn't a noob question that's been answered 3,359 times.

    Is it at all realistic to try to find an original radio for my newly acquired
    328? (www.enw.cc/ferrari) It has a cheap looking Kenwood POS that
    I will never use anyway. Not sure why one would even want a radio
    in a 328...

    That's the only thing not original (other than shifter knob, but I have
    the original; don't have the leather owner's manual case (do have the
    manual); and of course the tires). Everything else is all original.

    Or is this considered unobtanium or would cost as much as the car?

    Thanks,

    Dave
     
  2. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
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    Jimmie
    Owners manual case is relatively easy - only a few hundred bucks - may know of one in the uK - pm if interested
     
  3. JOEL D.

    JOEL D. Karting

    Nov 2, 2003
    222
    Boston, MA
    Full Name:
    Joel DeLuca
    328'S Did not come with a radio from the factory. They came with speakers, all the wiring in place, etc., but the radio was up to the owner to install per his or hers preferences. So, the good news is you can put anything you like!
     
  4. SonomaRik

    SonomaRik F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Dec 15, 2006
    6,880
    Sonoma, CA
    and weren't spare tires optional too?
     
  5. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    Mar 18, 2008
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    Dave
    So what radio would best fit the theme? Blaupunkt doesn't make sense. Anything German
    or Japanese seems silly. Any Italian brands that I should know about?

    I really want it to look more authentic inside that that crappy Kenwood POS that someone dropped
    in years ago. It's silver and doesn't even come close to matching... I know I could get 'any black
    stereo' and it would match, but wow - an Italian brand would be very cool, if in fact there was no
    factory option...

    Dave
     
  6. Dubai Vol

    Dubai Vol Formula 3

    Aug 12, 2005
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    because we all know how famous the Italians are for their electrics :D

    I just looked; don't think there is even such a thing as an italian-made radio. Apparently it was all downhill after Marconi. Go with a nice Blaupunkt. At least it's European. Alpine did that famous Lambo ad, but I have heard they are not very good.
     
  7. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    Mar 18, 2008
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    Yeah, that Italian electronics thing didn't work out so well, did it! I didn't think I had ever heard of
    an Italian car radio manufacturer.

    Thanks - guess I'll go find a nice black Blaupunkt.

    Dave
     
  8. volkster999

    volkster999 Karting

    Sep 22, 2005
    86
    CT
    Full Name:
    Neil Volkmar
    My 86 328 has a Blaupunkt, I think most/many 328s I've seen had them.
    Neil
     
  9. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Blaupunkt would work. Becker made some nice stuff.

    But wouldn't Pioneer and Panasonic, along with Kenwood be radios that are period correct?

    See 'em on ebay pretty regularly.

    Any mid-late 80's radio woud be concours correct if in fact the factory didn't install 'em. Any aftermarket radio from the time would be ok.
     
  10. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
    Rossa Subscribed

    May 27, 2003
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    DGS
    Forget nationality. Go for something that plays from flash memory.

    Trust me: you'll want zero moving parts in your stereo (at least until you learn to steer around the bumps). ;)

    And who wants to mess about changing CDs? An SD card or USB stick can hold hours of music.
    And spare cards will even fit in the "glove" (sic) box. :)

    The real trick is: detachable face or not?
    If you have a detachable face, you pretty much *have* to remove it every time you leave the car with the top off for two minutes.

    But if you want "period correct", you'll have to look for a cassette tape player. :D
     
  11. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    Mar 18, 2008
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    Crazy as it sounds, I may well do that - find a 1986 Blaupunkt cassette deck - given that every inch of this car
    is original, and Ferrari didn't sell a radio, that seems the most realistic. Who cares if the tape part works or not -
    first, I haven't owned tapes in more than a decade, and second, if I EVER used it, it would be to hear traffic news.

    I have NO PLANS to listen to any other music than the engine while driving!

    Dave
     
  12. carlrose

    carlrose Formula Junior

    Nov 25, 2003
    321
    Hi Dave,

    I understand your motivation. If you review the archives, you'll find a record of me sending in an old Alpine #7904 (with green illumination) for repair; cost far exceeded the radio value, but it was the one installed at time of purchase (and I never use it either). Another highly-prized Alpine is the #7909. These do pop up on Ebay intermittently, but finding one in pristine condition will be a challenge. Another option, particularly if you elect not to use, is to install the leather-covered radio block-off plate.

    Best,

    Carl
     
  13. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
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    And I threw my old alpine cassette deck with CD shuttle away! Silly me.
     
  14. Jedi

    Jedi Moderator
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    Is there an aftermarket source for such? That really would be ideal for me - I do NOT need a radio
    in this car - ever.

    Dave
     
  15. Verell

    Verell F1 Veteran
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    May 5, 2001
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    Verell Boaen
    No aftermarket source for the block-off plate, but probably can find one from the usual suspects.

    Also, it's just a rectangular piece of black vinyl covered steel. Make one yourself.
     
  16. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Not steel, likely aluminum. Easier to cut.
     
  17. Audio Dave

    Audio Dave Rookie

    Mar 20, 2008
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    Dave Hale
    I still have 2 of my old Alpine pull-out cassette decks... one with cd changer controls!! :)
     
  18. DGS

    DGS Six Time F1 World Champ
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    My '79 Alfa still has the original Blaupunkt auto-reverse cassette deck. Of course, the cassette part hasn't worked for a decade -- too many years between cam belts in it. ;)
     
  19. 8valve

    8valve Formula 3

    Sep 3, 2003
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    Best choice would be Blaupunkt,Becker or Pioneer. The Pioneer Ke-4300 was original equipment (Factory installed)in the 512BBi and some Mondial's. I have one installed in my 308.But anything "period correct" would look cheap by today's standards. In any case, what you have now needs to go, I think we all agree;)
    Try a search on eBay for 80's car audio equipment.
     
  20. 8valve

    8valve Formula 3

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    #21 8valve, Mar 20, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Perfect opportunity to show off mine. I purchased this unit from a fellow F-chat member who was turning his Mondial into a track-day car and was shedding weight. Also installed two new Pioneer speakers in the doors behind the original speaker grille. I don't listen to music much when I drive the Ferrari, but when something is installed in a car it needs to work properly regardless of whether you use it or not!
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  21. UroTrash

    UroTrash Three Time F1 World Champ
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    Better check the timing belts!!!
     
  22. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

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    I have the one out of my '84 sitting on the self. Let the bidding begin :)
     
  23. mk e

    mk e F1 World Champ

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    Oh your just showing off because you know how to work that crazy new stuff.

    You probably know how to work an ipod too. I was given one 2 two ago and it's still in the box...I have no idea what to do with it.

    I use the radio, turn it on and sound come out :)
     
  24. desire308

    desire308 Formula 3

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    #25 desire308, Mar 20, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017

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