new radio 308

ANY Single DIN will work. The sky is the limit.

 

I'm going to put in a new radio that has blue tooth so i can just use my phone... saw a kenwood at Cartunes here in Atlanta - for $80 + install. seems the way to go... no more cd's etc...

 

Did Magnum have a radio?
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Try and keep it somewhat period correct, there was lots of good high end stuff back then, that you can still find. My '82 GTBi has a killer system in it, McIntosh CD head unit with a/d/s speaker system and amp. Next to hearing the music of the motor, its a close second
- Dave

 

Have a good return policy on the BT model. I installed an aftermarket radio with BT in my Miata. The person calling me sounded great through the speakers. But it was always a one-sided conversation... they could never hear me. That was a few years ago and that model had the mic in the radio itself, as opposed to an external mic that clips to a visor, steering column, etc. So maybe my experience is not indicative of the current state of the art but just thought I'd share.

 

Yes, do try to find a period correct radio. Adds to the "back in the day" illusion. I just installed a vintage Kenwood AM/FM/ Cassette with a Alpine 4445U amplifer (about the size of a brick), easily installs in the right footwell. With new Polk 6.5" speakers it sounds great. The Kenwood has orange lighting, that's why I selected it. You can find several 80's vintage radios on Ebay each week. I didn't go with Bluetooth or iPod input, but there are remote boxes that add that function and allow the retention of the vintage look radio.
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ISO 7736 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It's the most common car radio size. Tons of options from a dozen or more manufacturers.

 

Can you post a pic of what you have now?

 

its for listening - not talking... but i hear you.

 

There are a number of other threads on replacing the older radios. I know the '79 is not the DIN standard but I am not sure about the 1980. In any event, I replaced my non-DIN unit with a DIN unit.

I readily admit that I loved the look of the old two knob Blaupunkt but there is no way one could hear it over the engine except at idle. I know there are companies that will rebuild some of the vintage units and I still consider it.

At the same time, you get so much more from the newer units. There are a huge number of options and all offer more power than period correct units.

Modifying the dash to accept a DIN unit is pretty easy. It me less than an hour. Tape off the dash to protect it and trim the opening with a Dremel tool. Most of the blank was fiberglass but I did run into a little bit of steel on the left edge. Once the opening is reworked you can slide in any DIN radio with ease.

Given there was no factory radio it is more about period correct but in the end, I opted for function as my car is not a show car.

 

Amp.

All you need is to attach a speaker level input amp (dozens and dozens of modern ones to choose from). First grade easy.

I have an old cassette Blaupunkt with two knobs circa 1981. Behind it I have a 250 watt Alpine amp with high end component speakers. A remote Alpine CD changer running thru the antenna gives me CD options. Loud as you want it and great sound with 1981 looks.

In other words you can keep your old Blaupunkt and listen to CD's pumping thru 100W component speakers if you want.

 

Over the years I've had the best luck with Pioneer tuners/cassette players/CD players; their reliability, good S/N ratio (signal-to-noise ratio; a higher number means less static & background noise) and very reasonable pricing makes them a very good value. Some models have a USB port, meaning you can load your tunes into a flashdrive and play them in your radio, like CD's but without having to carry or sort thru discs. You'd need a computer to load up the music onto a flashdrive, of course.

There are many brands available, some very, very expensive, which will fit fine in your existing dash cutout, certainly if you want to spend a lot of money many dealers will be very happy to accommodate you. Of course there are all sorts of add-ons; multi-disc changers (if you choose to use CD's or MP3), satellite radio, powerful amplifiers and huge, thumping speakers, and so on. For me the only real nice extra is Bluetooth, which allows you to talk on your cell phone hands-off, which is a requirement in California and some other states, which others I don't know.

A nice Pioneer unit with Bluetooth and a USB port will cost under $200; if on sale, less. Most dealers will install the radio for a minimal charge. The original main speakers (in the doors) could probably stand a more modern update, if you like.

For myself, I wouldn't bother with a "period" radio or faux-"period" but really modern radio. Only advantage would be appearance, if looking "period" is important to you, but at a cost. To me, a driver should be looking at the road, not the radio; as for the others, if all they are interested in is what the radio looks like....

Cheers,
Rich

 

I want to look period correct. I'm sure I could put some really modern wheels and tires on your 308 but I bet you wouldn't like the look, even though you can't see them when you're driving. But one of those Pioneers will be a great interim fix until I get built what I really want.

 

The styling of the 308 is its most distinguished feature and having something incongruous in the cabin totally ruins those lines.

You'll never get high fidelity audio in the 308, whatever you buy. Signal to noise doesn't matter a fig in that environment. And mp3s are laughable. Even my 308's 80s Blaupunkt cassette player delivers way better fidelity and dynamics than any mp3 in existence.

But I only use it when parked up in the garage. If I want good audio, I listen at home. Or when travelling, FLAC & headphones.

 

me too.

 

Well, to each his own. S/N not important? Wrong answer; sensitivity and S/N are very important, as FM stations are more or less line of sight, as compared to AM broadcasts. A good, sensitive tuner with a good S/N ratio will get you tunes (or whatever) in areas with poor reception where a lesser unit will only give static.

Regarding appearance, neither Ferrari nor Pininfarina design radios, so nothing regarding what they designed, manufactured or sold, from the wheels to the lovely body lines, that having a modern Bluetooth FM/CD/USB port radio would spoil. Some units are more gaudy than others. Some units have selectable lighting colors, as well.

And of course the cockpit of a high-performance sports car is not the place to expect concert-hall music. Listen to the marvelous engine noises, instead! The radio is for when you're parked, or stuck in traffic. Or maybe listening to road condition or weather reports for your route....

BTW in California, at least, the use of headphones is very, very illegal. Not safe, either! Ditto for using your cellphone, unless it's on Bluetooth or somesuch...

Cheers,
Rich

 

Headphones on trains & planes, of course

No one I know in Europe listens to AM anymore. And yes, s/n ratio on an FM tuner really does not matter, at least in the UK as the coverage is dense. I understand there might a difference less populated areas. But even then, focus on the aerial is going to deliver much better benefits vs the tiny deck to deck differences.

otoh, audio quality generally is never going anywhere good in a 308, so why bother? You may as well stick to sthg that at least vaguely looks like it fits in with the rest.

 

Mine is pretty good because I have components up front and I have rear speakers but a friend of mine just bought a 308 last year and his is done right. I couldn't believe how good it sounded. Best of ANYTHING I have ever seen or heard in a 308.

He has speakers in the door pockets. They sit all the way to the rear of them and there is a little cover in the front (in the pocket) and on the top made of the same door leather. It looks like it left the factory that way. Modern head unit with a nice Kenwood 4 channel amp. Those little speakers by your butt make an unbelievable difference. I wish you could hear it.

 

I hear you, Tommy. I just don't think that sort of effort is worthwhile and I don't think it is worthy of a 308. It's just not that sort of vehicle. Opinions only, of course

I remember doing tedious mastering evaluations for recordings in the 80s. You had to listen to tunes on everything from studio equipment to a pocket transistor. And car audio. You get pretty critical of quality.

 

It has become a sort of hobby for me. This is one of the few things I am actually capable of working on in my 308. I enjoy the challenge of taking a period radio and "modernizing", if you will. Searching eBay for old Blaupunkt head units and amps, drawing up a design and soldering the little connections in the car, for some reason, is just fun to me. I have 4 completed, My 308, Alfa, MG and Scirocco all look like they did the year they were new but when you turn the radio on, it sounds like a new car with all the little MP3, etc technology available where you cannot see it.

Still, my friend's 308 set up has me beat. I just can't bring myself to cut speaker holes in the door pockets in my QV. Eventually I'll dig up a used set, recover them with the correct carpet, etc, and cut holes in them. Just not my original set. This way, if I ever want to go back to stock, I can simply put my old door pockets back on.

Still, when I am driving back and forth to Atlanta several times a year for car stuff, I can be on the highway with the top out at 80+ screaming from my Tubi and Hyperflow and still hear Fleetwood Mac or Journey just fine if I want.

 

Take a look at a map of the USA, then at one of the UK. Notice a difference in area? Now take a look at the map of Europe. Throw in the Middle East, too, while you're at it.. OK, compare some driving distances... the distance from San Francisco to Los Angeles- all in one state out of 50, of course- about 400 miles- is roughly the same as London to Bonn, Germany; the distance from San Francisco to New York City- roughly 3900 miles driving distance- is about the came as from London to Damascus, Syria. I won't even bother with the distances from Florida to Alaska... Get the idea?

If you haven't been to the USA you really have no idea how big our country is. That means a lot of driving between cities, many long, boring highways and lots of time on the road. That's why we have car radios, of whatever quality, and radio stations that in the countryside (which there's lots of!) are often far & few between. Good radio reception isn't just nice, it's a necessity. That's also why recorded music on board is so popular here, not just for selection, but to have anything at all to listen to! It's also why we insist on cupholders; coffee helps to keep sleepy drivers awake; when that fails, time for a motel. We have lots of state-managed rest stops on interstate highways, too. They help keep people alive!

I've driven in the UK and much of Europe often, very nice, but overall a completely different driving experience, once you're out of the cities. In many of the cities, as well, considering that the older ones in Europe were never meant for automobiles.

BTW I agree about the aerial, for the above reasons, at least.

And... if you really like touring, try visiting our country, if you haven't already. Lots and lots to see; you'll be most welcome, of course, but take a good look at driving distances before planning your trip! Google mapquest is a big help! Their estimates on driving times are generally pretty close.

Cheers,
Rich

 

Tom do you have a link to your radio mods?