Antique Automobile Radio any good?

[Dino]

I can buy one that was bought new but never used for around $350 but I don't know if they're any good. I plan on adding an amp and using front speaker(s) and a sub in the rear. I like the idea of using an original looking radio while having Bluetooth so I can use my phone. But f the quality is not there then it's all academic. I don't care about the AM portion but I'll be listening to FM a lot so it needs to have a solid receiver. Same goes for the aux.

It's one of these by the way:

http://www.radiosforoldcars.com/pdf-specsheets/1969_Mopar_B.pdf

[darbgnik]

I have no info on these particular ones, but I had a buddy that bought a GM style one for his 68 Camaro and it sounded awful, even with an amp running off of it. Don't know if this would be similar though....

[Bronzedodge]

Those folks, Antique Automobile Radio from Florida, usually have a display at Chryslers at Carlisle, somewhere in the lower parts rows.  The display radio sounds good, he's usually playing music through an MP3 player.  The innards are made by a wholesale manufacturer, can't recall the name.   

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I'm almost done installing one of these....







http://www.ebay.com/itm/RetroSound-Redondo-RT-Radio-BlueTooth-iPod-USB-RDS-3-5mm-AUX-In-68-70-Dodge-Cars-/361614383856?fits=Year%3A1968%7CMake%3ADodge%7CModel%3ACharger&hash=item5431e59af0:g:ZDoAAOSwc1FXbZMo&vxp=mtr

[Dino]

I'll see if the seller can make it play for me. 

Mark, looking forward to your expert review!   

[ODZKing]

Spent $600 (well almost) on one at Carlisle back in 2011 for my 73. It is from the place in Florida, yes. And NO they are NOT worth the money.
I spent some good cash on 3 way speakers as well because I was told by the fellow at Carlisle that all the speakers would not handle the sound from this radio. And naturally that the speakers HE sold were the best for this system.  Needless to say I didn't get those.
In any case I installed at and hated it and the features associated with it right from the start. In order to get the balance from front to rear you have to tune the radio all the way to right, then wait for the electronics to kick in and then the left/right balance knob become front/rear. Which never stayed where I wanted it to. Then overall I didn't like the sound ... at all! I sold it to someone just to recoup some of my cash and put my original AM/FM Stereo Chrysler radio back in and it sounds fantastic with the newer speakers I installed. I purchased an FM transmitter on EBay for $10.00 and I am quite happy with my MP3 player playing through that.
A quick note on the FM transmitter, be sure you get one that has programmable frequency, some only have 5 or 6 selections to choose from.
That's my 

[ht4spd307]

all i got was a rechargeable  blue tooth speaker which i take with me in any car and play all my tunes from my i phone no wiring no messing about and leave your original radio as is 

[sean257]

I installed the retro sound brand I bought from Matts? Out of Las Vegas new on eBay  About the same price.  Sounded good with a small alpine amp, and a powered subwoofer.  If I were to do another I would do it the same again.

[Mytur Binsdirti]

I'll see if the seller can make it play for me.  

Mark, looking forward to your expert review!  

Let's see if this comes through...









When I opened the biggest box up, I was surprised to just see the radio unit & nothing else. When I opened the other boxes, all the other parts stared to make sense; you have to assemble it yourself. The radio unit is probably universal & they make adapter knobs & faceplates to fit other manufacturer's look. Pretty ingenious actually!

There's a shitload of wiring & cionnectors if you want to add an amp & subwoofer, but the basic wiring is what I will use to connect to 4 speakers. It also has 2 USB inputs and is set up for blue tooth. All of the functions are on the thumbwheels, which have a spring loaded toggle effect, up and down. The preset buttons just press in about 1/4" with just a tap.

[Nacho-RT74]

I bought it from someone around here, and... yes, the way how it drives seems to be tricky per instructions sheet. I guess mainly because it got LOT of functions in just 4 pots so mostly sure it was the only way they found to get the full funtions on just 4 pots. I can't tell about the sound and the actual funtions yet because my car is still dissasembled. I guess will know then.

The main reason I wanted a radio of these is because the frequency fidelity and reception power. Original radios are poor on that and I had to install a radio frequency amplifier ( 15 db ) to get more juice from the air radio waves. And well, original radios transistors are really poor so they get distortion easily way before get the speakers, but into the unit, however they can be replaced to get more power ( I did it on mine but haven't tested yet on car for same reason )

I wanted to keep a full stock look on my car.

Wil let you know my personal opinion way later.

[PlainfieldCharger]

Spent $600 (well almost) on one at Carlisle back in 2011 for my 73. It is from the place in Florida, yes. And NO they are NOT worth the money.
I spent some good cash on 3 way speakers as well because I was told by the fellow at Carlisle that all the speakers would not handle the sound from this radio. And naturally that the speakers HE sold were the best for this system.  Needless to say I didn't get those.
In any case I installed at and hated it and the features associated with it right from the start. In order to get the balance from front to rear you have to tune the radio all the way to right, then wait for the electronics to kick in and then the left/right balance knob become front/rear. Which never stayed where I wanted it to. Then overall I didn't like the sound ... at all! I sold it to someone just to recoup some of my cash and put my original AM/FM Stereo Chrysler radio back in and it sounds fantastic with the newer speakers I installed. I purchased an FM transmitter on EBay for $10.00 and I am quite happy with my MP3 player playing through that.
A quick note on the FM transmitter, be sure you get one that has programmable frequency, some only have 5 or 6 selections to choose from.
That's my 

I also had one of these and sent it back. One big issue that could not be fixed is when an ipod was playing and new digital recording the radio would not since it was playing anything and kick it over to the radio. Got real old after a while