Classic car stereo

[chard]

I fancy some music in my Sunbeam Alpine but want the dash to look as period as possible. I was thinking of an Ipod mounted somewhere discreet an amp (maybe controlled by a remote) and speakers under the dash.

What I'm after is an uncluttered look (I want to avoid a traditional radio housing, antennas and speakers in doors etc) acoustics are less important. Any ideas??

[gavinbailey]

I've used these people here: http://www.tadpoleradios.co.uk/index_files/page000... They converted an original 70's Motorola and interfaced it with a modern Sony unit that had DAN and CD. They're connected via a flying lead that allows me to hide the modrn unit elsewhere in the car out of sight. I haven't got as far as speakers as the car is finishing a long restoration.

[alolympic]

I share your idea.
I have got an amp to fit, and a set of 4 speakers. No head unit, so music will be from iPod. Many amps have a line in so you can connect something like an MP3 player directly.
I have gone for the Vibe Lite range, as they are small and light, more easily hidden from view, can be mounted in door cards with minimal depth etc.
Retro looking head units are expensive, and normal ones just look wrong in a classic dash.

[tony m]

i got a retro looking radio for my pick up,which was all chrome with the round knobs and push button for the radio stations,but also takes an ipod or usb stick,it does blend in very well and was only £70.00

[b2hbm]

tony m said:

i got a retro looking radio for my pick up,which was all chrome with the round knobs and push button for the radio stations,but also takes an ipod or usb stick,it does blend in very well and was only £70.00

Hi Tony,

where from ? It sounds great, I love the idea of push-buttons again but have been put off by the conversion cost of getting a old motorola converted to modern reception. (weak I know, but I've never been one for spending £100's on a car radio)

[chard]

alolympic said:

I share your idea.
I have got an amp to fit, and a set of 4 speakers. No head unit, so music will be from iPod. Many amps have a line in so you can connect something like an MP3 player directly.
I have gone for the Vibe Lite range, as they are small and light, more easily hidden from view, can be mounted in door cards with minimal depth etc.
Retro looking head units are expensive, and normal ones just look wrong in a classic dash.

Just had a look @ the Vibe Lite range, that looks like the sort of thing, where are you mounting the speakers?

[tony m]

b2hbm said:

tony m said:

i got a retro looking radio for my pick up,which was all chrome with the round knobs and push button for the radio stations,but also takes an ipod or usb stick,it does blend in very well and was only £70.00

Hi Tony,

where from ? It sounds great, I love the idea of push-buttons again but have been put off by the conversion cost of getting a old motorola converted to modern reception. (weak I know, but I've never been one for spending £100's on a car radio)

i just typed in retro car stereo and found this,
TOKAI LAR-216 CD/MP3 USB/SD/MMC Car Radio
copy and paste this into the search on google

[b2hbm]

Hi Tony,
Thank you for the post, I've found it using your search string. Very retro, it'd almost look OEM fitment in an old American motor.

A real "doh" moment though when you said you'd just put "retro car radio" into google.... I should really have thought of doing that....

thanks again.

[lowdrag]

As a mmot point, is it the modern size or will it fit an Alpine? Old radios are smaller IIRC. Alternatively, this seems a much more eye-pleasing solution if a bit dearer:-

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C72795?pt=pf

[CY88]

Moss Europe seems to do quite a nice looking one, with a USB port. I was thinking of getting it for the campervan. Seems you can pick various different facias and knobs.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/Shop/ViewProducts.asp...

Edited by CY88 on Tuesday 4th May 11:24

[Todzilla]

At the risk of over-simplifying things, why not just use headphones?

[chard]

Todzilla said:

At the risk of over-simplifying things, why not just use headphones?

Good call, perfect..............................except I don't like wearing headphones (or exluding Mrs Chard)

I don't really want to clutter up the car with a visible head-unit. If I go the head-unit route I will hide it (the Alpine has a big storage compartment under the armrest)

Anyone know of some suitable speakers for hiding under the dash?

[a8hex]

Are you allowed to wear headphones while driving?