64 356 am/fm radio

ghanlon · 07-31-2001, 09:16 PM

I am trying to find an original U or V series blaupunkt radio for my 64 (I think it was called the Frankfurt). Does anyone have a photo that shows what the
Radio / faceplate should look like. I have seen various pics but they seem to be different or aftermarket additions. I really would like to get the proper model and plate rather than just settleing for the old 6V am radio the car came with (it appears to be an early Canadian brand). Anybody??
Gary

------------------
ghanlon

derwhite · 08-01-2001, 11:11 AM

Gary,

Unfortunately, there are several different chrome faceplates that were available for Blaupunkt radios in the 1960's, the kind that snam onto the face of the radio from the outside (radio installed from under the dash, with knob stubs and dial face sticking through dash...face plate installed from the outside). Most will fit all of the radios of this period, you just have to take your chances. Go to Ebay, under "Blaupunkt" and see pictures, there are usually several Frankfurts up for auction, you can see the pics there.

Charlie White

ghanlon · 08-01-2001, 12:17 PM

Thanks Charlie
Yes, I have been watching ebay, thats where my confusion started because I am seeing different versions of the same radio with and without faceplates. Unfortunately I am REALLY ANAL about stuff like this and I JUST HAVE to get the right one. The one in the car now works fine but it isnt the original
Blaupunkt. So on goes my search. Thanks again for the info.
Gary

------------------
ghanlon

Roland Kunz · 08-01-2001, 06:16 PM

Hello

In germany we have several companys working on that field. Wagner and Königs are the leaders and you nearly get all including the hand winded antenna.

They will have the radio with the correct hardware and the parts are remanufactored or new with waranty. Don´t ask for prices dollar is high in trade........
Pure AM radios are cheaper as most will buy a FM unit. In Germany you will not have very much use for AM band.

Both also offer new technology in old cases.

http://www.912registry.org/restore/audio.htm

http://www.koenigs-klassik.de/indexe.html

ghanlon · 08-01-2001, 06:39 PM

Thanks again Roland!
I just sent of an email and hope to hear back from them. I spent hours on the net searching, but obviously not in the right places.
Gary

------------------
ghanlon

Wayne 962 · Wayne 962's Garage

Let us know what you find out! I have an original Blaupunkt in mine, and a CD-player/head unit in the glove box. Works well this way.

As for original 'radios', I believe that they were all dealer-installed options - I don't think they came from the factory with radios? I know this was the case with 914s and early 911s.

That is the reason why you see so many varieties of radios. None of them are really wrong...

-Wayne

ghanlon · 08-06-2001, 06:59 AM

It appears you are correct Wayne! When I bought my 356 I removed the AM radio to get at the VDO clock that requred a quick solder link across the old fuse. I noticed that the radio was a 6V Canadian built model. I just assumed that it was installed after the car came from the factory by the original owner( I am the third). I decided then that I had to get a blaupunkt to bring the car to ORIGINAL state. As I checked around it seemed impossible to determine what the proper radio / faceplate combination should look like.I did however find interesting info as far as the date codes on the radios.
The Letter preceeding the serial number indicates the manf. date. Ideally I would like to find a U model as it was for the 1963
built 356 for the 1964 year. (same as my car).
I did rx a reply from the German company that remanufactures the radios but after shipping and exchange the radio prices out to around $400.00 Canadian. A little more than I want to spend for an old AM/FM radio.
I do have a couple of other leads though so I will wait until a more reasonble price comes along! Thanks very much for your info. I have found your forms to be very helpful!!!
Gary

------------------
ghanlon

Roland Kunz · 08-06-2001, 07:56 PM

Hello

Yes Radios where mostly dealer equipment.

Your factory cardex will show how the car was equiped. Mostly the radiopreparation came from the factory, containing a manual arral on the driver side doorpost or a manual crank later electric wind up on the passenger side. Two speackers and the cables plus some radio supression parts.

There had been different face plates for different type radios.

In germany beside Blaupunkt and Becker where companys like Grundig, Philips, VOX, National big salers.

As the radios where expensive owners moved them with the cars. There was a "faceplate" industrie making plates for the swaps.

If you look at modern car behaviour you can find similaritys.

Now for the Porsches had been made special face plates but some also used faceplates for other cars. The Ford 12m is a good match but hard to find too.

I understand the reson to make a car look like it left the factory but it also steals a bit from the history off the car. It is not a german radio but the canadian radio deserve to stay as long it pleases the owner.

YMHO

Grüsse

ghanlon · 08-06-2001, 09:28 PM

Roland
I can see that you are a very wise man by all your good advice on all the boards! I still will keep the radio that came with the car but I would like to find one with the FM band. The AM stations here are very limited with the exception of 1 that plays only 60s and 70s music. Its like driving around in a time machine going back 40 years, its wonderful! The FM stations would be a nice luxury now and then.
By the way I am curious, with all your knowledge, I was wondering what kind of
car(s) you own. Please share with us if you dont mind!
Thanks again
Gary

------------------
ghanlon

Roland Kunz · 08-07-2001, 12:37 PM

Hello

Yes this is the main reason why the FM units are so sought after. AM is usless in germany too. Today the market is splitet in authentic rstauration and the radio should be the historic correct item. Or in the more userside who just likes to have some music to compete with the sound from the rear.

Most old Corvette parts dealers offer modern radios who will fit in the small cutout.

This is also one way to go. A other is to use a special case under the dash for a normal radio. This case can be fliped up to have the original look and for theft protection. The german radio dealers offer a hideaway system and you use your old radio as the remote unit for the main functions, the rest is be done by a remote control.

An very expensive way is to search one from the last direct fiting Grundig, Blaupunkt or Becker stereo units. They where mostly installed in Ferraris, Mercedes and Carreras.

The Grundigs can be found very resonable priced as those units doesn´t bear a "big name".

Grüsse

derwhite · 08-07-2001, 10:19 PM

For 356-A to 356-C Porsches, there were only two makes of radios that came as "regular" factory accessories (per the accessory booklets and pricelists): Blaupunkts and Beckers. In both cases, there were a number of versions of each avalilable: AM, AM/FM, AM/FM/SW, etc. There were also dealer installed radios, which included Blaupunkts, Beckers, and a host of others. The Bendix Sapphire was often dealer installed as Porsche dealers were often VW dealers as well. To see more about Blaupunkt radios as 356 Porsche accessories, see my website on 356 Porsche Factory Accessories, with pictures, descriptions and original prices, at:

http://members.aol.com/Porchrat/356PorscheAccessoriesMainPage.html

Also see 356 Porsche literature and much more at:

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/derwhite/Derwhites356LiteraturePage.htm

Charlie White
Scottsdale, Arizona

ghanlon · 08-08-2001, 05:48 AM

Hey Charlie
Do you sell those options at those prices?? If you do Ill take 2 of everything!!!
Thanks for the info guys.
Gary

------------------
ghanlon