Package Tray Speakers

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Old Jan 13, 2022 | 12:52 PM
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Package Tray Speakers

Without knowing exactly where to ask this question, I'll just go to 442! I have a "second" 1967 442 going through some body work (to remove the first attempt's bondo among other things!) and noticed a couple of holes in the metal under the package tray. I assumed they were cut for after market speakers. Then I was looking through a restoration thread for a Spanish RED 1967 and saw the "same" holes again. I checked my "first" 442 and a parts car and neither had the two holes. I was about the suggest to the body & paint guy to go ahead and fill the holes while he's at it. But now I wonder if a 1967 442 might have some stock with rear stereo speakers. Check out the photos and compare the holes. The red car and my "in-the-works" car have almost identical holes; my first car does not; and the yellow parts car has two holes that are smaller, more rectangular, and wider-spaced. Sorry that the photos are not from the same perspective; the "first car" is from the trunk.







Old Jan 13, 2022 | 02:34 PM
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It's not the first package tray to be hacked up for 6x9 speakers. Mine is, and I just filled the holes with new speakers and recovered the tray.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 02:57 PM
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The round hole and the square hole are a pair for the rear window defogger.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 05:30 PM
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There was only a single optional rear speaker available on the 67 cars, and it went in the center hole. As noted, we've all cut those holes for aftermarket stereo speakers. The factory punched the holes when the panel was stamped. The did not use a jigsaw.

RPO U80 was the rear speaker, and it was the same one whether the car was mono or stereo. The stereo setup in these cars was one front speaker and one rear speaker.



Old Jan 13, 2022 | 06:22 PM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
RPO U80 was the rear speaker, and it was the same one whether the car was mono or stereo. The stereo setup in these cars was one front speaker and one rear speaker.
I think "stereo" is being far too kind. I don't believe stereo was available in a Cutlass until 1969?
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
I think "stereo" is being far too kind. I don't believe stereo was available in a Cutlass until 1969?
Then I believe you'd be wrong.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 07:25 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Then I believe you'd be wrong.
Nice picture - sitting on a bench with no model number(s) doesn't convince me it came as OEM equipment prior to 1969 in an Oldsmobile "Cutlass". The picture does nothing to demonstrate I am wrong.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
Nice picture - sitting on a bench with no model number(s) doesn't convince me it came as OEM equipment prior to 1969 in an Oldsmobile "Cutlass". The picture does nothing to demonstrate I am wrong.
Ok...
1969 AM-FM Stereo Radio Cutlass, 442, Hurst Olds - ClassicOldsmobile.com
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 07:54 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Ok...
OK...as in what - you agree w/ me?
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 08:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
OK...as in what - you agree w/ me?
Ok as in did you click on the link provided?
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 09:02 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Ok as in did you click on the link provided?
I did:

1969 was the first year that a true "STEREO" radio was offered in the "A" body Olds cars.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 09:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
I did:
Ya know how your eyes see something, but your brain for some ungodly reason recognizes it as something completely different? Disregard... the error was on my side of the conversation.
Old Jan 13, 2022 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
Ya know how your eyes see something, but your brain for some ungodly reason recognizes it as something completely different? Disregard... the error was on my side of the conversation.
...happens to me at times with some regularity...
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 02:36 AM
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Originally Posted by Vintage Chief
I think "stereo" is being far too kind. I don't believe stereo was available in a Cutlass until 1969?
RPO U80 Bi-Phonic Rear Speaker was available for the mono radios in 1967 and earlier. RPO U57 Stereo Tape Player was first available in the A-body cars in the 1968 model year. RPO U58 AM-FM Stereophonic Radio was first available in the 1969 model year.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 04:50 AM
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Joe P, quick question, by the time the redesigned Cutlass came around in 1978, you could get a 4 speaker system. Was anything like that available in the 1973-1977 Cutlass body styles?
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 05:09 AM
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Originally Posted by BlueCalais79
Joe P, quick question, by the time the redesigned Cutlass came around in 1978, you could get a 4 speaker system. Was anything like that available in the 1973-1977 Cutlass body styles?
RPO UM1 AM Radio with Stereo Tape and UM2 AM/FM Stereo with Tape both came with four speakers starting in the 1973 model year on the A-body cars.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 06:18 AM
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Originally Posted by oldcutlass
It's not the first package tray to be hacked up for 6x9 speakers. Mine is, and I just filled the holes with new speakers and recovered the tray.
Hmm, didn't occur to me that there was a "standard" speaker to put in the package tray. . . as an owner-installed option! Makes sense that two cars would have same/similar holes! Thanks.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 06:21 AM
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Hey Joe, Do you have the "option sheet" for 1968? My first new car was a 1968 442 convertible. Seems the bill was about $3300 but I'd like to total it up to see how close my memory is!!
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 06:50 AM
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Originally Posted by mwbailey
Hmm, didn't occur to me that there was a "standard" speaker to put in the package tray. . . as an owner-installed option! Makes sense that two cars would have same/similar holes! Thanks.
Actually, the holes are in the same place because we all used 6x9 speakers and being lazy, we all just enlarged the existing cutouts for the rear window defroster option.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by mwbailey
Hey Joe, Do you have the "option sheet" for 1968? My first new car was a 1968 442 convertible. Seems the bill was about $3300 but I'd like to total it up to see how close my memory is!!



Old Jan 14, 2022 | 10:11 AM
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Thanks, Joe. That's about what I thought -- I couldn't afford the 4-speed so I guess I really had a "432"! By '68 they had given up 4 barrel, 4 speed, dual (2) exhaust anyway.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by mwbailey
Thanks, Joe. That's about what I thought -- I couldn't afford the 4-speed so I guess I really had a "432"! By '68 they had given up 4 barrel, 4 speed, dual (2) exhaust anyway.
They gave up on that in 1965.



Old Jan 14, 2022 | 10:36 AM
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4 Speakers, state of the art starting in 1973, thanks Joe, that was a huge audio improvement back then.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by joe_padavano
They gave up on that in 1965.
That is a cool ad. Havent ever seen it before.
Old Jan 14, 2022 | 07:21 PM
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Hard to explain 442 in, what, 1970 with a 455 ci; and then the Quad 442 in the 90's. I still like 4 barrel, 4 speed, 2 exhaust. As you may know, my 3 speed in 1968 had "FoMoCo" cast into the housing. I guess NOTHING is sacred, really.
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