midnightleadfoot

Hello, I'm going to be installing a newer one , but can't seem to find an antenna on this car.. Thought maybe a power one that just isn't working but nothing in the fenders or 1/4's..
it is a 1975 cutlass
Thanks.

Fun71

Didja look in the windshield for a pair of thin wires going up the middle then outwards along the top edge?

midnightleadfoot

HAHA no I didn't


I'll look in the morning..


That is slick, wonder why they stopped doing that

rcorrigan5

I'm only guessing why they stopped doing that. I had a 1970 GTO with the window antenna and the reception was horrible. That could be a reason why they stopped. Another reason - cost. Probably cheaper just to install an antenna on the fender or quarter.

Randy C.

oldcutlass

You need to look for a cable similar to this in the vicinity of the old radio opening:

midnightleadfoot

Welp it has the black trace lines in the glass..
The radio picks up stations So I'm guessing it is hooked up..
I hope it works good enough.. I'd hate to have to drill a hole to add an antenna..

midnightleadfoot

Radio works so I'm going to "assume" that this half is there..
Most likely need the adapter as the newer head units the plug input iirc is smaller..
We shall see.. As I'm going to use the stuff I had for my 97 truck.. that has been in the basement since 2001. after it got clipped on the highway and totaled out..


Thanks.. I now feel stupid driving the car and not see'n those 2 black lines in the glass..

Fun71

Yep, that's it. The windshield antenna is the wrong design for AM and FM radio reception. A 30" tall mast antenna mounted to the body is best.

Inline

I can copy that windshield antenna s***s, from my own experience..

QMaster

Actually, many newer vehicles are going back to antennas in the glass. However more are using rear window glass, now.

Fun71

Yes, as you said "antennas" as in plural, which are called diversity antennas. They are designed differently as well.

Yellowstatue

The antenna in the windshield was also susceptible to increased interference when the wipers were working.

Warren Seale

That window antenna is supposed to be the brain child of John Delorean when he was head of Pontiac. Just sayin .

midnightleadfoot

Welp.. He was a car guy and it was most likely to clean up the look of the cars.. So I see the reasoning.. Many things done for style'n don't always work out the best..


I'll see how it does.. maybe buy a booster.. I don't play much radio anymore as welp, it blows.. I'm down with some of the newer rock music and country.. but what bugs me is clear channel owns most of them and when one station is playing ads they all are. so you channel surf . and get nothing but ad's or a song ending and then an ad..

Fun71

If you live close to the broadcasting antenna and have a fairly strong signal, then the windshield antenna works OK. For distant stations, not so much.

BlueCalais79

I've got a TuneTrapper hidden inside my passengers side A Pillar moulding in all 3 of my 79's. This is due to the antenna-in-the-glass in 2 of them, and a non-functioning power antenna in my Hurst. The reception is markedly better and it's 100% invisible. In fact I went to install one in my Hurst and forgot one was already there that I put in years ago.


For those of you ready to give up on the glass antennas, this could be the answer. They JUST barely fit in the A-Pillar (in fact you have to remove the end cap it comes with.) for the 78-87 G-Bodies so for the 68-72 A Bodies they may need to go behind the glove box. These work without any current so that's not an issue. It's a company out of Florida that makes these.