I am thinking of installing a new radio system into my car, 1972 Cutlass Convertible. The radio is the original and doesn't really work, and only has the single speaker in the center of the dash. I saw that "Townie" did this several years ago, but didn't find a current thread. I found a company, Classic Car Stereos, that sells radios with the classic look, but modern features. Has anyone worked with them? Or where have people gone to get the radios. I would like to have speakers in the front doors, and also in the rear for the passengers, but to keep the look as original as possible, or not make to stand out. How have you handled putting the speakers in the doors, new door panels, or cutting the originals? Same for the rear seats. Any ideas, help is appreciated.
Pete

 

Kick panel speakers up front and 6x9 boxes in back.

I cut door panels in high school and regretted it.

 

Same set up in my car. 72 Cutlass S, except my head unit is a Retro Autosound, it doesn't look factory but fit my budget. You can put a sub woofer in the trunk to add some bass also.

 

With the advancements in technology, I’d suggest to skipping changing anything in your current factory configuration and investing into one (or two) good Bluetooth speakers that will work with a cell phone loaded with your entire library of music. It’s completely non invasive, sounds great and can be removed (and relocated) at the owner’s whim for show purposes. Not to mention that you can change your tone instantly from Barber’s Adagio for Strings to Megadeth’s Take No Prisoners (and vise-versa) at the touch of a screen.

 

It is a convertible so there is no rear deck. You probably coulc put a sub-woofer in the back. I would not do much good with the top down and the convertible parade boot on. The best option on speakers is getting the kick panels made for speakers. One other option is mounting a late model radio with all the current speakers in the glovebox.

 

I’m not sure you can fit that many speakers in the glove box.

 

They also make under seat speakers ? Some folks have sent their stock radios out to be converted with all the bells and whistles but that’s pricey (400+) I like the blue tooth speaker idea , the kick panel speakers look cool too

 

Be aware that modern multi-cone speakers may not fit where the OE speakers did. I ran into this on my 71 98 when I installed an aftermarket radio.

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...1-98-a-112090/

 

I had originally thought about the blue tooth idea, with 4 pod speakers in each corner, and 2 center channels on the trans hump, one front one back. The trick was finding a system that would link to the 6 speakers, and make it true stereo. I am hesitant to cut into the original panels because the car is pretty stock original. And with the top down, that's music right there.

 

Six speakers??! That is a whole lot of music to distract from your driving experience.😁. Personally I’ve always liked to keep it simple. Good conversation and engine noise can be the best form of ASMR.😉

 

I have a Custom Autosound USA-740 AM/FM stereo in my '72 CS ragtop - I installed Alpine R-S65.2 6.5" rounds in a pair of aftermarket front kick panels with the molded speaker enclosures and Morel Maximo Ultra 502 5-1/4" Coaxial rear panel speakers in the rear armrest piston covers (top section just forward of the piston travel space. Also an Alpine KT445U 45w/ch amp in the glovebox.

The trick to installing the rear armrest speakers is essentialy to watch your interior speaker depth - try to stay around 2" or less and mount them close to the forward edge of the panel. The Morels are 2-1/16" depth, no interior clearance issues.

DON'T cut your door panels up - sound sucks and once cut, you can't reverse the damage.

As for where to get the radios - Classic is a decent dealer, they run holiday sales often as well. Also look at Crutchfield and Summit Racing, they both sell the Custom Autosound radios as well. Crutchfield in particular is great for everything audio.

If you do go the aftermarket kick panels route, be sure to line them on the inside with sound-deadening material (like Dynamat or similar products) - they're a bit thin and they'll vibrate if you don't.

 

I also added an extra retaining screw and that stopped all vibrations.

 

Make sure it goes to eleven.

 

Awesome!

 

I recently sent my AM Radio from my 1954 Olds Super 88 off to a shop in Canada RetroRadioShop who brought my radio up to original specs. No changes to the original radio. They offer a product called "MobileMitter (https://www.retroradioshop.com/produ...antique-radios) that sits between your existing antenna and your old radio. You Bluetooth to the device and can stream music or listen to FM as well. It's got a keyfob device to switch between it and your existing original radio...well at least that's what they said. My restored radio is being shipped back to me as we speak along with the MobileMitter that they also sold me. "Sounds" like the best of both worlds (see what I did there ;-)