Im wondering if anyone else has done this, my newly acquired 71 Cutlass's dash has been cut out for a modern radio and has 2 ancient under dash mounted speakers. I use my phone for 99% of my audio in my other cars and my phone also has a radio App. Im thinking about purchasing a quality bluetooth speaker and mounting it under the dash...that way: no drain on the car battery, no further butchering door panels and other interior, less wires and easy hook up. To charge it, you can always use a battery bank or if the cigarette plug has power like modern cars (not sure) it can be charged from there.

 

You’ve got one good option there. Low buck / low tech / easy install. For a USB 12v outlet to power your portable, check out Bluesea Systems USB outlets on Amazon. Good stuff, easy to wire.

Sound systems are the sky is the limit. If it were me, I’d be on the hunt for some way to cleanly repair or replace the cut up dash, then maybe put in one of those modern-electronics-with-Bluetooth-onboard which fit the factory cutout. What I do is stash a second radio in the glove box, but this is a little inconvenient and by the time I got done with speakers around the cabin, amps and a sub, not low buck or easy install. But I’m happy.

 

They make aftermarket steeeos that look stock, fit in the dash like stock, but have Bluetooth capabilities. That’s the way I would go.

You can also buy speakers that have 2 small speakers that fit in the factory location in the dash.

 

In a last minute rush to get tunes in my 62 for Power Tour in 2019, I got these motorcycle bluetooth amplified speakers from Wally-Mart and modified the mount to hang under the corners of my dash. The bluetooth function didn't even make it to the start of Power Tour in Charlotte. There's also an aux input option from the headphone jack, which I've been using ever since. The problem is that the input wire picks up engine noise. At some point this will bother me enough to scrap them and go a different way.

 

The problem with older cars is stock speaker locations suck. And cutting door panels or adding speakers in kick panels isnt useful. Ive had cars with stereos in glovebox, speakers cut into doors etc but I think mounting a $100 premium bluetooth speaker with good bass/tweeters etc its the best as far as value/effort/time.

I will pst pictures once I do this to my car. While Ive always loved the retro looking stereos however they still require speakers and extra wiring throughout the car.

 

I think kick panel speakers are a pretty useful alternative to the old in-dash speaker location - the aftermarket makes GM A-body kick panel replacements with 6.5" speakers (typically a crappy Pioneer set) already installed or you can buy just the base panels and install your own brand of choice - the driver side panel usually requires that you slightly relocate the e-brake lever about an inch rightward (a simple reposition) to clear the speaker face, but otherwise simple plug/play install.

I use these in my ragtop with a set of Alpines and in back I installed another set of speakers into the top panels which cover the convertible pistons. I don't know what kind of upper rear panel clearance there may be in a non-convertible model but the bottom armrest portion may be clear enough behind to mount a 4.5", 4x6" or 5.25" set there as well without being intrusive into the seating area.

If you opt to install a dash-mount head unit, you could also mount a small amp into the glove box such as the Alpine KT-445U (it's about 45w per channel) - it takes up very little room in there and no ventilation issues with it. It's main power feed can be combined with the radio (+) as well so no requirement to source a 2nd power location for it.

 

I’m not a car stereo enthusiast, all I have in my car is a pair of Kenwood 6x9s and a pair of Kenwood 4 inch round in the kick panels. No amp, no sub, that’s plenty for the “moldy oldey” music I prefer.

Kick panels are a dime a dozen, I had no problem cutting a pair for the speakers. Done right, it’s a clean installation.

Clearly, car stereo was not a priority when these cars were designed. A radio was a luxury, a radio with FM was an upgrade, AM/FM stereo was a expensive upgrade.

 

I agree with the above two. All through high school and college I had great tunes in my hardtop Supreme with a set of 6x9 speakers in the rear deck and an amp under the drivers seat. Then with the convertible, a set of kick panel speakers along with 6x9s in boxes for the rear, all driven by the under seat amp, and it sounds great. The rear boxes can be placed on the seat facing forward (good sound), on the floorboards facing upwards (not quite as good) or when the top is up, in the top well facing up towards the rear window (great sound, reflected off the glass with added bass, similar to rear deck speakers in a hard top). Running wires for rear deck speakers is quite simple and can be done in an afternoon. Same for kick panel speakers. One afternoon 20 years ago for installation in the 'vert and it's been completely satisfying since then.