I'm restoring a '71 Cutlass Supreme convertible. I expected to find a radio antenna somewhere on the car, but I can't find any evidence of where it was or may be hiding. I can't find any openings in the front fenders or in the rear quarters that would indicate where it might have been mounted. In the mid-70's, they had the double wire in the glass - it's not there.

The only clue that I have is an odd toggle switch that is mounted under the dash, in line with the steering column. One of the catalogs that I have shows the exact same switch and it's for a motorized antenna. It could have been for something else - I don't know.

What would have been the options for the antenna on this particular model?

 

Far as I know all '71s had the dipole antenna in the windshield.

I'd imagine somebody must have changed the windshield at some point.

As for the switch - got a picture?

- Eric

 

Most likely the switch is for something else.

Eric is correct - the antenna was moved to the windshield starting in 1970. You'll see 2 thin lines coming up the center of the windshield and going to the sides when they get about 3" from the top of the glass. If you look under the dash you'll see the heavy black antenna lead that runs from the cowl to the radio.

 

Thanks for the feedback. I'm going to look for evidence of where the antenna wire at the radio position dissapears to under the dash. Hopefully its not a case of a beautiful windshield being the wrong one. I'm assuming they're not cheap.

 

Actually, they are not expensive at all - around 125 - 150 depending on vendor. The leads for the antenna are hidden by the cowl stainless. So when the windshield is replaced, all 4 pieces of the windshield reveal come off.

FYI, this glass can be ordered WITH or WITHOUT the antenna for exactly the same price.

 

Well that's a relief! The glass is beautiful and doesn't have any chips or wiper marks. It also doesn't seem to have the antenna wire in the glass either!

 

If I remember correctly there is a plug under the lower windshield trim the antenna wires in the windshield would be an inch and a half long (so it is in the center of the cowl).

Been a few years since I've pulled one.

 

You're lucky it's not there. They suck. Put in a hidden antenna and be done with it.

 

Sounds like you've had some bad experience with them? On the contrary, I find my 'in windshield' antenna to function perfectly. Just an FYI, some of the later model cars have the antenna built into the rear windows now. Same principle as the early 70's, so it can't be all that wrong or bad.

 

The wipers used to cause interference on the radio with the antenna in the front glass.

 

They were in my daily drivers for many years, and I never noticed this.

- Eric

 

I don't notice any interference from wipers. The one in my '78 does not have anywhere near the range of the masts on my '68 or '87. I do like the clean no antenna look though.

 

x2 And FWIW, they still don't

 

Try listening to a weak station!

 

I have or have had them in my 72, a 70 Bonneville Convertible and a 69 GP and never had a problem. Maybe on very weak distant stations, but I have always tuned to a good station. Beats someone bending the fixed mast, or having to repair/replace the electric ones.

 

Indeed. We forget that when these cars were new it was common for kids to rip antennas off of cars, or bend them in half (and also to steal hubcaps), so these were a real innovation

- Eric

 

This is where the windshield antenna has its weakness. It is horizontally oriented, so it works OK for strong stations but for distant, weak, stations it is not very good. My communications professor used to say they would be good for TV reception, though. The best antenna for FM reception is a 30" vertical mast.