Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[lowdrag]

Yes, I am the proud owner of a Radiomobile 1085, all 5W output of it, but nowadays, despite the overpowering volume, there aren't many channels worth listening to except Radio 4 & 5 these days. So I want to convert to FM and possibly DAB while preserving the looks and the positive earth field. I have looked at Tadpole Radios, but the price including inverter is over £400 and since the new radio in the daily chuffer cost £80 fitted at Halfrauds including USB and iPod ports plus CD, I find that rather dear. Anyone got any suggestions?

[traction39]

You could try these guys, but I think the price will be very similar!

http://www.vintagewireless.co.uk/

[MikeEdwards]

There was a post on Retro Rides that described how to add an aux input socket, obviously each radio is different so it was described in general terms, but that would give you a way of connecting other stuff - I've got a portable DAB radio that would work with that solution, and £3 gets you a cheapo MP3 player on eBay with the same connector.

Won't help with the output though, but perhaps you could add an amp hidden somewhere. And a bass bin in the boot.

Or maybe just leave the radio as standard on display, and have a modern head unit fitted somewhere out of sight so you can use it, but not spoil the appearance of the older one, if there's any space. On the positive earth thing, I always wondered if you'd get away with having it mounted isolated, and direct wire positive and negative to it, so you could run a "normal" radio in a PE car. Never had one, though, so I can't say if it would work.

[47Jag]

[websnail]

[MikeEdwards]

[petermeachem]

Are you sure? The aerial lead is probably shielded back to the case, that would be ok. If so it shouldn't really be connected to the car body as well, earth loops and whatnot

[lowdrag]

Well, I've found several companies that will do the job, but all charge the same price. Funny that. Still, after over 30 years of fizz. crackle and hum I've decided that the price will have to be borne and with teeth gritted off the old Radiomobile goes to Tadpole radios. I have gone for the basic conversion since it seems silly to have a modern Sony in the boot with the old radio acting as just a control box. And no Bluetooth thank you either. I'll report back later on. Oh, and the old aerial has been junked with a new modern one under the dashboard. That's another wind whistle behind me. I'm not trying to modernise her too much and lose her character but if sympathetically one can upgrade it seems sensible as anno domini takes its toll. No power steering because the car doesn't need it, no wide rims and huge tyres either, No 5-speed box but the old Moss and the original 3.31 axle which gives 70mph at 3000 rpm (a bit low but that's fine by me anyway). I changed to four-pot calipers a few years back and they made a substantial difference, enabling me to dispose of the old boat anchor I carried for emergencies. I have put halogen bulbs in this time, since the glimmer of the two glow worms supplied originally by Mr Lucas was starting to tell on these old tired eyes, but that's about it. Hey ho, on we go.

[Phil - Nottingham]

I sympathise - my classics radios are getting past it and later versions I have picked up for the cassette deck are getting in the same condition. There is not much on the AM bands either and old FM radios have poor performance too.


The price is eye watering though so I may wait to see what turns up in new technology
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[BigJohn]

I went the retro rides cheap and cheerful route, plugging my MP3 through a fly lead onto the radio volume pot etc, turn the radio volume to zero, tune off station and use the MP3 volume control. The lead also worked as a radio aerial (I made it long), but I promptly popped the 40+ year old speaker cones when I cranked it up.....