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Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:11 am

I'm in the process of updating a bug that I just pulled out of storage and I would like to get in to this decade and get a new radio. I have a '72 super and the current aftermarket radio is very thin and just fit under the windshield wiper motor, I'm not sure if a new cd player will fit, or will it?

I know it can be done, so any advice?

Thanks,

Tue Jul 12, 2005 2:04 pm

Back in the '80's, the days of cassette units, German cars had a radio opening that was of a uniform, specified size in the German auto industry. Aftermarket radios available here in the USA would designate this opening as "DIN-spec". Since a BMW cassette radio from the early '90's fit the opening in the '69 Beetle I just sold without modification, my suggestion is to look specifically for that designation when you shop for a radio. I don';t know if it is still commonly used in the aftermarket radio industry. Maybe a "Crutchfield" radio catalog would have that criteria.

You will need to prop up the front end of the radio with some simply homemade bracket or angle iron. Often, a metal "plumber's bracket" with many prepunched holes would be enough to hand down from the 6mm bolt that holds the wiper motor to the body, to support the front of the radio.

Also, back to basics: measure the opening in the dash as well as the depth frontwards to get the size of the radio body.

Also remember that you will need to supply a wire to the radio that has 12V power even with the ignition off so that you do not lose the radio's station preselect button memory. Run another wire to an "ignition on" source for the radio main power.