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Sun Mar 23, 2003 10:27 pm

Could someone post a pic of what the "standard" faceplate for a Type 2 would have been. I have a Bendix Sapphire II (AM/FM) with ivory knobs and station seting keys, but no faceplate. I have seen some pictures of different faceplates for Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 VWs. But I'm not sure what the correct one for Type 2 would be.

Thanks in advance,

Turbo_g
66 Kombi

Mon Mar 24, 2003 2:57 am

blowpunk

Tue Mar 25, 2003 3:31 pm

Radios where most often a dealer installed accessory so the faceplates, like the brands used, would vary. Blaupunkt Frankfurt or Essen would be a correct unit and are the best looking in my opinion. The "the face plate" more often than not was actually a bezel that just framed the portion of the radio sticking through the dash and two "C" shaped areas that extend to underneath the nobs. I could email you a pic of that bezel if you don't know what I mean.

Doug

Tue Mar 25, 2003 3:35 pm

I just added to gallery. See below link for bezel I mentioned.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/72522.jpg

Tue Mar 25, 2003 9:24 pm

Doug,

Thanks for the pic. I was able to locate a bezel and purchase it.

Getting closer to "period correct" day by day!

Turbo_g
66 Kombi

Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:13 pm

Hey guys, my understanding is that the bus faceplate you are describing was a deluxe item and not usually found on standards or Kombi's not a big deal unless you are going for 100% correct.

Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:44 pm

Tasb,

What do you think would be found on a standard?

My kombi, is getting the "standard" upgrade, repleat with 10 panel interior, perf headliner and dual color paint (beige gray over titan red).

Wed Mar 26, 2003 10:46 am

The chrome part in the picture actually goes behind the dash between the radio and the dash, it is curved to fit the shape of the dash, the only part that shows is the chrome around the radio face.

Wed Mar 26, 2003 4:32 pm

I would have to disagree. That chrome bezel is not designed to go behind the dash. That would serve no purpose at all. No to mention, the notoriously practical Germans at that time did not chrome hidden pieces. As the portion of the radio that sticks through the stock dash hole has roughly the same O.D. as the I.D of the dash hole, you would see none of that bezel if it was behind dash. Not to mention your actual radio "frame" would be sunk in to the dash and look way wrong. See picture attached. This picture shows a common installation of a stereo in a non deluxe model. There is no face plate and no bezel installed at all.

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/72660.jpg

Wed Mar 26, 2003 4:38 pm

Another note or two after above post:
1) As radios were largly dealer added options, as long as you are using a radio from the proper period, your face plate or bezel cannot really be considered incorrect. Unlike things like dash ash trays that were chromed for deluxes and painted for non deluxes at the factory, radios and antennas have some room for interpretation and individuality.
2) I personally think the bezel dresses up the application without being too fancy of a face plate. In addition, the bezel helps support the weight of the radio when installed. You will also want to use a hang strap, plumbers tape, etc, under the dash. The angle in which these radios hang and the weight of these old units would be a little too much to expect the dash metal and knob post nuts to secure it alone.

Good luck.
Doug

Wed Mar 26, 2003 6:52 pm

While we're at it, what does the hang strap attach to? Any photos of the install under there would be helpful, along with correct speaker installation details.
Have radio, no hardware.
Thanks,
John

Wed Mar 26, 2003 7:31 pm

I would have to argree with doughburgy. MOST buses did not have a bezel and actually look jhust fine without one. There is a slot and hole in the front of the steel parcel tray looks a little like an old fashioned door lock face. a bolt with a 14mm head for 1960 and down and 13mm for newer buses was used to hold the brace to the parcel tray. Speakers are mounted with a bus only bracket. Look on the lower lip of your dash for two small holes or screws below where the speaker would be. Th design was to use the curve of the bracket and the curve of the dash to cause friction for the top of the bracket to hold it in place and the two small screws in the bottom to make sure the unit stays in place. A very nice clean German design. I have one for sale with a brand new speaker if you are interested.

Wed Mar 26, 2003 9:41 pm

Tasb,

How much for the bracket. Doing resto custom and will be using my vintage Blaupunkt radio but will be installing something to pump up the volume as well. No need for the stock speaker. Understand if it a set.

Doug

Thu Mar 27, 2003 6:29 am

I have the chrome trim behind the dash it comes through the center hole and surrounds the face and looks great, the knobs and the face of the radio come out from the dash just fine. Without the curve of the bezel behind the dash the radio will not fit flush to the back of the dash. I will get a photo ASAP.
If it was intended to go on the outside it would have surrounded the nobs not just half way around.

Thu Mar 27, 2003 11:33 am

Slightly off the subject, but check this out
http://www.turnswitch.com/Radio.htm
I'm planning to use this cool looking speaker in my '65 bus with an older 12V Panasonic stereo that looks fairly vintage. The 6x9 stereo speaker looks like a good way to keep the stock look and have stereo tunes coming out of that beautiful slit bus dash.

Thu Mar 27, 2003 12:39 pm

http://vigil.4mg.com/9.jpg

that is what my 65 deluxe looks like...

Thu Mar 27, 2003 8:47 pm

Took some pictures of a Sapphire 4 with a chorme bezel mounted BEHIND the dash with chrome only showing around the face but I am having trouble uploading them if you whant to see them let me know and I will email them to you.

Fri Mar 28, 2003 9:26 pm

TASB-What is the impedence of the speaker that you have? Or Can someone tell me what it should be? Thanks

Sun Mar 30, 2003 10:48 am

Radios where dealer installed and Volkswagen hired Motorolla to build radios for VWs in the US, that line of radios is called Sapphire, If you look on any Sapphire radio it will say MADE FOR VOLKSWAGEN, as the radio would have fit any number of cars this does not mean this radio will only fit VW, it means it was designed for the Volkswagen company specifically, if you did not like any of the Sapphire radios you could purchase aftermarket radios and install them yourself, or the dealer could even have offered a second line of radios that is why there are so many others. but Sapphire was the most common radio installed by most dealerships

Sun Mar 30, 2003 6:31 pm

starkehaus,

The speaker in the dash is 8 ohm. 4 ohm works as well...