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Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:36 pm

When I purchased my car this radio was mounted loosely in the dash. I do not know if it works.

I have a few questions:
- Can you identify this radio? More to the point, since this is an "original" VW radio, why did the PO have to cut a larger hole? (see pic)
- Did my '68 Coupe have a smaller radio originally?
- Since the deed is done, what would you suggest as an original-looking replacement to fit this hole? I do not want to have a great sound system; I enjoy the sound of the engine. But, I need to fill the hole!

Any advice is appreciated.

Tom

Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:23 pm

Yes, your dash has been modified for some reason. It would not have been necesary for that radio. You may need to patch your dash with an original radio opening. I can help you with one if you're up to that.

Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:48 pm

It looks like in the cars past life a larger face radio was installed. The saphire is a VW radio. I don't know what year of saphire is known by what #. I bet there is a thread on that somewhere on the Samba.
You can patch your dash if you are going for a nice restoration

Sun Feb 24, 2013 1:49 am

Have a look in the archives here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/radios.php

The Sapphire VI is the correct year for your '68 Ghia.

More here: http://home.comcast.net/~vwradio/srh/srh.htm

If you need a repair try emailing this guy: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=664

Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:27 pm

I've got the same radio in the dash of my ~April 1969 coupe. If it works, I'd repair the hole and let the faceplate cover the rough lower corners. From what I've read, dealers installed radios and sometimes they were "new" and correct for that year car; othertimes they were new and left over on the shelf from a previous year. I think I read that the VI first appeared in 1967.

Mine sounded decent with two speakers in the kick panels on the local NPR station (which is all I listen to). Unfortunately the radio died in October and I haven't been able to get it working again via the usual jiggle/tape/poke methods. I'd like to get it fixed! I may email the link posted.

mark

Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:32 pm

Thanks everyone. My going in position is to use Retrosound radio with their universal plate. Not sure how attractive this is until I see it in person. Still shopping.

Tom

Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:45 pm

I'd like to see more photos of your car. I've got a '68 that was originally Regatta Blue also and I'm thinking of returning it to it's og color.

Fri Mar 15, 2013 5:11 am

I am with you on enjoying the music of the motor, but I have to admit that having the original radio, and to have it work, is really nice. It looks like from the picture you could fix that hole modification, (bend it back?) and have the face plate cover the corners like mifitzsimor suggested.

Fri Mar 15, 2013 8:17 am

I used Nick Stokes here http://vwradios.com/Home.html to restore my radio. Excellent work.

Wed Mar 20, 2013 2:58 pm

NWGhiaguy,
The car was repainted with Dupont 8165-L.