TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:44 am

Hello everyone, first time posting in the split bus forum, i have a customer where i work who im helping out cause im our resident air-cooled guy, he needs a radio for his 1965 sundial camper, he tells me he bought an original radio but the spindals on the radio were too large for the holes in the dashboard, do any of you have info regarding why he would have this issue, the bus had a radio before, were there several different radios dealers were installing for that year of bus? thanks for reading

Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:23 pm

I have a 66 and here is a dash pic of that original radio.

This was the most common but it came in many models over the years Then VW went to Blauplunk radios in later years.

If your dash has small holes I would look for a radio that fits - rather than ream out those to fit- no telling what the judges of the future car shows might find important.

Wed Jul 31, 2013 12:28 pm

williamM wrote: I have a 66 and here is a dash pic of that original radio.

looks like yours came without a radio then!?

Wed Jul 31, 2013 3:18 pm

VW Man 53 wrote: Hello everyone, first time posting in the split bus forum, i have a customer where i work who im helping out cause im our resident air-cooled guy, he needs a radio for his 1965 sundial camper, he tells me he bought an original radio but the spindals on the radio were too large for the holes in the dashboard, do any of you have info regarding why he would have this issue, the bus had a radio before, were there several different radios dealers were installing for that year of bus? thanks for reading

I believe some Blaupunkt radios may have small enough posts that they fit through the original radio openings but the Sapphire radio seen above requires you to open up the post holes. This is normal.

Quote: This was the most common but it came in many models over the years Then VW went to Blauplunk radios in later years.
Agree on common but Blaupunkts, and others, were available pre-1966 too.

Wed Jul 31, 2013 6:34 pm

EverettB wrote: VW Man 53 wrote: Hello everyone, first time posting in the split bus forum, i have a customer where i work who im helping out cause im our resident air-cooled guy, he needs a radio for his 1965 sundial camper, he tells me he bought an original radio but the spindals on the radio were too large for the holes in the dashboard, do any of you have info regarding why he would have this issue, the bus had a radio before, were there several different radios dealers were installing for that year of bus? thanks for reading

I believe some Blaupunkt radios may have small enough posts that they fit through the original radio openings but the Sapphire radio seen above requires you to open up the post holes. This is normal.

Quote: This was the most common but it came in many models over the years Then VW went to Blauplunk radios in later years.
Agree on common but Blaupunkts, and others, were available pre-1966 too. thanks a bunch everett

Wed Jul 31, 2013 7:34 pm

EverettB wrote:
Agree on common but Blaupunkts, and others, were available pre-1966 too.

Ditto, have 1959 VWOA to VW dealer info on Blaupunkts and other radios available in USA.

Wed Jul 31, 2013 11:48 pm

I realized I have samples of both radios here so here are some post diameters:
Blaupunkt - 10mm
Sapphire - 12mm

I don't have an unhacked Bus dash to provide an unhacked measurement but I do have a Bus with holes that were widened, probably for a Sapphire radio due to the hole size. The holes are between 13-14mm in diameter.

Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:54 am

I love Samba- get to learn new stuff every day. It's like fishing or "eating chocolates" Ya never know what you're gonna get.

Turns out one radio hole in all my stuff was not corrupted by vicious VW techs
in the 80's (that would be me)- so yes they did have an 10mm hole but appears to be elongated.[img]

Sun Aug 04, 2013 5:23 pm

the customer gave me a template for his unhacked dash, he measured the knob slots 23/64 which is 9.1 mm so i assume the measurement is a tiny bit off and it takes a 10 mm blaupunkt, i really appreciate all the feedback and help guys.

Sun Aug 04, 2013 5:25 pm

this is up in the classifieds as for a split bus, do you just remove the faceplate for bus installation?

Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:53 pm

Late '67 use the faceplate, every earlier year lose the faceplate. Use washers or adjust the nuts on the stems to fit the depth of the face trim.

Wed Jul 16, 2025 9:11 am

Hello everyone!! Would anyone know if there is a new version of the original radio that went into the 1965 Bus? I looked at Retro Manufacturing but they only have one for the beetle:

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1958-6...6462667932

I would hate to have to buy a modern stereo and ruin the nostalgia of my bus.

Thank you all for your help.

Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:42 am

For my '65 bus, I had the Sapphire I converted to 12V, and added a FM receiver module. You switch from AM-FM by turning the radio on and off for a couple of seconds. Presets work normally. FM reception is excellent. You can also add modules for external inputs or bluetooth (although personally I wouldn't bother since you can just use an external BT module).

Work was done by Rich Langenwalter who was great to work with and advertises on this site.

Wed Jul 16, 2025 11:50 am

There is a company that will convert your original radio to AM/FM and blue tooth receiver. The radio is basically a shell that the knobs control a small module that goes inside. Not cheap though.

Wed Jul 16, 2025 6:29 pm

Louie Lozano wrote: Hello everyone!! Would anyone know if there is a new version of the original radio that went into the 1965 Bus? I looked at Retro Manufacturing but they only have one for the beetle:

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1958-6...6462667932

I would hate to have to buy a modern stereo and ruin the nostalgia of my bus.

Thank you all for your help.

That on fits you just have to cut off the Beetle spears and file the cut to blend in.

Thu Jul 17, 2025 4:41 am

The Bendix Saphires had a Bus specific model. I think the difference was the view of the dial angle?

Thu Jul 17, 2025 6:16 pm

Louie Lozano wrote: Hello everyone!! Would anyone know if there is a new version of the original radio that went into the 1965 Bus? I looked at Retro Manufacturing but they only have one for the beetle:

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/products/1958-6...6462667932

You can put that one in without the bezel also.

Thu Jul 17, 2025 8:41 pm

Blaupunkt Essen. Lowest ranking radio in the Blaupunkt line. Fits well, plays loud too. Use as 6 or 12V. Unit shown in my 65 is the 64-65 model. Listed as unknown, untested on this site. Really satisfied with it.

Fri Jul 18, 2025 9:27 am

The Essen is in the dash; stevo is also slyly bragging about his in-car record player, under the dash!

I have a 72 version of the Frankfurt and it went in with no trouble; looks pretty similar to the mid-60s version as well. I had the black knobs replaced with correct white ones.

Fri Jul 18, 2025 12:04 pm

70bus wrote: The Essen is in the dash; stevo is also slyly bragging about his in-car record player, under the dash!

I have a 72 version of the Frankfurt and it went in with no trouble; looks pretty similar to the mid-60s version as well. I had the black knobs replaced with correct white ones.

I'm sick in bed killing time with my wife's macbook air and this is the only photo of my radio on this site.
Below is the Essen, the only photo I can find on the site [albeit uninstalled] with has a T3 plate - Upper left.

Eight years ago I sold my Frankfort.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2052334