What Radios Originally Came Fitted?

[FritzPasadena]

Whilst busy enjoying my 'beater' Sprint in what's been uncharacteristically good British weather, I'm also trying to track down all the correct bits and pieces for when I eventually have the car restored.

I'd like to get hold of a correct-type radio as the current unit is a horrible 80's Blaupunkt cassette player. So, does anyone know which types of radio were originally installed by the factory? My car is a December 1972 Type 36 Sprint.

Thanks in advance.

[trw99]

The original fitment from the factory would normally have included a Radio Suppression Kit, which comprised of suppressors fitted to each spark plug, aluminium sheeting cut to go at the rear of the engine, two screens around the coil and over the spark plug channel between the cam covers, and earthed to the rear suppression sheet.

The radio was a Phillips Turnolock and they do occasionally come up for sale on the bay. Dealers could and often did fit other makes and models of radio and the early cassette or 8 Track players.

In other words, any early 1970s radio would be fine. However, if you are looking for originality for concours, try to get a Turnolock. The full suppression kits are now rather rare, as most previous owners seem to discard them.


Tim

[Bart Jan van der Ceelen]

There is an early 1970's (1971?) Philips Turnolock radio's that has FM. The type number is 22RN511. The good thing of FM is that good reception does not depend on the suppression kit. I think it is possible that this radio was originally installed. I also think that they are quite rare and could be expensive.

[jimj]

I had four consecutive Elans in the 60s/70s and the reception was always hopeless. Suppression kits, aluminium foil shrouds etc. a wate of time, money, and effort. In the last 2 , 71 and 73 Sprints, I had 8 track Phillips turnolocks and the Carpenters and Beach Boys on 8 track are my abiding memories of romantic sojourns. These days, in the Elise, lack of space and ageing inflexibility mean that "sojourns" are both infrequent and unlikely...........but the radio is fine.
C`est la vie (vieux !)
Jim

[FritzPasadena]

Thanks for the help guys. Poor reception doesn't worry me too much - I've never once used the current stereo, it's more for the period look as the Blaupunkt installed at the moment stands out like a sore thumb. I just hope the price for these units hasn't gone the same was as Elan steering wheels!

Thanks again.

[billwill]

It's so long ago, that I don't fully recall whether my first radio was without FM band. I kinda think it DID have FM, as I seem to recal OK reception on FM and unusable interference on AM.

My car originally had aluminium shield behind the engine (still there) and also a plate that covered the spark plubs, held on by four of the cam cover nuts.

When I had my car refurbed by Vegantune@cradgebank back in 1983, I supplied a new radio with digital frequency display and with a cassette player. I had a new dashboard built with that radio behind the dash in such a way that it could not be got out without taking out the dashboard. {there were lots of car radio thieves in those days]. That is still in, though I have a better one on hand, but I would need dashboard surgery to fit it.
It's still no good on AM, but fine on FM. I have a short bendy rubber aerial at the back on the opposite side from the petrol cap. About as far awy from the engine as practical. Coax cable from that aerial to the radio.

The spark plug cover plate vanished during that 1983 refurb.

[Bruce Crowthorne]

I went for a Motorola vrsion of the correct vintage but had it converted for FM (but the reception is still rubbish - I don't have any suppression fitted yet) BUT it has a lead for an MP3 player.
So I have an tiny MP3 player in the glove box and have decent quality music.
Got the radio form a guy in Manchester www.vintagewireless.co.uk