Modern internaled radio for 1956 Porsche

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kb2wyl

Member
Joined 2015
#1
Hi all. I have a client (I do construction) who is looking to rebuild his 1956 Porsche 356. He's wanting to find an original radio, he's doing an original rebuild, but he would like the radio to have modern internals. I could do all of that, but finding the original radio, that's not so easy. I usually deal with vacuum tube audio, and I know how my fellow enthusiasts like to pile parts just like I do. So I thought maybe one of y'all car audio guys would be similar. I'm sure the exact year isn't crucial, any old German radio that would have been near that year. I'm not familiar with mobile audio beyond subs/enclosures/amps so I'm not sure if DIN was even a thing, and if it was, whether it applies to German cars. But I'm sure plenty of you do know that info. I'm hoping someone will know, and someone will have a radio that would fit at least. This would be a really fun project to put up here, rebuilding it.

Thanks much everyone. I'm looking forward to this

Loren
 
#2
Do you think it's doable or practical?

There are likely thousands of photos of the interiors of that car online. The ones I saw didn't look like it would be practical if you want the original look. Maybe if you made the front of the radio fold down to expose the display and controls of a new radio.

Mounting the new head unit in the glove box is another option. With a remote control and a remote sensor mounted outside of the glove box would offer access to volume and other common controls without seeing the new head unit.
 
#8
Thanks guys for all the replies. Yes the Bluetooth inside the radio was the plan. As for practicality, it is easy to get pre-made boards these days one for Bluetooth one for fm and an amp. I'm sure I could even find one combined. Button count is extremely low so I could turn into a few face buttons and quality of these class d boards (sound if not build) is better than the original and better than the "classic looking" stereos. Maybe I've just had bad luck but I've heard a few of these in classic American cars and they sound like something bought from an auto parts store. After I posted I looked on eBay too. Seems like for around 75$ I can get one that's period specific if not year and model. That would give me 300$ to play with in parts and labor to just throw a Bluetooth in it, which I think is very doable. The "classic looking" modern stereos and the actual Blaupunkt from that year/model is around 375 as well, so no big differences there. I also saw that they are shaft mount, thank you for that tip. And someone said it would be a shame to gut an original, I absolutely agree. That's part of the reason I asked around here. If I were looking for say a gutted Dynaco or Eico or Scott amp....I thought maybe someone in the car audio might be that way with an old blaupunkt head unit. I know I'm one for wanting to rebuild more than I can sometimes. Oh and the glove box idea is good too, maybe I could incorporate that with a fold down face, but id still need a face to Cannibalize. I've got enough info now that next decision is on customer, especially armed with the prices, so if he decides to go any of these routes, I'll be back.

Thanks all much for the time,

Loren
 
#10
YMMV, but I bought one of those Retro Style radios for my '63 Buick. Was not happy with the radio at all. The chrome was all cheap plastic, the radio itself did not look '60s at all, and the sound wasn't great.

If you are looking for something that truly looks authentic, shop carefully.
 
#11
I have a buddy who is putting together a hotrod ‘65 Malibu convertible, and he already bought one of those “vintage-looking” head units. Now he’s asking for advice for tunes...

Was thinking that if one were to get an actual original deck, even if the exact year wasn’t correct, or availability in that model etc., and gut the potentiometer such that one of the popular Bluetooth tpa3116 boards could be adapted, that you’d have the look, and better sound.
 
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