Stand-alone Bluetooth FM radio

[bheston]

We like to hit the drive-in during the summer with the kids. My 69 was only equipped with an AM radio and I would never want to change it - love the originality.  I’ve been looking at a few Bluetooth speakers with FM radio built-in. Need the FM radio to get sound at the drive-in. Has anyone sourced an optimal Bluetooth FM radio for the same problem? There are a few on Amazon but I wanted see if anyone found alternate solutions.

[z28z11]

Why not consider finding a '69-70 AM radio and converting it to FM, with MP3/Aux. inputs, and replacing (and storing) your original ? I'd also consider buying one of the reproduced AM/FM radios, as they have a modernized chassis that accept most of what you would want to enjoy a good system without sacrificing the original appearance.

Then again, you can always carry a separate sound system that you can remove when you want to. All of mine are AM's, I'm faced with the same dilemma - I want the appearance, but I need the sounds.


Regards,
Steve



 

[bheston]

I like the idea of buying a spare and converting it.  Normally, I don’t need much audio entertainment because the engine is providing that 

[ZLP955]

Or you could just take a portable battery-powered FM radio with you whenever you go to the drive-in. Much cheaper and no work required on the car.

[bcmiller]

Or if you have as smartphone, have the music on the phone and a nice portable Bose bluetooth speaker.

That’s what I do.

[bheston]

I proposed the portable FM radio but my wife made fun of me.  I think it’s a great practical solution. Although a Bluetooth FM receiver still has me curious.

[X33RS]

I simply used Classic Auto Sounds for ours.  I don't like cutting things and prefer the stock look, but wanted a modern sound system since we drive ours daily.

Their radio has a stock appearance, bolts in like a stock radio with stock knobs so at a glance it does appear stock, but has blue tooth, MP3 capabilities as well as extra connections for amps and things of the sort if you want to take it that far.    I hide the MP3 in the glove box, the buttons normally to slide the bar for stations are electronic, with digital display on the screen.  When the radio is turned off there is an analog script on the face to appear like a stock radio.

Overall pretty happy with it.  I kept the install very simple.   I hide 6x9's out back under the package tray that can't be seen, and used a Classic Auto Sounds mount for dual front speakers under the original dash location.   Works excellent for what we wanted and didn't cut a single thing on the car.

[169INDY]

We have a local that can take your Factory AM radio and alter it,
Click = turn on radio. ( Or on-off in succession )

1 click = AM
2 click = FM (No scale other than the AM freq scale must tune by ear)
3 click = MP3 input via pitail hidden under dash with extension cord.

His POC info is:

"BILL THE RADIO GUY"
Repair-Restore-Convert
Bill Newman
Sales 360-426-8632

Site
www.billtheradioguy.com/

I have seen this work first hand as My Chevelle Buddie had one Nova and one Chevelle am radios converted.

This is my plan for my AM in my 68Z

JIM

[BULLITT65]

Or you could just take a portable battery-powered FM radio with you whenever you go to the drive-in. Much cheaper and no work required on the car.

I do this when we drive our newer car to the drive in, so we don't drain the battery. Last time we went there was like 5 cars that had to get a jump start because they had drained there batteries down to low. No thanks...

 

I think the conversions are good for the daily driving idea though. I have decent stations here in socal, so I listen to talk radio, oldies, or turn it down and listen to symphony of the motor. 

[qwertyme77]

What do you think of this? Way back in the eighties,  I bought a new underdash Pioneer TP-900 Supertuner 8-Track Fm Radio. Never installed it, and it's still new in the box. I've always thought it would make a nice period piece after my car is finished. Leave the in dash AM radio with dash speaker, and have the Pioneer with a pair of 6X9's in back. Pic is not my unit, but what it looks like. Assuming I attached the pic correctly.

[BULLITT65]

Man that must of been an expensive unit back in the day.

[KevinW]

I did the Factory AM (was not working anyways) to the am/fm/mp3 conversion.  Been loving it, well worth it! 

[bheston]

That's a cool 8-track.  If that was a dealer-installed option, I might consider that.  Right now, I have my eye on this bluetooth speaker with a built-in FM tuner.  Most say the FM reception is good.  Easy to deploy when needed and hide when not.

[HawkX66]

They have blue tooth amplifiers that are stand alone for reasonably short money. You can mount them under your seat. That's more than likely the route that I'm going to go. You can them connect to them with an FM tuner app on a smart phone if you need FM like at the drive in.

[Mike S]

I've installed the RediRad on my 67 AM equipped convertible. I plug the cell phone into the mini jack (located inside the ashtray) and play Pandora through it. It has the 'classic' sound that an AM radio w/single speaker can provide, but with absolutely no static and no wire modifications.

Mike