1976 Radio Delete?????

[Adam Boca]

Hello All from the National Corvette Museum. I received a phone call aboput a 1976 Coupe withe a radio delete option. It is not listed in the Black Booc and I was just wondering if anyone knows how many cars were produced in 1976 with Radio Delete. This gentlemans VIN# is 1Z37X6s5421655 if that helps any. Here is something that I figured up:

Option #: # Produced:

U58 AM-FM Radio, stereo 34,272

U68 AM-FM Radio 11,083

+________

45,355 total cars with radio.

there were 46,558 total cars produced in 1976 which leaves some cars without radios. Does anyone have the option number for the Radio Delete? If you do please email me at LS1C5Vette@yahoo.com

Adam Boca NCM Team Delivery Bowling Green KY Vetteless but Dreamin' C597Vette C5-R: X1608

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Adam-----

There is a very common misunderstanding of the term "delete" when it comes to certain equipment. The term "delete" usually means an item of STANDARD equipment for a particular car which the manufacturer sometimes allows to be deleted by the purchaser. Usually, but not always, this involves a credit on the option list and total MSRP of the car.

Prior to 1979 on Corvettes, radios were OPTIONAL equipment; if you didn't order and pay for one, YOU DIDN'T GET ONE. You didn't have to do anything special for this to happen or use any "secret" ordering codes---the dealer just didn't check it off on the order sheet. Sometimes order sheets did have a box for the dealer to check to CONFIRM that no radio was desired to help insure that, for a commonly ordered item like a radio, that the purchaser was SURE that he didn't want to order one.

Very often, particularly with respect to L-88 optioned Corvettes, folks say that they were radio and heater delete. But that's incorrect. They were HEATER DELETE since by 1969 heaters were standard equipment on all Corvettes. However, as far as the radio goes, it wasn't deleted. You just couldn't ORDER one.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Adam-----

There is a very common misunderstanding of the term "delete" when it comes to certain equipment. The term "delete" usually means an item of STANDARD equipment for a particular car which the manufacturer sometimes allows to be deleted by the purchaser. Usually, but not always, this involves a credit on the option list and total MSRP of the car.

Prior to 1979 on Corvettes, radios were OPTIONAL equipment; if you didn't order and pay for one, YOU DIDN'T GET ONE. You didn't have to do anything special for this to happen or use any "secret" ordering codes---the dealer just didn't check it off on the order sheet. Sometimes order sheets did have a box for the dealer to check to CONFIRM that no radio was desired to help insure that, for a commonly ordered item like a radio, that the purchaser was SURE that he didn't want to order one.

Very often, particularly with respect to L-88 optioned Corvettes, folks say that they were radio and heater delete. But that's incorrect. They were HEATER DELETE since by 1969 heaters were standard equipment on all Corvettes. However, as far as the radio goes, it wasn't deleted. You just couldn't ORDER one.

[Jeff Heuer]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Joe,

I also have a 1976 L-82 Corvette. I have a related question to the radio. I purchased my car about 3 months ago, with an aftermarket radio. I have since located an original am/fm non-stereo off of a 1972. The seller thinks that this radio was only for 70-72. Were all am/fm non-stero radios the same part number from at least 1970-1976, due to the 1977 dash redesign? I pulled a part number off of this radio for sale of 7937571. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff Heuer NCRS #30834

[Jeff Heuer]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Joe,

I also have a 1976 L-82 Corvette. I have a related question to the radio. I purchased my car about 3 months ago, with an aftermarket radio. I have since located an original am/fm non-stereo off of a 1972. The seller thinks that this radio was only for 70-72. Were all am/fm non-stero radios the same part number from at least 1970-1976, due to the 1977 dash redesign? I pulled a part number off of this radio for sale of 7937571. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jeff Heuer NCRS #30834

[Terry M.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

This is not the answer to the question you asked, but there is a difference between 1968-71 and 1972 radios. The color of the lettering on the 1972 is much paler than the earlier radios. As to differences in 1972 to newer years I will leave that to others.

Terry McManmon

[Terry M.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

This is not the answer to the question you asked, but there is a difference between 1968-71 and 1972 radios. The color of the lettering on the 1972 is much paler than the earlier radios. As to differences in 1972 to newer years I will leave that to others.

Terry McManmon

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Jeff----

As far as non-stereo radios go during the 1968 to 1976 time period, there were 3 different part numbers. From 1968 thru 1971 the radio(receiver) part number was GM #7302721. This radio used very light green characters for the radio dial and "Delco" script in the lower right corner of the face. The PRIMARY shafts for each side radio control were 3/8" long.

For 1972 to 1973, the radio part number was GM #7937571. This unit was IDENTICAL to the above, EXCEPT the radio dial and "Delco" script were white. Otherwise, the type font and script were identical to the 7302721. The PRIMARY shafts were 1/2" long.

For 1974 to 1976, the radio part number was GM #9344651. As far as I know, the radio was identical to both the above EXCEPT that the font style was slightly different(but white in color). I believe that the shaft configuration was the same as the #7937571. The chrome bezel MAY have been slightly different in configuration or finish.

Incidentally, stereo radios were exactly the same in configuration for any given year except that stereo radios had a small indicator in the upper right hand corner of the face which illuminated when the radio was tuned to a stereo broadcast station. There were 4 different part numbers. For 1968 thru 1971, the radio was GM #7303211. For 1972 only, it was GM #7937581. For 1973 only, it was GM #9341341. For 1974 thru 1976, it was GM #9344661.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Jeff----

As far as non-stereo radios go during the 1968 to 1976 time period, there were 3 different part numbers. From 1968 thru 1971 the radio(receiver) part number was GM #7302721. This radio used very light green characters for the radio dial and "Delco" script in the lower right corner of the face. The PRIMARY shafts for each side radio control were 3/8" long.

For 1972 to 1973, the radio part number was GM #7937571. This unit was IDENTICAL to the above, EXCEPT the radio dial and "Delco" script were white. Otherwise, the type font and script were identical to the 7302721. The PRIMARY shafts were 1/2" long.

For 1974 to 1976, the radio part number was GM #9344651. As far as I know, the radio was identical to both the above EXCEPT that the font style was slightly different(but white in color). I believe that the shaft configuration was the same as the #7937571. The chrome bezel MAY have been slightly different in configuration or finish.

Incidentally, stereo radios were exactly the same in configuration for any given year except that stereo radios had a small indicator in the upper right hand corner of the face which illuminated when the radio was tuned to a stereo broadcast station. There were 4 different part numbers. For 1968 thru 1971, the radio was GM #7303211. For 1972 only, it was GM #7937581. For 1973 only, it was GM #9341341. For 1974 thru 1976, it was GM #9344661.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

As Terry mentioned, the 1968-71 radios were alike with pale green numerals. 1972-76 are alike with white numerals. In 1977 GM went to the corporate radio which is was in many of their car lines.

[Reba Whittington]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

As Terry mentioned, the 1968-71 radios were alike with pale green numerals. 1972-76 are alike with white numerals. In 1977 GM went to the corporate radio which is was in many of their car lines.

[Jeff Heuer]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Joe and Terry,

Thank you very much. This is very informative information. I am always amazed at the information that you can provide. Since I plan on going to Bloomington Gold this year, I will keep an eye out for the correct radio.

Jeff Heuer NCRS #30834

[Jeff Heuer]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Joe and Terry,

Thank you very much. This is very informative information. I am always amazed at the information that you can provide. Since I plan on going to Bloomington Gold this year, I will keep an eye out for the correct radio.

Jeff Heuer NCRS #30834

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Jeff----

If you find a radio, inspect it carefully for the very subtle stereo indicator in the upper right corner of the face. If you find a stereo-type radio, you must also get the appropriate "adapter" assembly. This is the unit that goes under the upper right side dash. The stereo radio "adapter" is not the same as the mono radio "convector" which is found under the dash in a similar location. Very often these radios are sold without the "convector" or "adapter" because someone didn't realize that it was part of the radio. But, you must use the appropriate "adapter" or "convector" for the radio to function. Also, 68-76 radios require 10 ohm speakers. You can get by with the 8 ohm type which are fairly common today. However, 4 ohm speakers require an impedence matching resistor.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1976 Radio Delete?????

Jeff----

If you find a radio, inspect it carefully for the very subtle stereo indicator in the upper right corner of the face. If you find a stereo-type radio, you must also get the appropriate "adapter" assembly. This is the unit that goes under the upper right side dash. The stereo radio "adapter" is not the same as the mono radio "convector" which is found under the dash in a similar location. Very often these radios are sold without the "convector" or "adapter" because someone didn't realize that it was part of the radio. But, you must use the appropriate "adapter" or "convector" for the radio to function. Also, 68-76 radios require 10 ohm speakers. You can get by with the 8 ohm type which are fairly common today. However, 4 ohm speakers require an impedence matching resistor.