63 Radio

[Rainer S.]

I read in the judging guide, that early 63 cars came with an AM only radio, not AM/FM, not till after Vin 12000 does the JG were FM radios used. Is that so ? (My Vin # is 5137, Dec 19, 1962 build))
My car has an AM/FM radio. If I have to have an AM only radio, I will start looking, and not restore my AM/FM...

Rainer

[Duke W.]

Re: 63 Radio

The FM radio option was released in January or February. Corvette News Volume 6 No. 3 contains a couple of pages that discuss the new mid prodution options- the reconfigured Z06 Special Performance Equipment Package, the new AM/FM radio (U69), and air conditioning (C60).

When I ordered my car on Feb. 28 I had a choice. I choose the Wonderbar AM over the newly available AM/FM, and my VIN ended up being slightly under 11,000, built on March 19. Your car would definitely have only have been available with the AM option in the timeframe that it was ordered and built.

For a period of time both were available, but when the supply of AMs was exhausted that was it, and some AM orders were forced to FM in the later months of production.

Midyear OE radios are easily swapped. Back in the seventies I bought a AM/FM (not sure what year it is) and installed it in the place of the Wonderbar, which I kept.

Duke

[Joe M.]

Re: 63 Radio

The hole in the dash was slightly smaller for the AM radio. The difference being the chrome trim used in rhe dash to surround the AM/FM.

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 63 Radio

Rainer, are there any paper labels on the radio, if yes, what are the numbers? May be able to tell what year radio it is. Also, on the AM and FM indicators, what are their colors. As I recall 63 & 64 are red and green. 65 to 67 are black.

Harry

[John D.]

Re: 63 Radio

Rainer, My 9900 plus 63 has the original AM radio. With those there is no capacitor on the heater motor. Told you that cause I went crazy trying to find one as mine was missing or so I thought. Good luck, John

[Duke W.]

Re: 63 Radio

My car has the radio bezel. This was a running change that I believe was implemented in December - before the AM/FM radio was released, so it's not a determining factor in what radio was originally installed.

Duke

[Rainer S.]

Re: 63 Radio

The radio out of my car has what looks like (1) red FM and (1) black AM indicators (or green ? - will look again tomorrow).
The paper decals on the radio are hard to read, but the larger one states, that its 03-04 ??? date. Very faint, can read the 03, but the o4 is a guess...
Regardless, I need an FM radio and NO capacitor for heater motor. I may re-install AM/FM radio and capacitor after judging.
John, can you past a pic of the 63 AM radio ? I dont remember what they look like.
Thanks for your help...

Rainer

[Loren L.]

No, you need an AM radio! The first

shipment of AM/FM radios to St Louis was in late February 1963. Contrary to "lip service" documents referring to PRIOR orders that indicated you could have a choice - I don't think that ever happened, for the simple reason that they were dealing with orders ALREADY RECEIVED -
21000 cars and the addition of a second shift was the order of the day.
Do NOT expect to find a Wonderbar past VIN 12000; I have the order for #14XXX ordered in Oct 62 - with A/C - the LAST car built in April - ordered with a Wonderbar - still owned by the original - and DELIVERED with an AM/FM.

[Rainer S.]

Re: No, you need an AM radio! The first

Thanks, Loren, for setting me straight. Of cource, I meant to say: AM...
So, is the radio called "Wonderbar" ? And does it look similar to the AM/FM ?
Mostlikely, it does not have the vert. slider bar to change from AM to FM.

Rainer

[Duke W.]

Re: No, you need an AM radio! The first

Maybe, Loren, if you were in that February 28, 1963 meeting with me, my dad, Alan Green, and Don Campbell, you would remember what transpired, too. But you weren't there, were you?

U-69 was released as of that date, and dealers could submit orders for U-69. U-65 was also available, and for what may have been a relatively brief period the plant was accepting orders for either radio option - until the stock of U-65 was exhausted.

Duke

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 63 Radio

Rainer, here is one on eBay to view some pictures.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1963-CORVETTE-original-signal-seeking-AM-radio-w-knobs_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ80741QQihZ014QQitemZ330123372115QQrdZ1

Harry

[John D.]

Re: 63 Radio

Rainer, Loaded with emails here. Didn't read all the replys but you need an AM radio. Sorry but I don't own a digatal camera. Have to buy a new one cause someone robbed my good one. Thanks, John

[Chris Patrick]

Re: 63 Radio

Here's one, so it will be in the archives.

[Rainer S.]

Re: 63 Radio

Thanks, everybody for the excellent advise. Spend the better part of last night on internet, looking for an AM radio, could not find one. And guess what, there is one that shows-up on Ebay, thanks to Larry. I would not have searched Ebay for a radio again for a while, if Larry would not have pointed it out. It must have just listed today.
I just bought it (buy-it-now)...
Was just about to send for restoration faceplate kit for my AM/FM from Paragon and send the radio to Siegfried in Sabastopol, Ca. for restoration.
Will hold-off for a while on the AM/FM and get the AM radio restored, once I got it.
May restore the AM/FM later...

Rainer

[John D.]

Harry told you. Not Larry. *NM*