1969 L88 question

[J W.]

Did 1969 L88s leave the factory with a radio capacitor connected to the turn signal flasher under the right hand dash pad even though they were radio delete cars?
Michael 41268

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

I would assume no because adding that capacitor was part of the procedure for installing the radio option as per the assembly manual.

[Jim D.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

I have a radio delete 67, it has a radio capacitor under dash.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

I once saw a 1971 that had no radio, but had ALL the capacitors under the dash. I don't think the line workers paid too much attention to these subtler details.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

I have a radio delete 67, it has a radio capacitor under dash.

I have a no radio 66. No condensers under the dash, or anywhere else, but it does have the ground straps at the center of the exhaust system.

There's a no radio 64 here in town that has a few ground straps that it shouldn't have.

I've seen other genuine no radio cars that have one or more items that should only have been installed with the radio option.

[John H.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

Most cars (about 95%) were ordered with a radio, and not every operator read the broadcast religiously; not unusual to find some radio-related small parts on a non-radio car.

[Robert C.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

Most L-88's that we have judged have capacitors.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

Well this has been interesting for me.

What John says makes perfect sense. I can see the line workers getting into "cruise mode" with the vast majority of cars getting radios. They would just automaticaly insert the capacitors or ground straps assuming that the car was to get a radio and not read every built sheet. Those that did notice after the fact probably didn't feel compeled to go and remove the items either so they just sayed on the car.

I wonder if any radio delete cars actually got a radio? Ya never know!

[J W.]

Re: 1969 L88 question

Thanks everyone. My car was retrofitted with a radio in the distant past so I was not sure if the capacitor was added then or at the factory. It sounds like it could have been either.
Michael 41268