55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

[David V.]

What is the difference between the 55-56 passenger wonderbar & the 56-57 Corvette wonderbar? They appear to be very similar in appearance. Can a 55-56 passenger wonderbar be "converted" to a 56-57 Corvette wonderbar & if so how? What about the speaker assembly are they different in comparing the pass. to vette? Thanks

[Gary C.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Dave, the new 5th edition JM has this info. Pass car radios power lead comes out the top versus Corvette out the side. Power supplies don't even closely resemble. Gary....

[David V.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Dave, the new 5th edition JM has this info. Pass car radios power lead comes out the top versus Corvette out the side. Power supplies don't even closely resemble. Gary....

Thank You Gary. My Judging Manual is the third edition . I am obviously going to have to dig a little deeper & order a new judging manual. BTW Is the power supply part of what goes with the speaker? Please forgive my ignorance. I'm a novice. Does anyone have pics of the different power supplies for comparison purposes or is that also in the 5th Ed. JM?

[Mike M.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

the speaker assembly from a pass car won't get close to fitting in the corvette's speaker area of the dash. mike

[David V.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Thanks Mike. BTW Is this radio that I recently bought on ebay a Pass. car radio or a Corvette radio? Thanks again Dave: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

[Steven B.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Thanks Mike. BTW Is this radio that I recently bought on ebay a Pass. car radio or a Corvette radio? Thanks again Dave: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Dave, bar does not say Wonderbar, so not a '57 radio for your car.

Sorry,

Steve

[David B.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Looks like a Corvette radio to me. It is a '56 or an early '57. The blank touch bar was used on some early '57's.

[Jack H.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Is the power supply part of what goes with the speaker? Please forgive my ignorance.

Yes, power supply is contained in the speaker surround. These radios were designed prior to the advent of the transistor (first use in '58) and that dictated VERY HIGH voltages to drive a speaker since it responds to current not voltage waveforms.

Transistors amplify a voltage wave generating corresponding current waves as their output...a 'natural' electronic device for building a speaker drive circuit!

[David V.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Thanks Guys. My 57 is #1247 born on 12/12/56. Should the correct Wonderbar for my vette have a blank bar or a bar that says "Wonderbar?" The radio I just bought on ebay has the power supply on the side not on the top (Correct?) so isn't it a Corvette radio? I really appreciate your help guys.

[David B.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

David,

Wow! My '57 was built the day before yours (as estimated by the birthday calendar).

Yours is early enough to have had the blank Wonderbar IMHO. The 1956-1957 Corvette Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide (5th Ed) states that either is possible on the early '57s (like ours).

Dave B.

[Steven B.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

David and David, looks like we are all close on the assembly dates. Mine was assembled 12/13.

Steve

[David B.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

Very cool Steve!

We should keep track of this in case we need to compare notes about any peculiarities we might run across.

As one example, the radio antennae wire on mine is not routed in the manner shown in the AIM, and appears to be original.

Another is that the holes in the driver side inner fender well for the window washer bag/container seems to be drilled for a bag installation, rather than the hole spacing for a container bracket.

Also, the hardtop I have with mine has the '56 style header bar, but I haven't removed the headliner to see if the crayon number matches my VIN. I have wondered if they might have used the '56 hardtops up during the early '57 production.

I am sure there are other similar items it would be good to discuss.

My PM email should be listed on the Board if needed.

Dave B.

[David V.]

Re: 55-56 Pass. Wonderbar vs. 56-57 Vette Wonderbar

WOW! You guys are blowing me away with this stuff. Way too CL! I live near St. Lou. I would love to attend an NCRS event centrally located beween the 3 of us so we could compare our 57s. I have the complete REGISTERED ownership history of my 57 that I'll bet you guys would like to see. It was repoed 5 times in the 1st 10 yrs of it's life in N.C. I'll PM you guys. Thanks.