The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench 1955 1st series radio

I have a '55 1st truck and want to install a radio. The truck is 12 volts. I really want a radio that fits the holes in the dash with AM and FM. One I'm looking at is Vintage Auto Radio. The problem is the price is almost $500. The other one is Retro Sound Apache radio. The price is about $300. Looking for some ideas from the owners of 1954 and 1955 1st truck owners. What radio are you using on your '54 or '55 1st series?

i'm in a simmilar situation. i'm thinking of trying to fix an origional am radio. and/or hide something behind the dash that i can stream my music through using bluetooth. for now i just drive with headphones in. sounds great and drowns out all the noise my truck makes.

Any way you go, it is $$$ or $$$$.

If you are lucky enough to find a used 54/55 Chevrolet truck radio, it will cost $200 if it is junk and it might have the speaker bracket. If you want to get it working and add FM, you'll pay $300-400+ for that work (on top of buying the radio). You'll need a 6v-12v converter, too.

The 12v modern "reproduction" Antique Automobile Radio is about the same price.

Or, get a non-original looking Retro Sound Apache 12v radio and get the functions you want at a little lower cost ($300).

I have a 6v original, adapted to also play 6v FM - it works sometimes.

I have a nicely restored original 6v that is AM only, but it is almost too beautiful to install.

I have one of those original-looking Antique Automobile Radio units and it will eventually be put it in one of my trucks (I saved up my money and bought one on sale). I'll use it with a 6v-12v converter.

I know there is the "Secret Audio" system out there, but it seems a little pricey. There are other systems out there that use a tethered remote that you could just as easily hide and install somewhere.

http://www.onlinecarstereo.com/CarAudio/p_20872_Clarion_MW1.aspx

Here's a smart phone option:

http://store.sony.com/wcsstore/SonyStyleStorefrontAssetStore/pdf/selectapp.pdf

Finally made the radio decision. Have been watching the Vintage Auto Radio on eBay. There was a guy selling a brand new one that was sitting in the box on a shelf. The Vintage Auto Radio with two speakers is $580 plus $18 shipping with a 5 to 6 week wait for the radio to be built. Pay now and get it later when it made. The one I bought is available now. I bought it for a discounted price of $400 plus $18 shipping. $400 is still a lot of money but sure beats the $580 price.