73C34me

Looking for a radio delete plate for my 73. Who has made one & can u post pics. Also, any interest in making additional one(s)? thanx

Ironcross

I don't believe there was one as a radio had to be specifically ordered or you got a dash without a hole for the radio.....it was not until the 77 or 78 was a radio standard equipment and included in the base price. I know that was the procedure for 63`s and I would think the same custom was used

but someone could be making some however not OE

I was wrong, there are some plates both OE and aftermarket for the 68- but on the 63, I am correct........

rcread

Corvette Central has them for $165 here.

gbvette62

All 68 to 82 center gauge bezels, have the radio holes in them from the factory. GM made 2 different block off plates, one for 68-76 cars and a second one that fit the 77-82 bezels. From 68-79, when all radios were optional, the plate was installed when a radio wasn't ordered and on 80-82 Corvettes, it was installed when the standard radio was deleted (RPO UL5).

The 68-76 block off plate is repro-ed (see rcread's Corvette Central link, though Paragon is the actual maker of these), the 77-82 plate is not available.

myoriginal77

WOW - $165 -

rcread

I know. It's cheaper to buy a radio.

yellow 72

I made one about a hundred years ago ...
Welded on the ends and 1/4" studs to mount through radio shaft holes....sprayed it with rattle can truck bed liner for a close to perfect match to the bezels original texture

gbvette62

Think about it. Just how many can they sell? How many people want a car without a radio? Even if every L-88 has survived, and they were all missing the block off plate, that's still only 200 potential buyers. How many owners beyond those with an L-88 will ever want or need a radio block off plate?

I think it's being cast off of the original GM molds, so there probably wasn't much in the way of development costs. Still, they had to acquire the molds, pay the GM licensing and royalty fees, and then they have the cost of producing it (casting, chrome and paint). In the end, how many pieces can they potentially sell?

When you consider that most (US made) repro emblems cost between 40 and 80 dollars, and their production costs can be spread over thousands of pieces, I don't think the price is to bad a part that will probably never sell 500 of.

Wow, that looks really nice. Very well done!

73C34me

Yellow 72- I really like your plate! I may consider doing something like this.

Alan 71

Hi GB,
I agree, the attraction of no radio stops pretty quickly once you get beyond the L-88, and ZR-1/ZR-2 cars.
Regards,
Alan

66L36Coupe

Who needs a radio when you have solid lifters, M22 and 4.56:1 posi?

LS7Vette

Love the look of a dash with no radio !!!!!!!!!!!

yellow 72

Or the sweet whine of a 6-71

66L36Coupe

LOVE IT!

Alan 71

Hi 66L,
I was referring to GB's point about very few cars NEEDING a plate for RESTORATION.
Your use of one is for a different reason....and a VERY good one!
Regards,
Alan

LS7Vette

The new ones are not even the correct mold. There are a number of differences bewteen the two and to someone who has seen both styles you can tell while standing outside the car if its a repro or an original. The down side of that is if you have a $200,000.00 + car your not going to even buy this plate, you'll spend the big bucks on an original.

Either way I agree, $165 for these repro plates is a very fair price.

73C34me

Agree with you guys on your comments. My case, no heater, no radio, tilt-front end, etc. May not even use a console, just have carpet fit for the area. Using a hurst super competition shifter with lock out handle that did not fit the console well. It may now, as I modified the bracket a bunch, but I need to purchase a console to check the fit!

3JsVette

Very nice job! For a "race car" theme Corvette I think your's looks better than the "repo". You might want to think about building them upon request.

TheSkunkWorks

$165 really isn't bad. Last time I was browsing feeBay for interesting Corvette items I ran across a guy trying to get $650 for one of these.

Can't find the '77 & up one shown in the AIM at any price.

69 Chevy

My budget did not allow $165 + shipping for that piece of plastic. So I welded one from a scrap piece of aluminum diamond plate, painted black.

With sidepipes bellowing and a magneto whining, who can listen to a radio anyway? My Ipod Touch and a set of headphones works for me if I feel the need for music.