1978 Radio Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 343
Likes: 10
From: Jackson New Jersey
1978 Radio Question
Have a question about the stock AM/FM 8 track radio in a 1978 ...should the radio have black push buttons for selecting preset channels or chrome push buttons....trying to replace my radio...the one in my Pace Car when I got it had Black push buttons...my buddy's has black push buttons...but someone mentionied that the correct is the silver push buttons...I'm somewhat confused on it now....?????
Not reffering to the ***** for turning radio on or tunning the radio station
Not reffering to the ***** for turning radio on or tunning the radio station
Last edited by Indigoblue; Sep 19, 2015 at 12:50 PM. Reason: to clarify buttons
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
I have pictures of my Bowtie 78 SA if you need them. I can send to your email but they are identical to what Peter posted.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,372
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
The 5 pushbuttons are black.
They can be interchanged. Firmly pull them out till they come off. Push on till they seat.
The am/fm slide bar is black also.
They can be interchanged. Firmly pull them out till they come off. Push on till they seat.
The am/fm slide bar is black also.
Last edited by KapsSA; Sep 19, 2015 at 02:11 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 12
From: Milwaukee, WI / NYC, NY
I am the original owner (my father bought the car new, and it's the car I drove in high school in 1986-1988) of an early 1978 with 8 track. The title for the car is November of 1977.
It most definitely has chrome buttons for changing the channels. It is definitely the original radio.
It most definitely has chrome buttons for changing the channels. It is definitely the original radio.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,226
Likes: 668
From: Northeast
Usually the NCRS judging manual is accurate. This is what they say about the buttons "All radios use a black plastic slide bar above the black plastic push buttons for am or fm selection".
If there are design changes they make note and post their findings when a change might have taken place. There is nothing I found & since they started production in Sept 77 you would think they would have judged cars from then to Nov when your car was built.
Only possibility might be that the radio needed to be replaced sometime between 1977 and when you started driving in 86
If there are design changes they make note and post their findings when a change might have taken place. There is nothing I found & since they started production in Sept 77 you would think they would have judged cars from then to Nov when your car was built.
Only possibility might be that the radio needed to be replaced sometime between 1977 and when you started driving in 86
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,492
Likes: 12
From: Milwaukee, WI / NYC, NY
Nope- spoke to my father and I also have all the service records from purchase to now (quite a Large box). It has never been replaced.
As an aside, before I started driving it, i used to be the one washing and cleaning it ith my Dad as a little kid.
As an aside, before I started driving it, i used to be the one washing and cleaning it ith my Dad as a little kid.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,372
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Car was a dealer order, not a customer order. I assume the original buyer, who I bought it from in 1984, didn't want the 8track. Back then nobody bothered with these kinds of details, I never questioned it. About this time 8tracks were loosing popularity while cassettes were the big thing.
At least in mine they installed a black button radio.
Keep in mind, these gm radios were used in ALL gm cars from the early 70s to the mid 80s, mostly with chrome buttons. The Corvette didn't get this style radio til 77.
You'll see a lot of radios on ebay claimed to be Corvette radios, but really it's just a matter of fitting a Corvette.
My white79 came to me with an aftermarket radio. Original was CB which I didn't want to bother with. Proceeded to buy FIVE radios off ebay for cheap prices. A CB, an am/fm, and 3 cassettes. Four had chrome buttons. The only black button one was nos, but didn't work. Transferred the am/fm chassis from the one radio into the nos one with the cassette.
Gave the CB to someone here for parts, sold the one cassette, and pretty much scrapped the rest.
Came out OK $ wise at least.
Do you have window sticker or build sheet showing radio option?
Last edited by KapsSA; Sep 20, 2015 at 08:46 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 229
Likes: 1
From: Grants Pass Oregon
Have a question about the stock AM/FM 8 track radio in a 1978 ...should the radio have black push buttons for selecting preset channels or chrome push buttons....trying to replace my radio...the one in my Pace Car when I got it had Black push buttons...my buddy's has black push buttons...but someone mentionied that the correct is the silver push buttons...I'm somewhat confused on it now....?????
Not reffering to the ***** for turning radio on or tunning the radio station
Not reffering to the ***** for turning radio on or tunning the radio station