I think it's pretty well a given that the factory didn't fit radios. That
was a dealer land option.
I'm relatively lucky in that I have found, and spoken to, the original
purchaser of my BJ8, (and all previous owners).....
As a matter of fact - I've also spoken to the dealer that sold the car new!
Which is pretty amazing, isn't it? Being able to know and speak to the
actual dealer that sold your car - the actual guy that signed the sales
invoice - and the buyer - the guy that paid for, and drove your Healey
away!!
Anyway - the original owner (Richard Steil) was able to clarify that he had
a choice of radios when he ordered the car from the dealer (John Sprinzel).
Richard chose the "pushbutton" radio - you can see it here:
http://www.myaustinhealey.com/austin_healey_3000_pics_interior.html
And as you can see from John's invoice (under supply & fit accessories) - at
34 pounds sterling - it was nearly the same price as the leather trim & wire
wheels....
http://www.myaustinhealey.com/john-sprinzel-healey.html
So I'd agree - in this case, a dealer, via his local radio supplier -
possibly offered a "customised" solution.....
Best
Chris
On Fri, Oct 22, 2010 at 2:37 PM, Mike Slechta <mslechta@chartermi.net>wrote:
> If the Motorola was made for the American market, how did it handle the
> reverse polarity ( + earth )? Unless you could change the polarity of the
> radio or car, the whole system, including antenna would have to be
> electrically isolated from the Healey. I learned this the hard way.
> Mad Mike
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Olin Brimberry
> To: HealeyRick
> Cc: healeys@autox.team.net
> Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 10:05 PM
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] Austin Healey Radio?
>
>
> I actually have an original Motorola that came from a BJ8 and it is
> identical in knobs and in font to the numbers, but it did not have
> "AUSTIN HEALEY" on it. I would bet that was an original US band
> Motorola radio that someone put the AH sticker on it. Kind of like
> the windshield sunblocks with the car model typed across it. There
> was probably an outfit making these for radio face plates (sold at JC
> WHitney) when graphics were being overdone in the 80s.
>
> Olin
> On Oct 21, 2010, at 10:47 PM, HealeyRick wrote:
>
> > Doug,
> >
> > I think it's interesting that if I was the original owner of this
> > car, I would
> > call the radio a "factory" one. In reality, who knows? Did
> > Motorola make a
> > special run for Healeys? Did the distributor or dealer commission
> > some
> > special faceplates? All part of the fun of trying to determine what
> > was
> > "original".
> >
> > Rick
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