Becker Retro Radios

I know, I know, real Hot Rodders don't have radios in their cars. That should save me from the anti-radio flaming. With that out of the way, Is any one familiar with these or using one in their ride. I am trying to fill the hole in my dash which has a DIN cut out and the Becker Radios will fill the DIN hole and IMHO look somewhat more traditional.

BTW the dash is finished and I figure that this:




will look better in the dash than this:



Anyone know about these?

js

 

that one dosent look to bad but, check these out, replicas but moderized inside

http://www.vintagecarradio.com/store/index.php?cPath=8

 

Wow, I must be a cheap *****, but $500-$600 for a radio sounds like a lot of bread. Guess I'll just have to hum Johnny Cash tunes to myself............................

 

Low volume specialty market item = high production costs.

Even still, if you are a Ford or Chevy guy, count yourself lucky to even have that option. I don't see any Studebakers listed and likely never will.

 

DIN refers to the connectors on the back of the radio as opposed to the RCA standard. My father was factory trained tech for SABA and worked on any and all German tube type stereos. There is no standard for the size of the hole cut in the dash to fit any radio ch***is be it of German, Japanese or US manufacture. Most of the DIN connectors are found specifically on back side of the older home stereos, tape decks and turntables produced by SABA, Grundig and Minerva. Simplicity was the goal in that only one cable was required to hook up to another component As for sourcing a Becker car radio, they were used a lot in the older (pre 1972) Mercedes, BMW and some VW cars.

 

DIN is an acronym for "Deutsche Industrie Norm"
Translates as "German Standard" and yes,the dash opening is approx 2x7"

 

go with a marine unit and it will blend in with the white part of the dash!

 

Not quite... DIN 75490 is the standard for the size.

International standard ISO 7736 defines a standard size for car audio head units. The standard was originally established by the German standards body Deutsches Ins***ut für Normung as DIN 75490, and is therefore commonly referred to as the "DIN car radio size". It was adopted as an international standard in 1984.

 

Fortunately, I don't live by anyone's 'hot rodder' rules, written or unwritten, (and you should too)...I placed a large wattage CD player in my dash, (and hid all four speakers), then I took the stock radio, trashed everything behind the faceplate and dials and made that fit the dash...

When anyone looks in my car, all they see is a stock dash, but I can remove the faceplate and have the convenience (and playability) of modern day music.

All it takes is a bit of thinking outside the "trad" box...especially if you'd like to hear music on your next long trip.

R-

 

They have radios ,,but a Becker is a reach,,more suited for s Custom or sled,,than a rod

 

Thanks for the idea, but yeah, that's a bit much. I was hoping just to fill the hole in the dash and then hide the modern unit and play my Ipod through it.

 

You know I thought about that!

 

I really don't care what others think, I was just trying to avoid the BS posts from all the "Rule Makers", and the "What Is Traditional Police".

I am trying to accomplish the same as you. The hole in the dash is not on a flat plane, as the dash curves under about 3/4 of the way down. The DIN size sleeve is painted to match the dash so I am looking to cover it with a radio face plate and knobs that look close period correct. I'll start looking at the swap meets for a Becker whether it works or not.

 

It would be going into a 51 Shoebox.

 

Just a thought. Has anyone tried using one of the old Philco universal remote heads? The have nice long cables and a funky dial, and they're even backlit. Seems you could adapt the cables to a cheaper radio and hide it under the dash if space permits. I see them at swap meets all the time.

 

Just some food for thought:When I worked at a Mercedes-Benz dealership(1972-1993)they were equipped with Becker radios(Europa,Mexico.and/or Grand Prix)and we couldn't replace them fast enough.Hopefully their quality has improved since then.The only thing worse was the Hirschmann automatic antennas they used with them.
Most audiophiles at the time were installing Alpine or Harmon-Kardon receivers.

 

Thanks for the advice Safariknut, but I am just looking to fill the hole in the dash with something that looks period correct and will be hiding the real system out of sight.