I'll see you on that and raise you a heater delete plate for my 56 Ford Mainline. I've found a better color match for them since this picture was taken so they look better now. The heater delete came with the firewall block off plates too.
here my deleted radio and heater controls and cigarette lighter I kept the headlights, wiper and key holes. MrC.
in an old truck, they're pretty common...unless the dash got hacked up. Also notice the heater control delete to the right of the radio. In all fairness, these are not really "deletes", as the radio and heater were not standard equipment back then, and were often dealer installed. The term "radio delete" is more of an OT muscle car thing.
Here is what I'm running in my '51 Merc. I have a '54 Merc Dash with a Packard radio delete. Found it on Ebay and it was too kool to p*** it up. Happy Trails, Mick
one time I bought 70 1949 and 50 radio deletes for around $125.00. most were like new because they were dealer takeoffs from new or near new cars. guess they just tossed them in a box and forgot about them for 60 years. I listed them on ebay starting at $16.99. some of them went up to 50 - 60 bucks. that was fun. had a buch of 53 - 54's but they did not sell as well.
Okay, please pardon a dumb question from a confused English man. From my experience of 50s cars some of them came with real cool looking radios. Why would you want to remove them? Is it some sort of traditional Kustom historical thing? Or are we talking about covering the hole left by some ugly modern upgrade? I only ask because I am thinking of cutting a hole in my dash to insert an upgraded early 60s Motorola's that is iPod compatible (iPod in the glove box, but controlled by the early facia). This one in fact. Good idea? Bad idea? Thanks for the help in advance Paul
We're (or at I am) talking the factory radio delete plate that was installed if a guy didn't pony up for an OPTIONAL radio from factory.
Mine was a basic 210 without the radio option Meaning it had a metal cover that filled the factory hole for the factory radio. I haven't desided what type of radio I want to put in Ipod or CD changer, and my dash was so rusted It is easier to fill the hole and cut out what I want later, Plus its a custom smooth dash too. MrC
in the early 60s guys hunted for the cheap body style cars for a light weight car to turn into a g***er or street racer. Quite often the cheapest lightest cars were bought by little old ladies that only wanted basic transportation and no frills. It has become a status symbol for the g***er set to run the factory radio delete plates. My 56 came as a Customline mid priced Ford for 56 with a push ****on radio, deluxe heater and carpeting. I have "detuned" it into a Mainline. Cheaper steering wheel with no horn ring, rubber mats, shorter side chrome. etc etc. It was fun just chasing down the correct parts for the conversion. Of course you could order a Mainline with a push ****on radio and a deluxe heater but most didn't. The ultimate for guys that dig this look is a genuine business coupe which unlike the club coupe had no back seat and the rear side windows were fixed with no regulators. Chevrolet called them Utility sedans because most were sold to the utility companies as a cheap economic company car. In 55 Ford called them business sedans since the coupe was discontinued after 54. It was all about the weight.
Yes Larry, I remember restoring a 68 L88 convertible/4 speed that had manual brakes, manual windows and a radio delete from the factory. Scary A** car that wouldn't stop.
Technicaly what you have are radio block off plates unless the vehicle came with a radio as standard equipment. With a radio delete or heater delete you would get money deducted from the list price by the dealer. Most cars, except luxury models, prior to the mid 60's did not have a radio as standard equipment and unless ordered came with a block off plate. Heater delete was a popular option for cars sold in southern states and Hawaii.
I have done alot of OT radio hides for Drunkards; I mean German Baptis' here but never personally done a "DELETE". We just leave the windows down and the doors unlocked when we need that done around here?
When I asked the 55-56 Ford vendor about a heater delete, he said are you building a cop car? He said my heater delete kit came from a NM. junk yard most likely not the mountainous region. There were 3 different plates to complete a non factory heater car from the factory. Remember in the middle 50s car ads usually had R&H in the ad if they were so equipped. They were still optional accessories.
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