Hot Rods Got a radio? but what about the ugly antenna?

I don't have a radio or stereo system in my hot rods but did put a radio in Brenda's wagon but couldn't make myself drill a hole in the fender for the antenna so I mounted it under the car and it's basically worthless.

If you have a radio in your what did you do about the antenna? HRP

 

I have had a few antennas (mounted on the fender where they belong), and a few without, and I never really thought there was anything wrong with the antenna. It looks like it belongs on an old car.

 

When Brenda's grandmother purchased the wagon it was to be a work horse for her flower shop so it didn't need unnecessary stuff like carpet,heater or radio so there never was a antenna hole in the fender,and to be perfectly honest I didn't give it a thought until after the car was painted. HRP

 

I got an "amplified" antennae from Yearwood years ago, put it under the dash in my '46, worked good.

 

Get xm and use there small pod. I have a small head unit in my 32 and it just runs off my ipod. Never have used it though.

 

I'm just gonna put a Bluetooth speaker in the car.
This is what I did with the old Antenna Hole!

 

I just did a 57 Chevy with an Autosound stereo and zip tied the antenna to 2 brackets under the dash.
It lays in sideways ,but has great reception. I couldn't bring myself to drill a hole in the fender.

 

i have an antenna but no ugly radio........

 

I have the radio hidden up under the lower dash rail on passenger side with a short aerial mounted horizontally also up under the dash in my 35 Chebby, works well. Easily within reach and reasonable reception.
My 46 Olds is getting an NOS red dot aerial on the driver's side cowl.

 

I like the vintage look and know the antenna on your Chevy is not a recent addition.

Your location inspired Dave to do the same on the confused pickup. HRP

 

Get a big ol' whip antenna that clamps to the rear bumper.
Old school.

 

On my 40, you can see the antenna just in front of the radiator behind the grille. Seems to work well.

Mick

 

Mick,that's genius.

Hiding the antenna in plain sight.HRP

 

I have just extended it under the dash and it worked

 

I pulled a big boner and drilled a hole in the hump back of my 36 Ford for a power one. Now I don't even listen to the radio and really wish I had a time machine. My 36 Chevy Truck dos'nt have a radio and I really don't miss it at all cause I sing to myself real good! Mitch.

 

I hung a raccoon tail on my rear mounted antenna!

 

Always works on a custom. HRP

 

I have had a typical fender mount type antennae under the running board of my 39 convertible for years. it is insulated at the running board braces by grommets. works well but I usually just use the old 12 CD changer for the tunes. On my forty coupe I installed one of those hidden units just below the rear windows on the bulkhead. Once again the radio works fine but I always use the I Pod gizmo that is 3"x 1/1/2"x 5/16" thick and stores more tunes than the 12 CD changer.

 

I did this-
Cheap and effective- just like me.

 

We have tried a few hidden antennas and they just plain don't work. And the short rubber styles also suck. Gotta be the good old metal ones. Or if your like me and are plagued by only country stations, I just plug in my phone to the Aux. Cord and switch to Chuck Berry radio.

Sent from my XT1585 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I also tried the hidden antenna and they just did not perform well, so I went with Sirius xm and put the antenna under my 32 glass roadster dash using kit #sxpl1v1, for a new customers they have a special $30 for six months, after the special I got music only for $12 dollars a month,
I also got 2 more kits and added them to two other cars and just plug the receiver into the car I'm driving and just tape the little antenna the the top of the dash, so I can use it in 3 cars for 12 bucks.
Drove to Arizona this past winter by myself and sure was nice to be able to listen to my rock and roll music for the 2000 mile drive one way

 

Kinda ironic, my '32 has an antenna and no radio!
Even if it had one, I probably wouldn't be able to hear it, I have stereo Hemi sounds blasting at me!
KK

 

no radio.

 

I put a power antenna on the back of my '37. I never see it because when it's up I'm behind the wheel.

 

Our family's '52 Ford Country Sedan came with a radio, and the antenna was mounted on top of the passenger side fender, as I recall. Never gave much thought to its appearance.

 

My 51 Fleetline has a power one in the left front fender. Wired correctly now. When I got it, it went up every time you turned the key. Now it only goes up if ya turn on the radio.

 

I got one of these mounted to the windshield behind the mirror.


It works well in town, but not so much out in the boonies. Added a CD changer in the trunk that plays through the radio.

 

In the 1950s,I thought of a car radio as really cool high tech an so was the antenna=being a sign the car was cool,we even added extra antenna's {it was very cool to have two of them}. At somepoint in the 70s the bubble of BS in younger guys heads got out of wack with what really was. Although there were some show car rules that came out,made things get a bit crazy "extra points deal"with too many antenna's,spotlights,scoops etc." Every one know what was going on,tell a few years want by an many younger guys didn't asked,to get understanding. Made up the bubble of BS,that goes around.
It's OK,today we have radios with hide a way wire antenna,so be stelf, LOL for the uninformed.

 

Good to have you back Dana. HRP

 

I used the chicken wire in the roof of my 32. Works great, just have to make sure its not grounded anywhere.