ConcoursMustang Forums

1st Generation 1964 1/2 - 1973 - Questions & general discussions that apply to a specific year => 1970 Mustang => Topic started by: the1970mach1 on December 09, 2011, 01:15:56 PM

Title: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 09, 2011, 01:15:56 PM
Hello,

Almost the same question as the one about the painted wheels.
In my understanding a AM radio was standard for a orderd or not pre orderd car.
I have seen a few cars with a radio delete panel and I was wondering, was it an option to remove the radio ( like it says radio delete ).
Or, was a car from factory deliverd with a radio and by delivery ( dealer pre check ) removed and the bezel replaced by a radio delete bezel / panel ?
also here, what would the buildsheet or marti repport say. Nothing, or just...

So, I'm building / restoring an 1970 sportsroof that will be made into a plain jane sleeper.
I hear you think, this is a concours forum and we need only concours stuff, agreed. The job is to save it from the scraper and make a nice sportsroof.
I have a NOS radio delete panel ( very proud piece to own ) !

another interesting one I believe

Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: J_Speegle on December 09, 2011, 02:35:09 PM
Radio delete was an option (cars had their radios installed at the factory) so they needed to know at the plant to leave the radio out and install the block off plate. At this point the antennas would not have been installed so to conflict with having a hole in the fender like they did on later years. On the later ones there was an antenna hole block of plate also

With that said 69-70 radio delete panels are very difficult to find (been looking for about 8 years so far - need one for my 69) Think I might have to make my own but too many other projects right now
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 09, 2011, 03:04:27 PM
i know, it was a damn hard nut to crack.
I have started to make on my self, but will never be an original.

Have you got by any chance a marti repport of a car that had this option ? any idea how that discribtion would be ?

the problem with making a panel you self is that is has an chrome edge and it has leather like finish that is hard to make... plus the corned piece with the mustang logo is a hard one...

Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 09, 2011, 04:22:05 PM
Here is my Radio Delete panel.
For obvious reasons I decided to put a watermark on them, sorry for that.

woops, all gone...
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: rockhouse66 on December 09, 2011, 06:25:17 PM
Radio delete was an option (cars had their radios installed at the factory) so they needed to know at the plant to leave the radio out and install the block off plate.

Jeff - why would you need a "delete" option when the radio was a price adding option?  Seems to me if you didn't pay for one, you didn't get one - no "delete" required???  I would say that a car without a radio in the option list (like on a Marti report) simply didn't come with one (not "deleted").
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: PerkinsRestoration on December 09, 2011, 07:44:14 PM
Jeff - why would you need a "delete" option when the radio was a price adding option?  Seems to me if you didn't pay for one, you didn't get one - no "delete" required???  I would say that a car without a radio in the option list (like on a Marti report) simply didn't come with one (not "deleted").

  Jim, you are correct, The radio block off plate is standard equipement when no radio is ordered.
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: J_Speegle on December 09, 2011, 09:29:47 PM
Jeff - why would you need a "delete" option when the radio was a price adding option?  Seems to me if you didn't pay for one, you didn't get one - no "delete" required???  I would say that a car without a radio in the option list (like on a Marti report) simply didn't come with one (not "deleted").

Just a poor choice of words "Radio delete was an option" as it was a choose but but not an "option" listed on the order forms. Guess our usage of "radio delete plate/panel" is an incorrect term also  ;)  Not sure what the right name for it should be since there was no radio in the car to delete. Maybe we should start calling it a "Filler Plate for cars without radios"
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: midlife on December 09, 2011, 10:15:04 PM
Jeff - why would you need a "delete" option when the radio was a price adding option?  Seems to me if you didn't pay for one, you didn't get one - no "delete" required???  I would say that a car without a radio in the option list (like on a Marti report) simply didn't come with one (not "deleted").

This kinda reminds me of the floor mat options over the past 3 decades or so.  Since they were always optional, I wanted to buy a car without them.  Since every car was delivered with them, the dealers refused to remove them and lower the price on the car.  I never got the dealer to see it my way, however...
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 10, 2011, 04:22:50 AM
but that was kind of the question in this topic.
so basicly, if there was not been spoken of in the dealer agreement or a non preorderd car, they would standard leave the factory with an AM.
So only when I choose NOT to put a ready in it, the radio delete panel would be installed.
in my opinion the Delete in "Radio Delete Panel" says something about deleting the radio from the list of options, rather then deleting the radio out of the car. In that case, the delete is still a good word for this part...
but, now this forum has a buch of evidence to keep and thats nice enough.
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: rockhouse66 on December 10, 2011, 08:41:17 AM
they would standard leave the factory with an AM.

No, I don't think so.  Not unless you ordered one and paid extra for it.
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: Andrew@MagMustangs on December 10, 2011, 02:11:11 PM
I'd Call it a 'Non-Radio Heater Control Bezel"  ;)
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: 70cj428 on December 10, 2011, 03:11:34 PM
I' call it "REALLY REALLY hard to find" !
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 10, 2011, 03:31:19 PM
any idea ( wild gues ) how many 69 / 70s where sold without a radio ?
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: J_Speegle on December 10, 2011, 08:53:45 PM
any idea ( wild gues ) how many 69 / 70s where sold without a radio ?

Nope - we would have to pay Kevin Marti some research time to see that number.

Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: midlife on December 10, 2011, 10:17:51 PM
any idea ( wild gues ) how many 69 / 70s where sold without a radio ?

You can deduce the number from Marti's "Mustangs by the Numbers".  In 1969, there were 299,821 Mustangs.
251,361 had AM radio
14,415 had AM/FM
12,673 had AM/8 track
Total radios: 278,449

Thus, no radios were 21,372!
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: 70cj428 on December 11, 2011, 12:11:24 AM
I'd bet that most of the cars that were delivered to the dealer with no radio had an aftermarket radio installed before they were sold. I bought a box full of radio delete plates in the mid 1980's from a local radio shop that did (and still does) radio work  for several of the local ford dealers. The owner told me that back then they could install an aftermarket radio for 10$ - 15$ less than ford charged and would send a tech out to the dealerships 2 =3 times a month to do just that.  I ended up with about 80 Ford radio delete plates (about 20 were mustang..) and  about a dozen or so incomplete radio installation kits for mustangs, most missing just the radio. Unfortunately I sold most of the stuff off in the early 1990's at carlisle  :(  I'm guessing that 90% of the cars that left the dealership with no radio all had radios within 6 months or so, so almost none of the plates survived.  65-66 plates aren't too hard to find, early 67 plates turn up occcasionally, late 67-68 plates are tough, and 69-70 standard plates are really hard to find. The 69-70 woodgrain plates are nearly impossible (I've only seen 2 in 30 years of collecting parts..)  As for 71-73, they seem to be scarce, but don't bring the money that the others do...
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: J_Speegle on December 11, 2011, 01:09:26 AM
You can deduce the number from Marti's "Mustangs by the Numbers".  In 1969, there were 299,821 Mustangs...........
Thus, no radios were 21,372!

Thanks for the math. Looks like approx 8%
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 11, 2011, 05:50:05 AM
Nope - we would have to pay Kevin Marti some research time to see that number.

Last time I paid Kevin I had to wait more then half a year on my good and had very very bad communication so no...
21k, thats still a very large number. find that some how hard to believe... but okay. does it realy matter ? think not, its rare, its original and that counts.
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 11, 2011, 05:59:01 AM
I'd bet that most of the cars that were delivered to the dealer with no radio had an aftermarket radio installed before they were sold. I bought a box full of radio delete plates in the mid 1980's from a local radio shop that did (and still does) radio work  for several of the local ford dealers. The owner told me that back then they could install an aftermarket radio for 10$ - 15$ less than ford charged and would send a tech out to the dealerships 2 =3 times a month to do just that.  I ended up with about 80 Ford radio delete plates (about 20 were mustang..) and  about a dozen or so incomplete radio installation kits for mustangs, most missing just the radio. Unfortunately I sold most of the stuff off in the early 1990's at carlisle  :(  I'm guessing that 90% of the cars that left the dealership with no radio all had radios within 6 months or so, so almost none of the plates survived.  65-66 plates aren't too hard to find, early 67 plates turn up occcasionally, late 67-68 plates are tough, and 69-70 standard plates are really hard to find. The 69-70 woodgrain plates are nearly impossible (I've only seen 2 in 30 years of collecting parts..)  As for 71-73, they seem to be scarce, but don't bring the money that the others do...

this sounds familour and logic to me... thanks and uh... you should not have sold them back then  :)
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: jwc66k on December 11, 2011, 01:02:56 PM
I special ordered a 1969 San Jose built Sportsroof without a radio and the saleman was "surprised" as everybody ordered a radio. My first factory installed radio was in a 1973 Torino after four consecutive new Fords without. My uncle could get a better radio wholesale.
Jim
Title: Re: Radio Delete
Post by: the1970mach1 on December 11, 2011, 01:21:42 PM
but, did that 69' come with a delete plate on delivery then ?