Aftermarket Stereos affect resale of C3 vetts

[LT4hitsthespot]

For those that want the factory look you don't have to give it up. Get one of the Secret Audio (I believe thats the name) they make one that looks retro but is digital. Fits in place of the stock so NO cutting.

Mine has the original stereo but with my pipes and tops off I couldn't hear it on the highway and it was hard tuning in stations, sometimes impossible. I checked around but didn't want to cut up the dash even though I could replace it later for little $$$. I really liked the look of the original in there. I bought the Secret Audio that is a hidden unit. I put the unit under the dash on passenger side. It has a cable that I ran under the trim and mounted the small (probably 2"x4") control head on the center support bar between my t-tops. No one ever sees it. I got the RF remote with it so I wouldn't have to worry about line of sight and I could change stations and volume from outside my car. I never use it though so I'd suggest saving the $20 and take the other remote. Another reason I like this is that all anyone sees is the old radio and since I never lock it and leave my t-tops off I don't have to worry about my stereo getting stolen.

I personally wasn't looking for an awesome sounding system and wouldn't pay the $$$ for one so someone could steal it (been there done that before). I believe the system is 150 watts. It always plays loud enough for me to hear no matter what driving conditions I am in. They also have a CD changer that works of the same head and remote. I didn't get that yet. Wish I had. I was going to hide it in the stoage compartment too.

Just thought I'd pass it on to the ones not wanting to change the look or cut up the car. If you want more info on it get hold of me and I'll try to find my paperwork to get you the web site. Oh, the price wasn't bad either. I believe I paid around $200 with the RF remote. Took like 15 minutes to get it all hooked up and hidden.

 

[Corvette Craig]

Red76

Do aftermarket stereos affect the resale value of C3's?
In my opinion, yes.
I'd pay more for a C3 that already had a decent stereo in it!!!

Let's face it, who want's the crap that's in there? Even the naysayers who wouldn't change anything unless it was a direct order from God himself have to admit, they would like a better system.

If your concerned about appearence, then buy one of the Corvette vendors retro-look stereo's. Keep in mind though, the stereo is only as good as the speakers themselves, and they have to be changed too.

I installed a 200 watt Pioneer CD player, along with 2: 5-1/4" dia speakers set right in the kick panels (I disconnected the upper dash speakers) 2: 6 x 9 speakers along with 2: 3" tweeters all mounted together in a carpeted speaker panel box which I built myself, set in the back. Sounds great and it's plenty loud.
My wife still won't let me turn it up all they way!!!
Honestly though, if I didn't tell people it wasn't stock, they wouldn't know (or care) unless they were NCRS judge or a vette owner themselves.

I have pictures in the Members gallery if you want to view.

 

[AmosF16]

It obviously depends on how stock you want your car to look, but the Secret Audio option is a good one if you want to keep that look. The system keeps your stock radio in place; it uses a remote control, amp, and display unit. (Lots of sites with the system for sale if you do a Google search for secret audio.) Speakers, as others have said, are the other necessary change. If you don't want your car to look stock, the options are open ended... .

 

[SLICKMAN]

Here is mine and my baby is a numbers matching car!!

 

[Cream79L82]

I'm too young and too much of an audiophile to have even considered keeping that ancient thing in there. I put two-way Blaupunkt's in the dash, 4-way Kenwood 6"x9"s in the rear and have a home made box with Fosgate 8" Punch XLC's powered with a late model Kenwood 300 watt amp. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to start screwing around a town with the interior though... so I just have my power and ground cables looped over the top terminals on the battery. They're not even soldered on or anything (though that's about to change) and the amp just rests on the floor. I can take the whole bass and amp off in less than 3 minutes. I guess a thief could too, but that's what the alarm is for and I probably couldn't stop them anyway. It sounds awesome though, and I'm happy everytime I hear it. Just me $.02.

Modify it.

-Jon

 

[Red76Vette]

This is what I went with Sony and Audiobahn, 4 1/2 in the front, 6x9 in the back Koiiler 4 ch amp and 2 Polk 10"s but they are too much I am going to get an 8" sub back there I had the 10’s in my old car. But it sounds great. I have been trying to get a picture of it but it wont let me post it is to high resolution how do i get it lower.

Late Chuck

 

[drduckster]

decent stereo

LastRide, I would like to see the plans for the suspended speakers, I currently have a Sony Explode head, with Infinitys (4")in the kickpad, Polk (4") in the dash, leaving 2 6x9 explodes, in my storage space, with a Bazooka, 8" sub. I did build a box but could not put anything else back there. I do have a # matching car and would like to leave the original in place. Yeah, I know the system is mixed but I can live with it, if I could find more space. I welcome any ideas.

 

[Last Ride]

Re: decent stereo

LastRide, I would like to see the plans for the suspended speakers, I currently have a Sony Explode head, with Infinitys (4")in the kickpad, Polk (4") in the dash, leaving 2 6x9 explodes, in my storage space, with a Bazooka, 8" sub. I did build a box but could not put anything else back there. I do have a # matching car and would like to leave the original in place. Yeah, I know the system is mixed but I can live with it, if I could find more space. I welcome any ideas.

The rear box is the only part that isn't done yet. I have looked at plans, but I don't have access to them for another few days. I will try to get ahold of them when I get back home. From the sketches, you could easily put the T-tops in the back.

 

[Red76Vette]

I would like the plans to I can’t fit $#!+ back there. I wish I could have my system and my tops all in that little cubby hole.

Thanks, Chuck

 

[Glensgages]

personally, I like the look of the orginal radio, however mine doesn't work. I thought about sending it off to be rebuilt with elctronic parts but the cost was too expensive. So I'm stuck with my delimma.
Gary

Red73BB, can I ask WHERE you attempted to get you OEM radio re-built? My '82 'needs help', but I want to retain the 'stock appearances' (i.e.- face=plate, knobs, etc.), too. If the darn thing had more than 17k miles, I'd just drop-in a 'newer-style', stereo, but .......

 

[Bob Chadwick]

Modify

 

[dlrshort]

I love the looks of my original Delco. It wasn't working when I got the car last year. For slightly more than what an aftermarket radio would have cost, I had it repaired by Corvette Radios in Washington State. They did a great job! I have had 'corvette replacement radios' in my other two vettes and didn't like them.

dlrshort

 

[Glensgages]

I love the looks of my original Delco. It wasn't working when I got the car last year. For slightly more than what an aftermarket radio would have cost, I had it repaired by Corvette Radios in Washington State. They did a great job! I have had 'corvette replacement radios' in my other two vettes and didn't like them.

dlrshort

Now, THAT'S what I'm talkin' bout! Can you pass any info along regarding 'Corvette Radios' in Washington state? Prices? Quality? I'd love to have my AM/FM/cassette re-done. The tape plays fine, but only get 2 local FM, and NONE on the AM band. THANKS in advance!

 

[dlrshort]

Glenn, I paid $248 and had the radio repaired and refurbished. It not only was not working but it had been splattered from oil from a leak behind the oil gauge. They had that thing done and back in about a week. It works fine.

dlrshort

here's the web site:

http://corvetteradios.com/

 

[Thumper]

There is another alternative for you 68 - 76 owners. Check out
www.vettespecialties.com , click on "Catalog", and then "VS Exclusives". Look for the din stereo and guage bezel. If you're handy with tools, you can buy just the stereo bezel and modify your guage panel yourself for much cheaper than buying the whole guage panel. I picked one up and the quality is great, and the look is even better.

I'm putting in a Blaupunkt San Francisco head unit, with a remote Blaupunkt 10 disc CD changer, amp, etc. etc.

 

[nstg8r]

when I bought my car it had some crappy aftermarket post style stereo with a tape deck so I (those who hate the cutting of dashs turn away now) bought a Rockford Fosgate mp3 cd player (I hate switching cd's every 5 minutes) and cut a din style opening in my dash and installed it (doing a far better job than the last guy to install a stereo in it, can you belive they cut the plug off the wires and just connected the plug for the new stereo, I could have shot somone when I pulled the console apart and found that) I know that it doesn't look anywhere near stock but I kind of like the way it looks. What do you guys think?

 

[Mako]

There is another alternative for you 68 - 76 owners. Check out
www.vettespecialties.com , click on "Catalog", and then "VS Exclusives".

Ahh, that's exactly what I'm looking for

I just ordered a bezel for my '69. I received an offer that was just too good to turn down for my original stock stereo, so I'll take that $ and put in a proper CD player that I can hear over the sidepipes.

Thanks for the referal, I'll let you know how it turns out.

CYa!
Mako

 

[Ganey]

Normally no stereo. Kenwood eXcelon X811 mask, lg. amp. in back center storage & custom tweaked home speakers. Don't run it much, but it must move all the air. It ROCKS.

The engine makes enough music for me.

:cool

 

[84Vette]

I decided to put in a Kenwood Deck, Pair of kenwood 6x9's, 10inch sub and amp i left my front speakers stock. Sounds So goooooood!!!!! Turn the car off deck flips over to conceal itself. Nice I don't feel one bit bad about doing that to a Numbers matching car with 26000 on it.

BJ

 

[Bob's454]

For me, It's fine if someone sold me a vette that has an after market stereo system, providing, the console isn't messed up.