Thumb wheel radio - MOPAR overall still works after 43 years!

[bigmanjbmopar]

Got me a radio off ebag, guy said it din't work. Got it home, cleaned it up had a wasp nest inside lol got every thing working except the tuner dial it's a bit sticky still. My in-dash speaker still works after 43 years lol a testament to Chrysler products.

I am finding that 99% of the original stuff I get from people who think it's dust are just not taking the time to really check, and it turns out it just needed a little cleaning or the right mind looking at it I guess.

I have got things like my ignition switch courtesy light working and that little relay is not easy to get anymore, rebuilt my heater/ ac controls also my tail lights someone hacked through a wire in the trunk and the last owner just rigid up the wires idiot!.

It's just nice to know that for the most part the original equipment stuff is still working after all this time and a lot of times weathered or even neglected and damaged. Chrysler ids the best car maker hands down I don't care what others say, they just don't make'em like that anymore for sure!

What do you think of my radio? Sitting in my garage last night as picked up a local hockey game with the antenna fully extended lol

 

[Bee383]

nice.i still have the original thumbwheel am model that came with my bee.the po had purchased one that had been upgraded with the fm tuner that works great.i wonder if my old one works

 

[tallhair]

Dat's cool and looks good in there

 

[q-ship]

I couldn't agree more on the materials quality of these cars. Build/assembly quality is another thing, but that's not your point.

It's truly sad how far we have fallen as a nation. I find it difficult, if not sometimes impossible, to find most any replacement part that "NEW" is as good as a decent original 40+ year old used part, and theres no chance that the new part will last as long as most original parts. Back then durability/quality was the norm, even in a mass produced, relatively short lifespan item such as a car.

Congrats on your radio purchase. The tuner in them is dramatically better than any new AM tuner of even the most expensive radios, yet even they pale in comparison to a late 40's - early 50's radios. --- As a side note, do you know that your radio is adjustable for the best reception? It is done by adjusting the antenna trim potentiometer. How to do it is explained in the factory service manual.

Nice to see that there is someone else out there that can see and appreciate the quality that was once the norm.

Good luck with your restoration.