Original Radio

Hi All,

I've a 1991 VW Clipper Cabriolet Auto
It doesn't have it's original radio and I was wondering, what was the original radio in this model and can they still be purchased second hand?
I appreciate you might not get the quality of a new radio but looking to make my car basically as original as possible

Rachel 

I don't think they came with a radio originally - it would be a dealer-fit thing.

91 came with a radio, usually stereo am/fm cassette with tweeters in the door cards and larger round speakers on the ones with electric oem windows.
 then you could upgrade to better cassette or CD Changer, then there were the upper qualities wth aktiv.

http://cabby-info.com/Files/Radios.pdf

Would it be the same here as stateside Bri. ?

Thank you for the information Briano
Now the fun starts, trying to find one at a descent price and if they are still available and if not, hay ho, we'll have to go modern

I had a H reg Golf driver that had the original Panasonic radio cassette. This is a pic of the same in a same age GTI. Not 100% but assuming Cabrios would be the same/similar?

No idea what year this is, but it looks about the right period.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PIONEER-KE-3090-RADIO-CASSETTE-PLAYER-IDEAL-FOR-CLASSIC-RETRO-CAR/313262581803?epid=18026981926&hash=item48efe7a82b:g:GVcAAOSwf~tfi0E1
I wish I'd kept all my old ones!

Hi Early-1800

Thank you for the photo, I do appreciate it, as you'll see below…

Now to tell you a funny story….

After seen your photo yesterday (writing this on Tuesday) I thought, happy days, I'll have a look on Ebay and see if I can find one. I happened to have a coffee with a friend who I showed your photo to and said look, I think I've found the radio and they start laughing (we're sitting in my car) and say's "It's the same radio as you already have in the car!!!!!" LOLIt did make me chuckle
See photo below of my radio!!!!
The radio doesn't work to well, it hasn't been wired correctly so I'll find a auto electrician and see if they can sort out the wires correctly and see if it works and fit the bracket properly….Hopefully this resolves the issue of only picking up one station….

Glad it's still original !  

Looking at you other thread does it have an intact aerial or has it been broken off? That would account for it not working well.

Also the standard speakers on my E-reg were totally knackered (diaphragms disintegrated) 6 years ago so I replaced with some good value Apline ones.

Decided on the following:

1. Going to purchase a new radio which has Bluetooth and USB for charging etc especially with the rules of the road…..  Don't want to get into        trouble, as you know us woman are always on the phone 2. The aerial is not broken, you can still pull it up (don't worry, I do pull it up to use the radio )
3. Going to keep the original radio and get it checked over and if faulty look for another one and keep as a spare.

As much as I wanted to use the original radio as the car is my daily driver I think for safety reason's best I put a new modern radio in but I know I can always put the original back in if I want to at anytime.

Thank you all for all the information and help, I do appreciate it

I'll let you know the outcome 

Yes it's a reversable upgrade esp if you keep the panasonic radio with the car.

You might still want to look at the speakers if they are still the original 30 year old items. No need to get carried away with amps, gold plated connectors and subwoofers filling the boot. Mainstream replacments will prob be million times better than the old factory ones for £30/£40 front and rear each.

You could probably remove your old radio and get the right connections to plug directly into the original wiring so if you did go back the old radio it's just a straight plug and play.

Change the speakers if you can as that makes a lot of difference especially if they are the original ones as they do fall apart over time.

Always a good plan to get a better sound system but I would not go mad and spend loads as theses cars are convertible and if your radio looks to tempting you may find someone cuts the roof/breaks in to nick it.. I make sure my radio is easy to pull out the dash as I much rather they stole my radio without damaging the dash as the dash is probably worth more than the radio.  

Hi Mark,

I brought an inexpensive radio which the front panel unclips so you are just left with backplate. At the moment the speakers are working well and no issues with them so I'll keep them the same for now. Most definitely keeping the old radio and will get it sorted to be used again, if needed

Also agree, rather take the radio than damaging my baby