Radio Antenna possibilities question

manta73wi · 03-23-2005

My "new" '75 Manta did not come with a radio or antenna originally, which I believe would have been dealer installed back in the day. The previous owner recently installed a CD player, which is fine, but I would miss my morning radio show on the way to work.

Since there is no antenna, I would like to install one (I do have antenna & cable from my '74 parts car). However, looking at the shiny fender, I'm not thrilled about cutting a hole there. It looks so nice and smooth without the chrome glob on top of the fender!

Are there any modern advances in antennas that would allow for decent reception without having to cut into the body? Or, should I just give in and install the parts car antenna? Thanks!

Jeff W
'73 Manta
'75 Manta

tekenaar · 03-23-2005

Depends on how "stock" you want to leave car . . . Never thought "windshield" antennas were all that good, reception-wise. Even today, not too many other "non-drill" antenna options.

anastosmotors · 03-23-2005

on my opels i am using the hirschmann antennas [ german made ].
i have the power antenna for $65 and i can get the manual for
around $ 22. it is replacement for bmw and mercedes.

Pete

David McCollam · 03-23-2005

You could mount a semi-automatic power antenna on the rear panel on the passenger's side. I had one on a 75 Manta that I had until recently. It looks good on the back. There are windshield antennas that have better reception these days. You can try to find one of the T-shaped inside antennes designed for the rear window.

The rear mount semi-automatic antenna looks better if you go with the outside mount. Plus, you can lower the antenna when not using the radio.

Don't drill without a good reason. Good luck on that decision.

BQS4 · 03-23-2005

You can go to a CB shop and get a trunk mount that uses the inside lip and you can close the trunk. You can mount an antenna on that and never touch any of the fenders

baz · 03-23-2005

find a ford with the rear screen demister used as an antenna and wire that in (escorts use it )
2 wires to the grid on the screen
1 power in
1 ground and a screw in antenna lead to the radio
result radio with no holes

simplemind7 · 03-23-2005

this might sound stupid as i've never heard of it done or talked about before (probably for some reason) but could the body itself be used as an antenna? as in hook one end of the antenna wires to the front of the roof and the other to the back. or would the body already being used as a ground create problems? problems like.... 12 volts running at way too many amps running through the deck on its way to the battery... I think I might have answered my own question there

nobody · 03-23-2005

Like Baz pointed out some cars use a window type. You can buy them at any good stereo shop that does installations. It is a thin wire run across the top of the window with a thin non yellowing tape. They do work well.

I think all Opels brought to the US had a radio. Some newer cars it's an option, like tires and doors that you get to pay extra for.

RallyBob · 03-23-2005

Not sure about GT's, but I've had three other Opels (one Manta, one Ascona, one wagon) with the radio deleted. No hole in the fender top, no hole in the inner fender for an antennae cable, no speaker, and the dashboard inset was smooth with no cutout for a radio.

nobody · 03-23-2005

Now that you mention it I have seen a block off cover that was a factory part. I'm not sure from what model it came but it was Opel.

David McCollam · 03-23-2005

The plate was probably from a Kaddet. The GT and the Manta have the vinyl covered foam dash over the reinforcing sheet metal skeleton.

tekenaar · 03-23-2005

Originally Posted by RallyBob

Not sure about GT's, but I've had three other Opels (one Manta, one Ascona, one wagon) with the radio deleted. No hole in the fender top, no hole in the inner fender for an antennae cable, no speaker, and the dashboard inset was smooth with no cutout for a radio.

Yeah, that's how my 1300 mile '75 Ascona (1900) is . . . no cutouts in dash, no speaker mount, no holes in fender or underneath. Gonna leave it that way for now.

baz · 03-23-2005

Originally Posted by nobody

I think all Opels brought to the US had a radio. Some newer cars it's an option, like tires and doors that you get to pay extra for.

what you had to buy the tyres doors extra

must have been a harsh drive and a heck of a windy ride

oldopelguy · 03-24-2005

Some Ford cars in the early-mid 80's used an antenna that mounted inside the car, either in the a-pillar under the plastic trip or under the top of the dash. They worked a bit better than the wire-type ones, but not quite as well as the regular ones in the fenders. While I wouldn't know where to get one now, I bought 20 or so of them at one point to have around as spares when I was installing stereos professionally, and I still have a few. For someone who doesn't want to drill a hole in the firewall and another in the fender, they might work out slick. Let me know if anyone's interested.

03-23-2005	#1 (permalink)
manta73wi Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Mequon (Near Milwaukee) Wisconsin Posts: 531 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Unanswered: Radio Antenna possibilities question My "new" '75 Manta did not come with a radio or antenna originally, which I believe would have been dealer installed back in the day. The previous owner recently installed a CD player, which is fine, but I would miss my morning radio show on the way to work. Since there is no antenna, I would like to install one (I do have antenna & cable from my '74 parts car). However, looking at the shiny fender, I'm not thrilled about cutting a hole there. It looks so nice and smooth without the chrome glob on top of the fender! Are there any modern advances in antennas that would allow for decent reception without having to cut into the body? Or, should I just give in and install the parts car antenna? Thanks! Jeff W '73 Manta '75 Manta

03-23-2005	#2 (permalink)
tekenaar Cunning Linguist Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX 75074 Posts: 4,028 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Stock or no? Depends on how "stock" you want to leave car . . . Never thought "windshield" antennas were all that good, reception-wise. Even today, not too many other "non-drill" antenna options. Last edited by tekenaar; 03-23-2005 at 03:45 PM.. Reason: options clarification

03-23-2005	#3 (permalink)
anastosmotors Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: kenosha, wi Posts: 319 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	antenna on my opels i am using the hirschmann antennas [ german made ]. i have the power antenna for $65 and i can get the manual for around $ 22. it is replacement for bmw and mercedes. Pete

03-23-2005	#4 (permalink)
David McCollam Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 559 Classified Rating: 100% (1)	Antenna You could mount a semi-automatic power antenna on the rear panel on the passenger's side. I had one on a 75 Manta that I had until recently. It looks good on the back. There are windshield antennas that have better reception these days. You can try to find one of the T-shaped inside antennes designed for the rear window. The rear mount semi-automatic antenna looks better if you go with the outside mount. Plus, you can lower the antenna when not using the radio. Don't drill without a good reason. Good luck on that decision.

03-23-2005	#11 (permalink)
David McCollam Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 559 Classified Rating: 100% (1)	Block off plate. The plate was probably from a Kaddet. The GT and the Manta have the vinyl covered foam dash over the reinforcing sheet metal skeleton.

03-23-2005	#5 (permalink)
BQS4 Southern Red Neck Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Snellville, GA Posts: 5,058 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Provided Answers: 1	You can go to a CB shop and get a trunk mount that uses the inside lip and you can close the trunk. You can mount an antenna on that and never touch any of the fenders

03-23-2005	#6 (permalink)
baz opel free after 25 years Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: sunderland england Posts: 4,711 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Provided Answers: 1	find a ford with the rear screen demister used as an antenna and wire that in (escorts use it ) 2 wires to the grid on the screen 1 power in 1 ground and a screw in antenna lead to the radio result radio with no holes

03-23-2005	#7 (permalink)
simplemind7 Opel GT? Who makes that? Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ayr, Ontario, Canada Posts: 632 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	this might sound stupid as i've never heard of it done or talked about before (probably for some reason) but could the body itself be used as an antenna? as in hook one end of the antenna wires to the front of the roof and the other to the back. or would the body already being used as a ground create problems? problems like.... 12 volts running at way too many amps running through the deck on its way to the battery... I think I might have answered my own question there

03-23-2005	#8 (permalink)
nobody No Access Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in transit Posts: 3,873 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Like Baz pointed out some cars use a window type. You can buy them at any good stereo shop that does installations. It is a thin wire run across the top of the window with a thin non yellowing tape. They do work well. I think all Opels brought to the US had a radio. Some newer cars it's an option, like tires and doors that you get to pay extra for.

03-23-2005	#9 (permalink)
RallyBob Project 1450 supporter... Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pleasant Valley, CT Posts: 6,656 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Provided Answers: 4	Not sure about GT's, but I've had three other Opels (one Manta, one Ascona, one wagon) with the radio deleted. No hole in the fender top, no hole in the inner fender for an antennae cable, no speaker, and the dashboard inset was smooth with no cutout for a radio.

03-23-2005	#10 (permalink)
nobody No Access Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: in transit Posts: 3,873 Classified Rating: 0% (0)	Now that you mention it I have seen a block off cover that was a factory part. I'm not sure from what model it came but it was Opel.

03-24-2005	#14 (permalink)
oldopelguy Have Opel, Will Travel Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickens, SC Posts: 1,610 Classified Rating: 0% (0) Logbook Entries: 3 Provided Answers: 1	one more idea Some Ford cars in the early-mid 80's used an antenna that mounted inside the car, either in the a-pillar under the plastic trip or under the top of the dash. They worked a bit better than the wire-type ones, but not quite as well as the regular ones in the fenders. While I wouldn't know where to get one now, I bought 20 or so of them at one point to have around as spares when I was installing stereos professionally, and I still have a few. For someone who doesn't want to drill a hole in the firewall and another in the fender, they might work out slick. Let me know if anyone's interested.

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