Spitfire Spitfire stereo question

[Jerseygirl]

Forgive me if these are stupid questions, but I'm still awaiting the arrival of the owner's manual I ordered so...

My Spit came with a Sanyo AM/FM/Cassette head unit and two front Sanyo speakers tucked in behind the dash. Both the head unit and speakers are ancient. Could these be the original equipment? Were stereos even a factory option, or was it a dealer install like in my Volvo? Did cassette decks exist in 1979?

Also, if the stereo was a dealer install option, were they standardized as far as speaker locations? I know in the Volvo there are various locations that the dealers would place the speakers (and antennas for that matter). I ask because I'd like to keep the car as stock as possible, but at the same time I'm very tempted to maybe install some rear speakers. I hate the idea of cutting holes in the interior of the car (if there's even room) but if the dealers did the installs and they placed speakers in various locations, I wouldn't feel so bad about adding a couple speakers.

I've got a basic Kenwood MP3 head unit that I had planned to put in the Swede but have since changed my mind. Looks like it would fit right into the spot where the Sanyo is now.

Thanks in advance for any info. I promise to ask fewer stupid questions once I get an owner's manual and shop manual. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[michalotti_tr]

Hey Robyn,

No such thing as a stupid question - I should know since I've asked so many I thought were stupid!

1. My understanding is that the cars were shipped without radios to prevent theft, then installed at the dealer.

2. The Sanyo is most probably not original equipment.

3. Yes Virginia, they had cassette decks in 1979.

4. You won't be able to mount speaker in the back unless they're surface mount - the gas tanks right behind the rear panel.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Pretty much any "sound system" in a Triumph was a dealer install in the US. I don't think Sanyo was normally one of the suppliers of "factory" (actually a bit more like "factory-approved" or "distributor approved") units, but I do remember that one of my local Triumph dealers had a display with a number of different possible radios.

Yes, cassettes were around then!

Bottom line: what you have likely is not "original" but possibly does date to when the car was new or nearly so!

Unlike Volvo, there really wasn't much of a "standard" location for speakers in the Spitfire. As far as additional speakers are concerned, especially rear speakers, it's more a matter of a: personal preference and b: wherever there's room to fit a speaker. I've seen a number of Spitfires with some manner of speakers on the rear floor as well as speakers let into upholstery panels (if there's room behind).

Oh, one other thing: the only stupid questions are ones you DON'T ask (and kick yourself later for NOT asking them)!

 

[Jerseygirl]

Ah... Well that solves the problem of installing rear speakers then. I knew the gas tank was back there but wasn't sure if there was any room. Not interested in surface mounting speakers so I'll just be happy with the two I have now. I kind of thought the Sanyo might not be the original stereo. Now I won't feel bad about pulling it out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks!

 

[machinemd]

You can easily have good sound, and only need a little woodworking skills. I made speaker boxes with a quarter sheet of 1/4" masonite, quarter round molding, and short pieces of 3'4" pvc piping which lie on the back shelf. Cut masonite to make boxes 9x8x3. Cut moulding to be used as corner supports. Hot glue & tack sides & bottom. Line w/jute rug padding. Cut top for 6 1/2" Sony 4-way speaker - Walmart $50 and good sound. Drill top for short piece of pvc tube to be hot glued in and used as a bass tube. Hot glue onto box. Contact cement rug/material of your choice to cover box. Install speaker. Wire w/quick disconnect plugs for removal if space is needed/theft deterrent. Sounds great. I believe originally the front speakers were mounted in the outer corners of shelves at a 45 degree angle. Same black cardboard as the shelf w/3"-4" speaker. I made kidney pads for the TR6, maybe it can work in the Spit too. Just haven't measured yet. Still playing with the new toy.
Steve

 

[Jerseygirl]

Good to know for future reference, but that's probably a bit more involved than we want to get at the moment. Right now I'll be happy to get a new head unit in and maybe replace the two existing speakers. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Guest]

Jerseygirl (Robyn), it is nice to find a lady that is interested in, and works on, Little British Cars. Keep up the postings. You are only about two gazillion posts behind Jaybird (Janel) over in the MG section! Good luck with your Spit.

Bill

 

[TR_Jim]

Hi Robyn and welcome!

I mounted two 5" slimline speakers in the rear panel of my Spit6. There is an openning for the speaker magnet at the bottom rounded corners of the gas tank. I don't remember the depth of the speakers I used, but it had to be around 2 to 2 1/2 inches. With some careful measuring you can get them to fit in the openning. Just for some added clearance, I added a strip of heavy foam 1/2" thick to the gas tank and along the bottom edge of the board. I attached a photo.

 

[Jerseygirl]

[ QUOTE ]
Jerseygirl (Robyn), it is nice to find a lady that is interested in, and works on, Little British Cars. Keep up the postings. You are only about two gazillion posts behind Jaybird (Janel) over in the MG section! Good luck with your Spit.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks! I have become obsessed with this car in just a few days. Can't believe how much fun it is. I'm very happy I made the impulsive decision to buy one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Hmmm.. Now that picture has me thinking about rear speakers again. But I think I'm getting in over my head for the moment. Really need to get the other car back in one piece before we start tearing another one apart. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

And I just emailed British Miles over in Morrisville, PA to see if they have a spare rim and/or mirror mounting bracket. I'm really psyched to know there is a source for parts and service less than half an hour from my house. Woohoo!!

 

[Bob_Muzio]

Robyn, you can get speakers in molded plastic housings and place them on the floor behind the seats. They're easily removed for shows if you want to stress originality and you're not cutting holes in panels.
Bob

 

[mrv8q]

Hey, I can finally answer a question about something I know about! I was selling home and car audio in 1979, and one of our lines was Sanyo. They were OEM suppliers for Sony car audio cassette deck transports, as well, and generally regarded as pretty good quality. So, it is possible that it's an original radio! Of course, nothing could touch the Concord HPL-100 I had in my '70 Datsun 2000 Roadster. Now, that was a radio!

Best, Kevin Browne
'59 TR3A #58370

 

[IanF]

Hmm... I just realized I have an old speaker box that might fit... We'll have this car pumping out serious tunes in no time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

 

[frankenstang57]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gifFor rear speakers, do what I did with mine. Mount them in $9 Walley World boxes. Heck, you can even use WW speakers as well.(did this recently to my Vette) Sound really good for the $$$. Don't surface mount anything in back, it won't sound as good as a box. Just my $0.02...

 

[Guest]

Be carefull mounting speaker boxes in the rear. They become lethal projectiles upon a (Lord forbid) front-end collision.

Bill

 

[IanF]

[ QUOTE ]
Be carefull mounting speaker boxes in the rear. They become lethal projectiles upon a (Lord forbid) front-end collision.

Bill

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmm... good point. We'll have to figure out some sort of descreet mounting system.

It looks like my speaker box will fit. Take up most of the space behind the seats, but hearing the music over wind noise should not be a problem. We're having dreams of classical music blaring as we cruise down twisty back roads... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

The box is grey, however, so it may get recovered in a closer matching carpet once Robyn gets past how huge it is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Jerseygirl]

[ QUOTE ]
The box is grey, however, so it may get recovered in a closer matching carpet once Robyn gets past how huge it is. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I haven't seen this box yet but if it's THAT big, I can do without rear speakers...

 

[jayhawk]

One of the things that I got from the VW people is the creation of a speaker deck that also serves as a closed storage area. It works nicely for both! For my VW as well as my TR3, I built a simple frame that goes across the rear deck, about 6-8 inches above the original. On that I put a vinyl-covered speaker panel with speakers on left and right ends and a vinyl covered, hinged trap door in the middle to store stuff out of sight. You can put hats, gloves, packages, CD's or whatever in there out of sight but with easy access. I don't anchor the panel/frame because the weight of the speakers and panel holds it in place nicely and allows me to disconnect the speakers and pull it out if I need to. Did another deck version with a simple portable CD/am/fm player mounted on top so it could be taken with me to events/camping trips, etc.

 

[Jerseygirl]

Hmmm... now that ideas sounds VERY interesting!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

 

[IanF]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm... now that ideas sounds VERY interesting!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Translation: I'm taking my speaker box home.

But, yeah, a couple of 3-way 6x9's mounted in a deck should put out decent enough sound for our tastes. Thanks for the tip. Yet another project I could use a band-saw for... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jayhawk]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm... Yet another project I could use a band-saw for... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[/ QUOTE ]


Yeah-- I've had one for about 30 years-- use it far more than the table saw.