Dear Chuck and mid-60s audiophiles,
I haven't decided what to use for an audio system yet. I have two original AM radios. I like the idea of something that will do FM with USB/Aux inputs. I think that you have already done that, Edouard. Do you have any new suggestions for me?
I'm sure you realize that the trade-off is convenience versus originality. I put a Custom Autosound 630 into my wagon, but that's because I've had a Custom Autosound stereo in the car since around 1990, so I was used to that. As you can see in my photos, you can customize that stereo to look really close to stock, but it won't fool anybody who actually knows what a 1965 Buick is supposed to look like. To preserve originality, there are two routes. One is a modern stereo hidden somewhere like the glove compartment. The other is to have your stock radio modified to carry additional functionality without changing its external appearance. There is this electronic system that can be tucked away into the original radio:
http://randbvintageautoradio.com/radio-conversion.htmlThis is a rapidly evolving technology. Last time I checked there was no voice control technology built in.
I'm pretty sure I can find something to work as a "head unit". The bigger challenge will be where to mount speakers.
The same trade-offs apply. Since I wasn't aiming for a strict originality, I went the the custom autosound kick panel speakers which you can see under the steering wheel in this picture.
They do fit nicely, look neat, and clean and preserve the fresh air vents. That's especially important for a car with Vintage Air A/C because the Vintage Air system is strictly recirculation only. There are speaker systems that replace the original single speaker of the original car and you could try to tuck speakers behind the dash where the cannot be seen. However, with the A/C ducting are area behind the dash will be plenty crowded. You could give up on front speakers all together and try to go with rear deck speakers only. Not sure how you could hide those speakers if you want to keep the trunk area looking original though. Since I had to come up with a different setup for the rear speaker for my wagon, you probably need some advice from the rest of the guys around here on that problem.
Enjoy the challenge!
Cheers, Edouard