1972 Radio Cassette Options?

[Atavistic]

I ordered a BMW Blaupunkt radio to fit the standard CSI/CSL optional air conditioning grill from a specialist vintage radio supplier - Chrome London.

Mike, the owner had one but just happened across a rare Becker (apparently higher quality) BMW OEM Bavaria Radio Cassette - which should have been the high-end choice for a new CSL customer in London at the time. See picture below. So I opted for that and was assured it was a very high spec option at the time (the famed Becker Monza was released then too).

So will be fun to listen to some Petula Clarke cassettes as my Dad did in his 2500 at full blast when I was a ten year old. Anyone seen one of these in a CSI/CSL?

On speakers - I don't want to cut the refurbed door trims, so have ordered some super slimline speakers which can apparently be installed in the carpet in the footwell! Haven't heard of this before and won't be great for sound but at least I won't have weighty wooden boxes on the parcel shelves nor holes in the door trims - see snap of super thin FR 12 13cm speakers with grills which should fit neatly in the footwells - anyone have any experience with same or similar?

As always

, any observations or thought much appreciated.

Kind regards

David

 

[Stevehose]

That Bavaria is a later model radio, post 1974 I believe. For Becker cassette you'll need a Mexico or a Grand Prix/Europa with the optional cassette player. The original owner of my car ordered a Europa Stereo with the cassette player in the glovebox.

Cassette:

Rear deck speakers:

Front footwell speakers:

 

[m_thompson]

I have a spare Becker Cassette deck like the one in the previous post.

 

[m_thompson]

I really like Blaupunkt Berlin radios. The one in my CS from the mid-70s, so almost period correct.

 

[HB Chris]

Show us a photo of the serial number on the side of the radio.

 

[Atavistic]

Side photo 1 and 2 and the rear. Mike advises that integrated radio cassettes became available in the very early 70s and that this model was available from the time of the production of the car until the late 70s - model changes were more infrequent then. This radio cassette could have been produced at any time in the first half of the 70s - the key is the assumption that a CSL owner would have specifically ordered it or would have later upgraded to it when integrated cassettes became available. As I have modern slim line speakers to avoid damage to the rear parcel shelf and door trims I cant argue I have an original car stereo installation anyway, however, I am convinced this is the right look and feel for a very well looked after city pack CSL.

No obvious sign of a serial number on the sides of rear panel.

Chrome London

 

[HB Chris]

Blaupunkt made radios with the Bavaria name but it came later than e9 vintage. And Blaupunkt made a cassette player as did Becker in 1972 but not an integrated unit, these came along in 1973 but yours has a DIN opening not a typical shaft mount radio which will require cutting of your faceplate.

 

[Stevehose]

I'm not sure a CSL should have a hacked out DIN console faceplate and Blau Bavaria. I havent seen a Bavaria older than mid 70's.

 

[Atavistic]

Thanks all - the word from Chome London is most cars of that era came without stereo - presumable including the city pack cars, which would explain the variation we see as each dealer pushed their preferred choices. I agree this unit wouldn't have been fitted to the car when brand new, but it may have sold late and or the owner may have decided to get a radio after owning for a period. Agree on the faceplate - but is there an integrated radio cassette of the period which would fit. It is only a piece of metal so presumably, we can add back some metal if I get sick of listening to Dad's old Petula Clarke tapes and others are offended by the look.

Thanks again for the guidance.

 

[Simufly]

You may have trouble mounting the Becker as you will have to cut the fascia to allow the unit to fit. I was reluctant to cut mine so opted for a Blaupunkt.

 

[NilsH]

If you want to check out older radio catalogues look here
http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/

Both Becker and Blaupunkt are there.
Anyway, interesting and nostalgic reading

 

[Stevehose]

That's a fantastic resouce, thanks for posting

If you want to check out older radio catalogues look here
http://wegavision.pytalhost.com/

Both Becker and Blaupunkt are there.
Anyway, interesting and nostalgic reading

 

[Atavistic]

Thanks all for your help and direction - the replacement radio arrived today (we will use the original e9 airconditioning faceplate, not the one installed here).

Will update when fitted.

Thanks again.

 

[deQuincey]

IMHO, also newer than your car, tell Mike
it has the right knobs though,...

 

[deQuincey]

look at the period catalogs, the aesthetics is different than yours (my guess is that yours is fron the 80-ies)

check the FONT of the Blaupunkt letters

you see ? this is my ludwigshafen, from chromelondon, i bought it 4 years ago

Mike had very nice stuff, and he is a nice guy, but you can not rely on his expertise in period/make correctness

 

[2275xxx]

BMW catalogue May 72 :






Another interesting ressource :

http://antique-autoradio-madness.org/Blaupunkt/Blaup_1/blaup_1.htm

http://antique-autoradio-madness.org/becker/becker-choix-annees.htm#50s

http://antique-autoradio-madness.org/page-liens/autoradios-eur.htm

 

[2275xxx]

PDF of the complete catalogue :

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s2nzu7ezr1m3syg/BMW Zubehör 5.72.pdf?dl=0

 

[Atavistic]

Thank you all - great information as always. You are right - Mike is a great guy, and has sourced a great radio, but I have probably exhausted his patience - so will live with this option for now.
If I have to correct this level of detail then I will include this with some other items I would do again differently and maybe they will be done in a tidy up round or during the next restoration!

Best all

David

 

[Atavistic]

Mike lived up to his reputation and helped out again with a radio from the same year as the car

- so I hope we are close now!

 

[mr bump]

If you enjoy driving the car, why would you fit a stereo that has a 100% rubbish sound quality? I know it's nice to have period equipment fitted, but having to suffer terrible sounds whilst enjoying the ultimate drive is way too torturous for me.