General A question for Fiat history buffs

[jgb]

Good morning,

Odd question here - I'm making a radio project which features a scene in classic Fiat 500. Am I right in thinking none of them had radios? Or did they introduce them at some point? I can't find an answer online and would appreciate your input!

Thanks in advance.

Jack

 

[the hobbler]

Good morning,

Odd question here - I'm making a radio project which features a scene in classic Fiat 500. Am I right in thinking none of them had radios? Or did they introduce them at some point? I can't find an answer online and would appreciate your input!

Thanks in advance.

Jack

To the best of my knowledge, Fiat never offered a radio as an 'extra' on the 500. When I started my apprenticeship (on Mercedes-Benz) in 1964, radios were an 'option' on even cars such as Mercedes-Benz. I can remember helping fit radios (and record players or 8-track tape-players) during the PDI proceedure. Even seat-belts were an 'option' (!) along with "silent-travel" kits----an sound-insulation kit that was stuck on with a really horrible smelling glue. Good days, fond (ish) memories. And anyway, imagine trying to listen to a radio in a 500 when it is bumbling along at a reasonably rapid rate!

 

[Toshi 975]

I have seen on eBay that some enterprising firm once produced a tiny radio that fitted in the ashtray slot. I don’t think that they could have been a success going by the rarity and as Tom says you would not hear it anyway.
A few special models of the 500 successor, the Fiat 126 , came with a Voxon radio fitted. Another tiny radio which had a base docking section screwed to the dash and plug in module radios that you plugged in. The radio modules were a little bigger than a box of matches and came in three colours, Red, yellow and green for long, medium and short wave. When you unplugged the module they had a small leather case that you could pop into your bag or pocket.

 

[giardini]

Autovox was an Italian electr(on)ics manufacturer 1933 to 1983, they made a radio specifically designed to fit in the 500 ashtray slot.
An elderly gentleman local to me has one fitted in his 500, feeding smallish speakers mounted in the footwells. Sounds tinny, but quite
audible at city traffic speeds.

Autoradios vintage Autovox 1969

 

[jgb]

I cant thank you all enough for the responses. It's very useful for me and, of course, makes sense that you'd barely hear anything anyway!

Have a great weekend.

 

[Bigvtwin996]

Early cars often had Autovox Bikini Radios fitted as n option... they were found in a lot of very early cars...
the idea being as you only saw the on/off/volume knob and tuning knob they were very discreet as you simply drilled two holes in the dash and poked the shafts through...

 

[jgb]

Early cars often had Autovox Bikini Radios fitted as n option... they were found in a lot of very early cars...
the idea being as you only saw the on/off/volume knob and tuning knob they were very discreet as you simply drilled two holes in the dash and poked the shafts through...
View attachment 407986

Fascinating. Thank you for the picture.