ng_randolph

Bjorn H
After a few false starts I now have a motorized antenna on my car. The car came to me with what I believe is the original manually retractable antenna. I first bought a fairly cheap antenna on eBay (reccomended by someone here, can’t remember who). It would always extend, but only occasionaly retract fully so I never installed it. The second attempt was an Üro branded unit. It would extend and retract is it should, but the mounting hardware crumbled between my fingers like Ritz-crackers. After having no luck with the cheaper antennas I shelled out $85 (now listed at $75) for a RetroSound PA−03B from Crutchfield. This antenna is short both below and above the fender at 8 ½” and 18” respectively. Six fixed-angle mounting bases and one adjustable base were included with the antenna. The 8° base was a perfect fit for the stock location and hole size; the adjustable base would have required a larger hole. Below I anchored the antenna to one of the bumper ear mounting bolts and to one of studs for the side marker.

Since this is an ‘85 it has factory wiring for a motorized antenna, compatible with the RetroSound unit. There was no antenna switch in the car when I got it, but I bought one from Midwest Bayless years ago.

The drain hose connection on the antenna is left open for now, as I never drive in the rain. I may add a small catch can with a bit of sodium polyacrylate powder later. Maybe.

The cable that came with the antenna was way longer than needed, but the Motorola-style antenna connectors are rather crude and it was easy to shorten the cable.

Reception is good, and plenty of stations with period correct music come in nice and clear.

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