# When did car radios become standard equipment? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [March 21, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590 "2024-03-21T23:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/21 "2024-03-22T20:24:07Z")
I put a Craig FM-cassette player in my '64 Pontiac with only and AM radio. Mounted on a quick-release tray so I could lock it in the trunk. Easy to break into the car (vent windows) tough to get into the trunk (no remote trunk release). I put an FM convertor then AM/FM cassette stereos in my next two cars before buying an '84 Firebird with a good Delco stereo. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/22 "2024-03-22T20:56:15Z")
> [@wentwest](#): > > A right side rear view mirror only became standard when the US required it, in the early 60’s. No! My '71 Charger did not come from the factory with a right side mirror, and I had to have one installed by the dealership. That was clearly not yet a federal requirement in 1971. > [@wentwest](#): > > in the mid 50’s, and radios, heaters (and defrosters) and turn signals were options, cars came with only one horn, not two. Also, the lower-priced cars came with single-speed wipers–like my father’s '59 Plymouth Belvedere. _Maybe_ multi-speed wipers were standard on the Fury model, but they were optional on the Belvedere model, and I can recall the wipers being–literally–overwhelmed by a heavy rain. But, at least they were better than the vacuum-powered wipers on my brother’s '54 Ford. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 10:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/23 "2024-03-22T22:55:30Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > OEM Car radios seem to be considerably better quality than home radios, don’t know why. They have a better antenna; you use them outside. ---
**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/24 "2024-03-22T23:02:14Z")
Thanks for the correction. I misremembered. It’s really surprising to younger people when they find out how many things they expect in cars were extras, for which we paid. Mandatory seatbelts were a big deal. Back-up lights were only on the fancy models. And you’re right about the wipers, too. Chrysler used electric wipers for decades before GM or Ford - my father’s 40 Plymouth had them. They were only one speed, but the vacuum wipers GM and Ford used were terrible, stopping whenever you accelerated or went up a hil. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/25 "2024-03-23T00:54:30Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > My '71 Charger did not come from the factory with a right side mirror, and I had to have one installed by the dealership. That was clearly not yet a federal requirement in 1971. When did that become a requirement? Sorry don’t feel like looking it up. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/26 "2024-03-23T01:55:08Z")
Below is a 1991 Plymouth showing “radio delete” and without right outside mirror. The right fender has a plastic plug to fill the antenna hole. I believe 1992 was the first year requiring a right-side mirror. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/c/3/c36a8de1503e583279fd54d7d8938cc1142d8aa9.jpeg) ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/e/d/ed68ba2d71f11d0ff9952076ccc79485197ded50.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 5:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/27 "2024-03-23T05:08:23Z")
> [@Nevada\_545](#): > > Below is a 1991 Plymouth showing “radio delete” and without right outside mirror. The right fender has a plastic plug to fill the antenna hole. @bcohen2010 would love that car! ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 5:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/28 "2024-03-23T05:43:13Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > My '71 Charger did not come from the factory with a right side mirror, Had a drivers licence, blind in the right eye more or less, requirement was a left side mirror! Assuming driver side mirror. ---
**Author:** ![Hugemoth\_144444](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ee7513/32.png) [@Hugemoth\_144444](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Hugemoth_144444)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 7:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/29 "2024-03-23T07:26:48Z")
The 1993 Toyota pickup I bought new did not have a right side mirror or a radio. ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 11:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/30 "2024-03-23T11:50:58Z")
> [@Barkydog](#): > > left side mirror Right side mirror… passenger side is the right side. Ohio’s law back in the day was if you were deaf, a right side mirror was required. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/31 "2024-03-23T13:55:54Z")
> [@texases](#): > > I put in one like this. That was fancy compared to mine 😀 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/32 "2024-03-23T13:58:41Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > I put an FM convertor then AM/FM cassette stereos You skipped the 8-track?? 😀 ---
**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 2:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/33 "2024-03-23T14:02:35Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > You skipped the 8-track Yes I did skip 8 tracks! I had a cassette recorder at home that I could use to make tapes from my albums sooo… I bought a cassette player for the car. I thought 8 tracks were a dead-end audio format. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 2:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/34 "2024-03-23T14:08:05Z")
> [@Mustangman](#): > > I thought 8 tracks were a dead-end audio format They all were dead ends eventually HA! But you were a visionary to skip the 8 tracks… I had a reel to reel at home. I got an 8 track deck for the car in a swap. Funny, my first cassette deck was from a swap too and it never did work right. Short end of that deal… ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/35 "2024-03-23T18:10:24Z")
This ad from 1963 verifies that a radio, heater, and some other items that we now take for granted were optional for that model year. ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/3/139611252463b299c21c50c1f08307c7ffd8635e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/36 "2024-03-23T22:24:10Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > This ad from 1963 verifies that a radio, heater, and some other items that we now take for granted were optional for that model year. The Chevy Chevette’s back seat was optional when it first came out. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/37 "2024-03-24T03:27:57Z")
IIRC, an opening trunk lid was optional on the Henry J. If you didn’t pay for that option, you had to wrestle your luggage into the trunk over the back seat. ---
**Author:** ![Beancounter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/59ef9b/32.png) [@Beancounter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Beancounter)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/38 "2024-03-24T12:12:56Z")
My hand me down 1962 Chevy II Nova econocar had a chrome plate in place of a radio so if you wanted “music” it had to come from the singing from the other teenagers stuffed in the car, 😃 Also no padded dash, seatbelts, passenger side or dimming rearview mirror. I seem to recall that radios didn’t generally become standard equipment until the Japanese manufactures like Honda realized that it was cheaper to put them into all the cars and build it into the price than install them at the port. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/39 "2024-03-24T13:07:16Z")
> [@Beancounter](#): > > I seem to recall that radios didn’t generally become standard equipment until the Japanese manufactures like Honda realized that it was cheaper to put them into all the cars and build it into the price than install them at the port. +1 But, it predated Honda’s marketing of cars in The US. A friend’s father bought a Datsun 410 sedan in 1965 or 1966. One of the features that the manufacturer touted was a standard, transistorized radio. However, I think that it took US car makers a few more years before they made radios “standard” on lower-priced models. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/40 "2024-03-24T15:50:54Z")
Transistors and printed circuits made car radios cheaper to manufacture as the price of transistors came down. I I remember a classmate in high school in 1958 bought a pocket 4 transistor a.m.radio for $49.95, a large sum of money in those days. Ten years later, I bought a four transistor pocket radio for $2.95. That radio came with a one year warranty. All I had to do was ship it back with $5 to cover postage and handling if it quit functioning . As the cost of manufacturing came down in the same way for car radios, it was cheaper to make a radio standard equipment. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590.md?page=3)