# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 12:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/61 "2024-03-26T12:54:53Z")
Is that a European version? I had a GT and it looked a bit different, especially the steering wheel, dash, and bumpers. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/62 "2024-03-26T14:21:19Z")
That’s not a Capri interior. ---
**Author:** ![Clueless33](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@Clueless33](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Clueless33)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 6:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/63 "2024-03-26T18:18:50Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > Is that a European version? I had a GT and it looked a bit different, especially the steering wheel, dash, and bumpers. The photo of the interior was to show an example of the “ fan”. The interior of the Capri looked like this: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/8/5/85b6fc8c6827e20c9ca97a6db96be09abbc682ee.jpeg) I’m not sure if it was the European version but they were very popular on the island. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/64 "2024-03-26T19:57:08Z")
> [@Clueless33](#): > > a mini fan mounted on the dash to mimic A/C. That’s one of the things I like about my A/C-less Corolla. Turning on the blower to “hi” results in a forceful flow of fresh air from the vents. Windows remain up, so the quiet ride is preserved. Newer cars seem to have lost that feature somehow. I guess the manufacturers install A/C in all their new cars now, & figure there’s no need for un-cooled fresh outside air to be blown into the cabin. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/65 "2024-03-26T20:02:38Z")
Ummmm, George, just turn your ac off and you have the same fresh air blowing… lol ---
**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 26, 2024, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/66 "2024-03-26T20:03:18Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > Newer cars seem to have lost that feature somehow. I guess the manufacturers install A/C in all their new cars now, & figure there’s no need for un-cooled fresh outside air to be blown into the cabin. I haven’t driven a late model vehicle that did not have a ventilation system, did you have difficulty with one? ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2024, 8:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/67 "2024-03-26T20:10:46Z")
My experience, the fresh air ventilation function is considerably less effective in all the new model rental cars w/A/C that I’ve driven. Corollas, Civics, and HHR’s mostly. The the airflow is less, and the air that actually comes through the vents is warmer than outside temps. Important to me b/c A/C cooled air causes me considerable respiratory irritation. ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 12:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/68 "2024-03-27T12:40:51Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > and the air that actually comes through the vents is warmer than outside temps In many cars, you need to also turn down the temp setting or the blend door may not be fully positioned to the cold air setting. Try that next time… ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 1:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/69 "2024-03-27T13:59:17Z")
Just my **guess** on vent, no AC, the positioning of the fresh air intake absorbs more heat from the engine bay than cars of the 50s&60s. Plus it seems “flow through” ventilation allow less cabin air out. I notice on interstate at 70+ MPH I get much more air flow from the dash vents if I open a window an inch. ---
**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 27, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/70 "2024-03-27T14:17:38Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > I notice on interstate at 70+ MPH I get much more air flow from the dash vents if I open a window an inch. Doesn’t the buffeting effect/noise bother you? I find that if I tilt the moonroof up at the back (rather than sliding it open fully), I get really good airflow from the dashboard vents, with relatively little extra noise. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2024, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590/71 "2024-03-27T21:10:47Z")
That is a good way to do it, no moon roof on my car. Buffeting can be annoying, just open them enough to expel cabin air. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/when-did-car-radios-become-standard-equipment/194590.md?page=3)