Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

[Russ U.]

A picture taken circa 1969 of the cockpit of my 53 Corvette shows a tape player. I didn't know installing a tape player on a C1 with a Wonderbar setup was possible. Does anybody have a tape player connected to an original C1 Wonderbar?



The cockpit of my 53 still looks like this pic, except the tape player is long gone. The tape player is a Porta-Tape 4 track player. 4 track players pre-dated 8 track players in the 60s. I found a Porta-Tape player on ebay, and had the seller refurbish it for me. I also picked up some 4 track tapes on ebay.

The unit actually works with a Wonderbar. To connect the Porta-Tape, you unplug the antenna cable from the back of the radio, and plug the cable into the Porta-Tape instead. You then use a second antenna - like cable to connect the Porta-Tape to the Wonderbar. The tricky part is this - the cable running from the Porta-Tape to the Wonderbar must have GM Male plugs on both ends. Good luck finding that cable today. I had to make one. Here is what the plug setup on the Porta-Tape looks like.



I tried this setup on my 59, and the Porta-Tape plays just fine thru a Wonderbar. Sounds like a regular radio station, with an acceptable loss of quality based on a mid-60s tape format. Cool!

I am going to install the tape player in my 53. The Porta-Tape player is 12V negative ground, so I will need a power converter to boost my 6 volt system to 12 volts for the tape player.

So far, I have a Rolling Stones Let It Bleed tape, a Simon & Garfunckel Bookends tape, a a 60s and 70s hits recorded tape made for me by the seller.

Russ

[Steven B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

Russ, neat setup! Back in the mid 60's I used a portable reel to reel tha twas battery powered. A real pain to tape songs form my Beach Boys albums. Seat belts look familiar! I got mine from MG Mitten. 'Still have them stored away just waiting to reinstall.

Send more pics! I assume the 4 speed is conected to a 283, 327, ?????

[Russ U.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

I assume the 4 speed is conected to a 283, 327, ?????

Nope. Still running a 6 cylinder. I will set up a separate post for the 6 cylinder this weekend. The engine just came back from the shop.

Russ

[Roy B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

Near the Cig lighter is that a map light? And R/S dash is that a hand hold? Vent nob chromed ball?and was the trans tunnel replaced with the 57 type to fit the shifter plate ?



This after market dash plate was quite common in the 50's also , surprised it's not on your vett.

[Russ U.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

Near the Cig lighter is that a map light? And R/S dash is that a hand hold? Vent nob chromed ball?and was the trans tunnel replaced with the 57 type to fit the shifter plate ?

This after market dash plate was quite common in the 50's also , surprised it's not on your vett.

My 53 is rich with do-dads. Dave Elie owned the car from 1957 to 2007, drove it over 300k miles, and personalized the car completely. The car has:

Map light
Hand hold
Chrome Ball
57 hood, steering wheel, trunk, shifter plate, 4 speed, etc
261 block engine set up for performance
Dome light and rear vent in the hardtop
And the list goes on...

But my favorite is the Uh-Oooga Horn

[Roy B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

I think only you and I might like the GM accessories and after market items offered for 1955. I also have horns ,the GM Dina Shores ( see the USA in your Chevrolet) some NCRS members may think our Corvette have no place in NCRS but I love all the accessories GM offered like my wire wheels.

[Steven B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

Guys, I think most of us likke to see these!!! Please continue showin gthe pics and describing them. They are a very special part of Corvette and Corvette people.

Back in the early 60's I had a friend who bought a '54 just before he went to the Navy. His dream was to remove the maroon metalflake and paint it black when he got out of the Navy. Long story short, he painted it black and installed the chrome wire wheels form his black '55 Chevy convertible. It was great looking.

There were alot of over-the-counter accessories and after market accessories that are very rare today and interesting to see and learn of the histories. Keep it up!

Thanks!

Steve

[Roy B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar


Parts I've collected or GM accessories I've added are many , when ever I show my 55 people are fascinated and love them , people at the 05 NCRS convention remember me blowing the Dina Shore horns and wonted to know what things did or are.

[Steven B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

These are neat Roy!

Back in late 1964 or early 1965 I got a plastic sealed bag type package from my local Chevy dealer, Maxton Motors, Butler, Indiana, that contained a single yellow polishing cloth for car or home. I may still have the cloth, but not the package. The package had the GM logo on it, but not the delaer name. It was given to me by the parts manager, Charlie Capp. He also gave me one of the silver '63 coupe charms for a bracelet. That I still have. I also have my fire extinguisher I got at Maxton's, no packaging because I got it from the parts dept. display case.

[Roy B.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

I like to display GM accessories at car shows like many other people that have accessories for their car, I leave them home when at a NCRS meet

[Rob M.]

Re: Tunes in a C1 With Wondebar

Roy,

I like the vintage type of photographs you using (even without taking the content of the picture in account)!!!

regards,
Rob.