Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

[Peter R.]

I'm looking for advice on which would be my better course of action with regard to NCRS judging and my car's radio-originality. It appears that my car was originally without a radio--no antenna cable, no opening for a cable in the resin plug in the trunk where the rear harness passes through down into the rocker tunnel, and no hole (until I recently drilled one) in the left rear wheel house for attaching the antenna brace. I've spoken to a previous owner of 34 years and he confirms that he added the radio, speaker, and antenna (but never got around to adding the antenna cable). So, would I be better off with respect to judging with:

Option 1. Add a cable, which would require drilling through the original resin plug and fishing the cable (with great difficulty) through the rocker tunnel, and connecting up the radio, resulting in a car that is not in its original configuration but has a properly installed, working radio, or

Option 2. Remove the radio, speaker, ignition shielding, ground straps, and capacitors, and eventually removing the antenna and repairing the hole in the fender and the small hole in the wheelhouse, resulting in a car that is in its original configuration, without a radio, and has some small fiberglass repairs.

Also, while I'm not planning to sell the car (I just got it), I don't want hurt the value of it, and would certainly prefer to help it. So I would also be interested in any opinions on how either option would affect the car's value.

The purist in me is pushing me toward Option 2.

Oddly enough, at Carlisle last month Zip Products had a black FI '57 under their tent that had recently come out of a two-year restoration as a radio-delete car with an antenna! I don't get that.

Thanks,

Pete

[Philip A.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

I'm looking for advice on which would be my better course of action with regard to NCRS judging and my car's radio-originality. It appears that my car was originally without a radio--no antenna cable, no opening for a cable in the resin plug in the trunk where the rear harness passes through down into the rocker tunnel, and no hole (until I recently drilled one) in the left rear wheel house for attaching the antenna brace. I've spoken to a previous owner of 34 years and he confirms that he added the radio, speaker, and antenna (but never got around to adding the antenna cable). So, would I be better off with respect to judging with:

Option 1. Add a cable, which would require drilling through the original resin plug and fishing the cable (with great difficulty) through the rocker tunnel, and connecting up the radio, resulting in a car that is not in its original configuration but has a properly installed, working radio, or

Option 2. Remove the radio, speaker, ignition shielding, ground straps, and capacitors, and eventually removing the antenna and repairing the hole in the fender and the small hole in the wheelhouse, resulting in a car that is in its original configuration, without a radio, and has some small fiberglass repairs.

Also, while I'm not planning to sell the car (I just got it), I don't want hurt the value of it, and would certainly prefer to help it. So I would also be interested in any opinions on how either option would affect the car's value.

The purist in me is pushing me toward Option 2.

Oddly enough, at Carlisle last month Zip Products had a black FI '57 under their tent that had recently come out of a two-year restoration as a radio-delete car with an antenna! I don't get that.

Thanks,

Pete

Pete
I am no expert and this is just my OPINION. There appears to be no documentation to support original configuration of being a radio delete car.

Option 1: Will appear original

Option 2: Will apear to be a radio car made to look radio delete.

KR,
Phil

[Alexander C.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

Option 2: Will apear to be a radio car made to look radio delete.

KR,
Phil

That makes no sense because he will have to run through the rocker panel and drill through the original bonding resin to get it into the rear quarter area, which will even more devalue the car in my opinion.

A small fiberglass repair done *right* with testimony from the previous owner plus proof that no wire was ever run through the original bonding resin sure sounds better to me that adding an option which it never had requiring new holes to be made.

JMHO.

My '56 is a no radio car which the 2nd owner added a '57 radio too. No shielding was added or caps or grounds though and they went cheap with the antenna wire and went under the carpet, behind the seat, and through the soft top storage compartment. Since my car also has no evidence of a wire going through the rocker and through the bonding resin into the trunk, plus written word from that 2nd owner, I am opting to fill the antenna hole. I got a correct original radio delete plate with the right nuts and was given a speaker delete carboard complete with stamped logo and I also aquired correct screws for this too.

Alex

[Philip A.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

Alex
I started with "I am no expert" and just my opinion. My comment regarding option 2 and NCRS judging makes absolute sense. He states "repairing the hole in the fender and the small hole in the wheelhouse, "; these will have to be undetectable. Any hint or sign of this will raise some question about whether it was born radio delete. These are things experts and knowledgeable folks will look for. Testimony from previous owners, in MY OPINION, is worthless. These are easily forged especially when the person is deceased or unreachable. Testimony is also NOT recognized by NCRS judging as documentation.

[Peter R.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

Phil is right that I have no documentation attesting to the car's original no-radio configuration. However, I think that the resin plug in the trunk through which the rear harness passes, which clearly has no opening for an antenna cable, is pretty convincing. I'm glad to hear that Alex is in the same boat, with a no-radio car previously converted to a radio car, and that he is opting to go back to the original configuration, even if it means filling the fender antenna hole. The more I think about it, the more I think I will take the car back to no radio. I will certainly take great pains to make the repairs right. Yesterday I bought a starburst radio filler plate on eBay, so I'm almost ready. All that said, I do think this is a reasonable request for judging advice and I sure would like to hear from some members with judging experience on which option they would advise before I start pulling hardware off the car.

Pete

[Gary C.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

If a there are visible signs inside the trunk of a hole ever/is/was drilled in the fender the Judges will more than likely will conclude the car came with a radio regardless of anything short of a dealer invoice.

Once the resin in the trunk is enlarged for a coax, that coax is pulled into the gas tank area, which can be accessed with the trunk removed. Then the coax may be ran in the door sill. At least that's how bad antenna coaxes are replaced.

JMTCW,

Gary
....

[Loren L.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

Is the question here "I've altered the car in spite of talking to the original owner and now I'd like to have advice on how to hide the alteration"? Take the deduct for trying to hide it - much less than losing the points for shielding, radio, etc.

[Peter R.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

No, a previous owner altered the car--the fellow who owned it for 34 years from 1973 until 2007. He told me that when he got the car in '73 it had a cheap aftermarket radio in it but no hole in the fender, no antenna cable, no shielding, etc. He made the hole, added the shielding, added a Wonderbar radio, but never hooked it up electrically and never installed an antenna cable. I'm debating and seeking advice on restoring the car to its original configuration--removing the radio and speaker, shielding, capacitors, ground straps, etc., and then adding a radio filler plate, adding a cardboard panel behind the speaker grille, and eventually repairing the fender. Or is it better to add the antenna cable and let it be a radio car?

[Patrick H.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

I'd leave it as a no radio car. Much more interesting of a story than one with a radio.

[Joe R.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

I don't think there is but one answer here! NCRS recognizes and judges the Corvette as it was on the dealers showroom floor.

This Corvette had no radio and that is how it should be judged.

Period!

JR


PS. Don't worry about the holes. They can be fixed and no judge can ever detect the repair. Inside or outside! Find the right guy!

[Peter R.]

Re: NCRS judging--To be radio-delete or not to be?

Thanks, Joe. That's good, clear advice. I appreciate it.

Pete