My grandpa's advice about old car radios finally made sense last week

My grandpa told me back in 2010 that I should keep my 1957 Chevy's original radio instead of swapping in a modern one. I thought he was just being nostalgic and old-fashioned. But last week I was at a car show in Des Moines and this guy offered me $400 for the whole radio setup, just because it was original and working. Turns out people pay good money for that stuff now. My grandpa always said "they don't make 'em like that anymore" and he was right about more than just the cars. I've been on the fence about selling it or keeping it. Has anyone else gotten stuck trying to decide whether to cash in on old parts or hold onto them for the original look?

2 comments

2 Comments

hall.ruby19d ago

That's a solid pickle to be in, I'll give you that. You got a working original tube radio with the right knobs and faceplate? That's rare as hens teeth around here. Most guys gut those things and toss them. But here's the real question I gotta ask - is that $400 offer gonna cover the cost of what you'd need to replace it? Because a decent modern setup that actually fits that dash and doesn't look like a plastic eyeball ain't cheap. I've seen people drop that much on just a retro-look stereo and speakers. Plus, once you sell the original, you're never getting it back easy. That car's worth more whole than parted out if you're not hurting for the cash.

sethc1219d ago

Read an article a while back about how the original parts market is really heating up for 50s and 60s cars. People want everything factory correct for their restorations, not just the big stuff like engines. A working original radio with the right knobs and faceplate can be a goldmine, especially if it's got the factory tubes still in it. I'd say hold onto it for now and don't rush to sell, the prices are only going up from what I've seen. Your grandpa's advice was solid, those old tube radios have a warm sound that modern ones just can't match. Just my two cents though, your mileage may vary depending on how bad you need the cash.