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There are a number of ways to update radios to
maintain the appearance of originality. The 58 came with an AM only radio
with a foot switch to change stations, a harbinger of steering wheel remote
control, I dare say. The car, to the best of my knowledge, has only one
speaker, in the center of the dash at the front. The poor old passengers
in the way away rear seat were ill served by any standards. When the rear
A/C was on, hearing the radio must have been problematic. As I understand
it, there are ways to install "hidden" speakers as well, again to maintain the
appearance of originality.
The radio in my car does not work. The power
antenna, one of the tallest I've ever seen, still reaches for the sky.
I've never been tempted to address the "entertainment" situation simply because
the car itself provides such a wonderful soundscape that radio of any
kind is an uneccesary intrusion. I mainly drive convertibles,
where listening to the radio with the top open is difficult to say the
least. The Imperial is a hard top but, nonetheless, I have never found the
lack of a radio to be in any way a problem. The engine makes the loveliest
sounds I could want to hear and music, as nice as it can be, seems superflous to
the magnificence of the experience.
The other thing I love about older cars is the old
fashined small triangular window in the front doors that direct air into the car
so well. I dare say these have a name. It's somewhat of a pity that
they are all but gone from modern vehicles. I drive the 58 with all four
windows open but Texas is Texas and it's hot. The directed air from the
small windows provide great relief from the heat and add even further to the
ambience that of the Imperial experience.
Hugh
58 Imperial
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