Is / was there such a thing as “ radio delete”? Info required

[MFP]

hi , wondered if anyone can help with some info ? Someone’s cut the wood grain insert of the dash on My ‘72 satellite and fitted an aftermarket stereo . Not my cup of tea so it’s now removed, however it now means I’ve a large rectangular hole in the dash .
So , the question is - when the car was built at the factory and the buyer “ ticked the options list “ was there such a thing as “ radio delete “ ? If there WAS then I can fill the hole and repair the dashboard . I could just repair it anyways but I’m intigued to know if there was such a thing as “ radio delete “ like say
“ antenna delete “ when ordering from the factory . The photo shows an original dash , the repair will fill in the highlighted area bottom right .

 

[Andy D]

If it is available it would probably be through classic industries. I did not see one for a 72 they did have one for a 70 ralley dash.

 

[MFP]

If it is available it would probably be through classic industries. I did not see one for a 72 they did have one for a 70 ralley dash.

Hi mate , apologies I will edit my post - what I meant was , when the car was built in 1972 and ordered with its options at the factory was “ radio delete “‘on the original tick list ? Like “ antenna delete “ etc

 

[BeepBeepRR]

This isnt exactly like yours but its a radio delete bezel

 

[MFP]

This isnt exactly like yours but its a radio delete bezel
View attachment 691209

Oooooh the plot thickens .... I can almost smell the new fibre glass from
Here lmao thank you !

 

[RJS]

No radio delete was never on a 72 option sheet but... not ordering a radio was possible and happened all the time. In the case of the 71-4 style woodgrain there would just be undisturbed woodgrain in that area. If you watch E-Bay woodgrain bezels pop up from time to time "radio delete" as in no knob or face openings in that area.
Ron

 

[MFP]

No radio delete was never on a 72 option sheet but... not ordering a radio was possible and happened all the time. In the case of the 71-4 style woodgrain there would just be undisturbed woodgrain in that area. If you watch E-Bay woodgrain bezels pop up from time to time "radio delete" as in no knob or face openings in that area.
Ron

Ron you are THE man !

 

[BeepBeepRR]

It looks like that right side wood grain might clip into place or be screwed in from the back side. Don't quote me on that.

 

[69Coronetrt]

No radio delete was never on a 72 option sheet but... not ordering a radio was possible and happened all the time. In the case of the 71-4 style woodgrain there would just be undisturbed woodgrain in that area. If you watch E-Bay woodgrain bezels pop up from time to time "radio delete" as in no knob or face openings in that area.
Ron

“Radio delete” wasn’t possible in any year during that time.

You can’t delete something that’s a option. While a very high percentage of cars came with a radio, they were ordered that way. A radio wasn’t standard. It was always optional during that era.

 

[MFP]

“Radio delete” wasn’t possible in any year during that time.

You can’t delete something that’s a option. While a very high percentage of cars came with a radio, they were ordered that way. A radio wasn’t standard. It was always optional during that era.

Many thanks mate ... looks like I will be filling in the { horrible gaping } hole then , as I have a plan for a “ tweaked “ period 8 track player

 

[moparmarks]

Here is the non radio bezel.
Agree. Something can't be a deleted item if it was never standard equipment to begin with. Radio's were always an option.

 

[Dibbons]

I closed up my butchered radio cut-out using a stainless steel plate secured with a two-part epoxy. Installed a new radio in the glove box (fabricated a stainless steel glove box).

 

[moparmarks]

Nice box.

 

[ODZKing]

Yes, there is always radio delete ... heater delete too. I've seen them.
The fellow I know has a 72 rallye radio delete.
Zoom into the dash shot.

 

[MFP]

I closed up my butchered radio cut-out using a stainless steel plate secured with a two-part epoxy. Installed a new radio in the glove box (fabricated a stainless steel glove box).

View attachment 691222 View attachment 691223 View attachment 691224 View attachment 691225 View attachment 691226

That’s a really great job you’ve done there mate ... excellent and thank you for sharing it with me ... spot on !
May I ask , what did you paint / cover the newly filled in hole with ? Did you repaint ? Plasticwrap ?
???

 

[MFP]

Yes, there is always radio delete ... heater delete too. I've seen them.
The fellow I know has a 72 rallye radio delete.
Zoom into the dash shot.
View attachment 691268 View attachment 691269

Excellent ! Thank you for sharing with me

 

[Dibbons]

Quote from above: "what did you paint / cover the newly filled in hole with ? Did you repaint ?"

It took several sessions of applying and sanding the two-part epoxy to fill in the hole after inserting the stainless steel rectangular stop-gap piece.

Then I used a white Krylon Fusion plastic paint as a kind of "primer" and top-coated that with Dupli-Color silver textured metallic coating.

I did have a problem, my own fault. Due to my "perfectionist" attitude, I repainted a portion of the bottom bezel with more silver, which later bubbled up some. I should never had applied so many coats. In other words, use the least paint possible when re-finishing plastic pieces.

 

[khryslerkid]

I had to install radios at the dealerships I worked at all the time. Tearing apart the dashes and drilling the antenna hole in a brand new fender was fun! They would have the basic model on the lot and option it out when they had a buyer.

 

[Billccm]

I had to install radios at the dealerships I worked at all the time. Tearing apart the dashes and drilling the antenna hole in a brand new fender was fun! They would have the basic model on the lot and option it out when they had a buyer.

Agreed. The TV repair shop I worked at in the late 1970s had a contract with a Pontiac Buick dealer for radio service. Put quite a few automatic radio brand Delco look alikes in New cars. During that era GM placed a block off plate that we just threw away. I bet if I kept a few they'd bring some money on eBay.

 

[69Coronetrt]

Yes, there is always radio delete ... heater delete too. I've seen them.
The fellow I know has a 72 rallye radio delete.
Zoom into the dash shot.
View attachment 691268 View attachment 691269

IF that is true, then it should be relatively easy to post a window sticker showing a delete credit or a broadcast sheet showing the delete. As it affected the BIW, you should also see a radio delete code on a fender tag. The information that deleting a radio was possible and the associated credit would also appear in order guides or salesman info. Please provide one of these pieces of evidence supporting your position of “radio delete”, the coding and credit.

You can order a car without a radio, but you CANNOT delete something that isn’t standard.

It was possible to delete a heater in certain circumstances. That info can be established.