When I purchased the Karmann Ghia it had a good quality Sony radio with a CD player installed but it looked out of place in a 1974 car. To install the Sony radio the dash had to be cut to accommodate the larger radio. The good news was the installer used the standard DIN adapter. I pulled the old radio and the old DIN bracket out in order to put on the new dash face. The installed radio drove two speakers in the rear panels on either side of the rear jump seat. When I replaced those panels I did not re-install speakers.
 |
| With the dash face removed it was apparent the dash metal was cut in order to install the aftermarket radio. |
After looking at options I decided to install a new Laguna Beach radio from RetroSound (https://www.retromanufacturing.com/). The radio has current electronics with an old school face. You can mix and match the radio face (think screen and buttons), face plate and knobs to build a radio that looks like it might be the original. Behind that retro look is a premium radio that comes with AM, FM, Sirius XM, Bluetooth (including a remote microphone), USB inputs, auxiliary inputs and “made for iPhone” connections. The radio also has connections for a sub wolfer and secondary amp. I decided to use a single RetroSound speaker that has two coils to provide a stereo mix from a single speaker. Given how noisy Karmann Ghias are I am thinking this single speaker will meet my needs.
 |
| Single center speaker was put in place under the dash before the new dash pad was installed. |
 |
| The new radio looks something like what would have been installed in a new Karmann Ghia |
 |
| The added benefit is the new radio comes with Sirius XM, Bluetooth and connections that are compatible with an iPhone. |
I thought there was a real rats next of wiring behind the dash before installing the radio and engine instruments. But with the wiring for power, speaker, Sirius XM, antenna, auxiliary radio inputs, combined with the wiring for the oil temperature and pressure gauges it now looks like a well aged wood rat nest. The good news is all of this wiring will disappear when I install the new trunk liner.
