Electrical: Auto-tune (wonderbar) radio

[blackhawk61]

What years did Studebaker offer these ? And in what body ?

[StudeRich]

I believe the SP Detroit Packards had the Signal Seeking "Wonder Bar" Radio, and most '58 SB Packards seem to have them. I think they were available on all '58's and still available for '59 and '60 all Models, but you could probably count the number sold on two hands!

I do not think '61 and on models could have one, the '59-'64 Body Parts Catalog shows only '59-'60.

However, I don't have '59, '60 and '61 Accessory Booklets in front of me to double check this.

[RadioRoy]

Rich is correct. The Studebaker wonder bar radios were made by Delco in 1958 and were available in all models. Studebaker owners, being CASOs even back then, bought precious few of them. They will fit in most models up to 62, when the size of the face plate changed.

58 radios have a long capacitor sticking out of one side, and that may affect how they fit in certain models, especially ones with the glove box directly to the right of the radio.

They are the same radios as 1958 Corvette radios (except for the bezel and push buttons) so the secondary market price will reflect that, if the seller knows what he has.

[53k]

I believe the SP Detroit Packards had the Signal Seeking "Wonder Bar" Radio, and most '58 SB Packards seem to have them. I think they were available on all '58's and still available for '59 and '60 all Models, but you could probably count the number sold on two hands!

I do not think '61 and on models could have one, the '59-'64 Body Parts Catalog shows only '59-'60.

However, I don't have '59, '60 and '61 Accessory Booklets in front of me to double check this.

The '60 Hawk I had a few years ago had one. It was pretty well decked out overall so that might explain springing for the Wonder Bar. The '57 Packard wagon I sold a few years ago also had the Wonder Bar.

[bezhawk]

The 57 Packard wonder bar radios were much larger than the 58 and up versions. I believe they were similar to the 56 Packard versions.

[RadioRoy]

The 57 Packard wonder bar radios were much larger than the 58 and up versions. I believe they were similar to the 56 Packard versions.

Yes, and similar to the 55-56 Chevy Wonderbar radios - a two piece radio with the power supply and the power amp on the separate speaker chassis.