MGs (and all British cars) were delivered to the USA without radios, leaving it for the customer to choose which model and the dealer to install. The original British Radiomobile units are excellent radios but have old European band settings that are not compatible with US radio standards. Other vintage-correct models include Motorola and Bendix, but it is very difficult finding an old radio that receives the FM band. I remember when I was a kid, a neighbor bought a new american car (Ford) but installed a Blaupunkt radio in the dash because it was a better quality radio than the american Philco radios. Also it received the FM band, which didn't appear on (most) American cars until the mid-60s.

Blaupunkt's "Frankfurt" model featured AM, FM, and a shortwave band that gets excellent reception in the evenings. I was able to find a nice one on eBay and had it restored locally, and matched it with a vintage Easaphone high-efficiency speaker and bracket behind the dash. This keeps the entire radio system completely vintage, and correct for this year vehicle.

The nice thing about this model Blaupunkt is that it actually was installed new in some MGAs, Jaguars, Healeys, etc. (it was produced in the late 50s through mid-60s, in slightly different cosmetic variations and as 2-piece tube or transistor unit (a head unit and outboard rear amplifier, bolted with an adjustable bracket). It was standard equipment on some Porsche 356, Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes models. Later in the 60s a one-piece transistor model was offered, with slightly larger rubberized knobs. Notice that the buttons and knobs on this early Frankfurt match the MGA knobs closely. The white lettering on the pushbuttons is nearly identical to the MGA knob font. At night with the dash illuminated, the radio's dial light is consistent with the look of the Jaeger gauges.

Blaupunkt auto radios came in two versions: Europeon and North American-specification. You can tell the difference immediately by the band markings: Euro-spec radios are marked L, M, K, U as opposed to AM, FM, SW (shortwave) on the North American radios...also the FM band goes all the way to 108 mHz.

An example of a Euro-spec Blaupunkt "Koln" radio: AM, FM, one longwave and one shortwave band

This picture shows the two-piece "Universal faceplate" -- a solid chrome face with a back plastic overlay with thin white stripes, this was popular for Jaguars and Mercedes S-class cars. The picture at the top of this page shows the normal "traditional" MGA faceplate (also below on left).

You can see how much smaller the transistor model is. Functionally they are not quite identical; the older unit on the left has a push on/off volume control, while the later version has a turn-volume on/off, and also a local/distant selector under the tuning dial. Performance is excellent for both models.

The directions for changing voltage and polarity: 6 or 12 volts, positive or negative. You can use it on your MGA regardless of original polarity.

Here is an original British "Radiomobile" unit fitted to cars for the UK.
A little hard to use in the states...try tuning 880 AM for WCBS...

I'm currently "auditioning" a used Becker Europa MU vintage early sixties, also with the ability to directly connect an external source (iPod, etc.) into the radio unit's amplifier.

This unit also looks good in the MGA: although not as close a match as the Blaupunkt, it looks a little more "expensive," sort of like a McIntosh FM receiver, complete with a green rectangular light in the center of the yellowish dial. I slightly prefer this radio to the Blaupunkt since the "feel" of the buttons and tuning is superior. Reception seems a little better as well, although there is no shortwave band on this model.

You can find many excellent restored radios on ebay from acecabristol and many Blaupunkts from wwwoldtimer-radiode. Both are vendors with very good reputations and eBay feedback.B>

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Connecting an iPod DIRECTLY to the radio

If you want to connect an iPod (or any music player with a stereo mini-plug connector) to these radios, it is really EASY. No soldering or internal modifications required. Because these radios all came with a DIN-type socket in the rear for connecting outboard input sources (cassette players etc). it is possible to fabricate a simple wire with an inline A/B switch to plug into this socket. Plug the other end into your iPod. The switch will select between listening to the radio tuner (normal operation) or the external source (iPod). The advantage here is that controlling the volume and on/off will always be done through the main radio, not some underdash unit, and the audio fidelity is excellent (although mono-only). You can buy the cable from Mattias Klassen in Germany, or maybe make one up yourself! Here is a picture of it:

Top image shows the rear of a Blaupunkt radio with the accessory plug removed and the socket visible
Bottom image shows the wiring of the accessory plug and inline switch, with a standard stereo mini-plug at the other end.
Sorry I wish I had the wiring schematic, but resourceful electronic hobbyists could probably determine the correct input connections and replicate this set-up.

The cable is also available from Koenigs in Germany

Here is another fairly rare vintage accessory...a Delswift rear-view mirror that is also a ferrite loop antenna. This solved the problem of having to drill another hole in the fender for a mirror, and gave me that critical right-side rear view that I had been missing. A bonus was that the antenna-mirror actually provides BETTER RECEPTION than a mast antenna, less suseptible to drift and fade...I am told this is because the inner ferrite-loop in the mirror is more efficient than a telescoping mast. Styling-wise it's a close match for the Lucas models. Nice convex lens.

From the eBay auction description by acecabristol: This auction is for an authentic original vintage period New Old Stock Antenna and mirror combination manufactured by Delswift products of Sheffield, England in the 1960's. Still has the factory sales sticker on the base. A neat invention that allows you to have a genuine vintage period rear view outside mirror without having to cut another hole in your classic car for the radio antenna. This is a high quality, heavy brass, triple chrome plated accessory that was an authentic factory option for the Sunbeam Alpine, Tiger and other Rootes group Motorcars. I believe that it was also an authentic aftermarket accessory for the Volkswagens of the 60's and 70's and was listed in the Empi catalogs. No matter, this accessory can be used on any car. Complete with mounting base, fastening nut, gasket, antenna lead in wire and a nice original brochure for the mirrors. Antenna wire is 70 inches long. If a longer length is needed Radio Shack sells an extension. Mirror head measures 4 1/2 inches and the mirror stem measures 6 inches from top of the fender to top of the extension. Can be adjusted to use on either right or left side. "The most useful car radio antenna (aerial) in the world". (Said so on the box, which has mistakenly been tossed out) Convex glass mirror surface. In as new condition. There are no defects or blemishes anywhere. Any irregular surface in the photos are only photos themselves and not the mirror. Have sold about 15 of these items and everyone has been delighted with them. Exceptional station reception for the radio...AM or FM.