Classic VW Beetle Radio Bluetooth Conversion

[AffableCurmudgeon]

My 1967 Beetle came with a Sapphire XVIII that a previous owner had installed in it. Originally 1967 Beetles came with a one-year-only Sapphire V AM radio. I kept looking for a clean Sapphire V. Found one that looked good in the pictures on eBay, but I didn't want to listen to just AM radio.

I took out all the old AM electronics, replaced the old incandescent bulb with an LED and resistor using the original bulb holder, added a Bluetooth receiver with microphone, a board stereo amp and a stereo volume control POT with power on/off on click. All of this fits nice and tidy in the original radio housing. The tuning knob, tuning needle and the presets work as before, except there is no AM radio to tune.

The car now has a period correct Sapphire V that looks like the original radio but is actually a Bluetooth receiver with microphone for hands-free calling. I also replaced the single factory speaker with two small stereo speakers mounted in the original speaker location. Everything looks stock.

Now I use my iPhone to listen to iHeart Radio (for FM and AM stations), Spotify, Pandora and stored music. Volume is controlled by the radio volume knob as before. The Bluetooth sound comes through the speakers. The microphone protrudes from the defrost vent and is at the perfect location to pick up the sound from both seats during a phone call.

The flicker Album link is below with some pics of the conversion and a video of it playing.

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzTc2b

 

[larry4406]

Very cool!

What components did you buy and were can they be sourced?

I will need to do this one day to the AM radio in my 'Cuda.

 

[AffableCurmudgeon]

I bought the components on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WSN9S4Q - 12v Dual Channel amp board
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JCMS58K - Stereo volume POT with On/Off switch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JM5PLXW - 12V Bluetooth Receiver

 

[txvwnut]

Very nice. I went the lazy route and put a Retro sounds unit in my 63.

 

[tronview]

This video helped on the wiring part. It is in Hindi so CC with auto translation does help.
YouTube Video on how to make an amplifier using pam8610 | How to solve PAM810 Sound Problem | pam8610 With volume

 

[kerrynzl]

I bought the components on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WSN9S4Q - 12v Dual Channel amp board
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JCMS58K - Stereo volume POT with On/Off switch
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08JM5PLXW - 12V Bluetooth Receiver

Add a 3.5mm phone jack into your glovebox so you can switch off the bluetooth and use Aux input.
Then you can feed it from an old MP3 player for FM [or whatever is saved]

I've done this on my friends old Falcon [between the tuner and the pot] It cost about $5

 

[Willie Makeit]

google "Aurora Design conversions" ... some really cool stuff for old radios to keep it original looking but with today's technology

 

[gahrajmahal]

In our 1970 MGB I made a wood, wedge shaped box that rests on the back shelf under the folded convertible top. Inside are two good 5-1/2” round speakers powered by a Bluetooth amplifier of around 50 watts. The amplifier volume knob protrudes from a hole in the center of the box. Under the volume knob I added a cigarette lighter socket so I can plug in an adapter to charge my phone. The speakers have grille cloth made of wicker seat replacement. Lamp cord provide the 12v hot and negative on its own fuse to the box that is loose so it can be moved for battery service.

One of the nice things about this setup is when you are using Google maps with your phone, the speakers break into your music and we can clearly hear the driving instructions amplified through the “stereo” system.

In my console where the original radio would reside I made a veneered panel with three gauges and all the dash switches moved there.



Sorry, no photos of the Bluetooth wedge box.