[dpoltzer]

I am looking for alternative options for my 1969 before drilling a hole in the right front fender for a radio antenna. I have not ordered a radio yet so my options are open. I don't particularly like where Pontiac put it. Do I even need one with these modern radios?

[redbird68]

I used a Retrosound hidden antenna on a 68 bird. works fine.

https://www.retromanufacturing.com/p...way-antenna-10

[dpoltzer]

That should do the trick! Thanks redbird68.

[JLMounce]

Yes you need an antenna. I have a modern radio without an antenna and it only rarely picks up anything more than static.

Definitely go with the hidden antenna as redbird has!

[65madgoat]

I have an underdash antenna rod. Works great. Read reviews on any you plan to buy. Some are powered - others just plug in to the radio. Do not drill a hole in your fender

[dpoltzer]

Thanks for the great input guys and I am glad I do not have drill a hole in the fender!!! Dave

[north]

Another option...

69 was the only year they offered a rear mount power antenna. A bear to find but sure looks good back there! ;-)

[tstroud]

I’m going to put in a 1970 windshield with a built in antenna. I already installed the firewall connection.


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[roger1]

Not putting an antenna in my GTO. I just don't listen to radio anymore. Just MP3s or Sirius XM.

[Scarebird]

Roger, not sure if the 69 has the same windscreen as a 70-72 (can check Hollander tomorrow) but they have them embedded.

[north]

First and second gen windshields are not even remotely similar. I don’t believe they make a first gen windshield with an imbedded antenna.

[Scarebird]

I was noting Roger's car, a 69 GTO.

[roger1]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Roger, not sure if the 69 has the same windscreen as a 70-72 (can check Hollander tomorrow) but they have them embedded.

I believe they are the same. Too late now since my new W/S is already in place.
Maybe a should have gone that route. Didn't think about it at all when I bought it. Still though, it wouldn't change anything for me.

One thing I did think about was if that they ever reproduce the trunk mounted antennas for my car, I might consider that. That would be for looks only though. I think the rear antennas look really cool on a convertible. I thought about a reconditioned original but at around $1,000 for everything, it's not worth that much too me to have.

[OCMDGTO]

Originally Posted by Scarebird

Roger, not sure if the 69 has the same windscreen as a 70-72 (can check Hollander tomorrow) but they have them embedded.

69 has no antenna in the windshield
70 has the antenna in the windshield
You can install a 70 windshield in a 69 GTO

[Cammer-6]

Originally Posted by north

Another option...

69 was the only year they offered a rear mount power antenna. A bear to find but sure looks good back there! ;-)

only thing that sux is it doesnt retract all the way,which really sux with a car cover.)

[north]

What’s interesting is in that era there were 4 different levels of antenna retraction from Pontiac. The worst was The 69 Firebird that leaves probably 8” or so out when retracted despite using a unique shorter antenna mast (thanks to a really shallow trunk). The 68-69 A-body (It uses the same mast as the big cars) also did not fully retract leaving a few inches up. Next the 68-69 big cars, the mast would fully retract into the bezel and nut which stood proud of the body an inch or so. Last was the 68 GP, it had a unique bezel that was body colored and flush to the body and the mast fully retracted into it.

The 68 GP power antenna offset its retraction championship by having a major design error, the trunk lid had a trapezoidal trunklid with the bumper end being wider than the forward end. So when the antenna was up the edge of the trunk lid would rub as you opened it and you’d have to push it away to get the lip clear. Worse, if the antenna was up in the typical half way (30 odd inches) and you tried to close the trunk you’d catch the top of the antenna with the lid and mangle the mast!

[north]

Not sure why but lately I’m often having trouble posting, nothing happens for many seconds when I hit post. If I hit back it shows it wasn’t posted so I hit it again and then it works but now the post is there twice?

[Cammer-6]

Originally Posted by north

Not sure why but lately I’m often having trouble posting, nothing happens for many seconds when I hit post. If I hit back it shows it wasn’t posted so I hit it again and then it works but now the post is there twice?

I too get a BIG lag after hitting the button.
Just look at the upper left and see that the site is "thinking" with the ball moving.

[Cammer-6]

IIRC the fix for the GP was shim the antenna body so its slightly tilted out when fully extended. Doesnt take much.
So the bottom of the antenna body would move inward slightly placing the fully extended antenna outward.

Originally Posted by north

What’s interesting is in that era there were 4 different levels of antenna retraction from Pontiac. The worst was The 69 Firebird that leaves probably 8” or so out when retracted despite using a unique shorter antenna mast (thanks to a really shallow trunk). The 68-69 A-body (It uses the same mast as the big cars) also did not fully retract leaving a few inches up. Next the 68-69 big cars, the mast would fully retract into the bezel and nut which stood proud of the body an inch or so. Last was the 68 GP, it had a unique bezel that was body colored and flush to the body and the mast fully retracted into it.

The 68 GP power antenna offset its retraction championship by having a major design error, the trunk lid had a trapezoidal trunklid with the bumper end being wider than the forward end. So when the antenna was up the edge of the trunk lid would rub as you opened it and you’d have to push it away to get the lip clear. Worse, if the antenna was up in the typical half way (30 odd inches) and you tried to close the trunk you’d catch the top of the antenna with the lid and mangle the mast!

[north]

If you look at the back of a 68 you can see that you’d have to tilt it quite a bit!

The designers-engineers were obviously not considering the power antenna but later decided not to forgo a profitable option.

Similarly someone at design wasn’t thinking 8 track player when laying out the 69 GP dash. They did have to forgo that very popular and profitable option for a few months before they came up with the ridiculously dangerous rear hump mount they came up with. There was a good article in smoke signals last year about an alternative install location that didn’t get the green light.