Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I couldn't resist the buy it now offer for a wonderbar radio newly listed on ebay. I looked in the 51 accessory catalog and it does list the wonderbar option. My question is would this be an option for a 300 or was it only offered on the 400/Patrician?

Have to go through my old SAMS books and see if I have the service manual for this one. It will no doubt not be in working condition.

BTW One of the first jobs I had after graduating high school in 1965 was in a television repair shop. They gave me all the small things they didn't want to take the time for so I got all the tape recorders,HiFi, and all the car radios. I sure remember the problem mechanical vibrators that were always much of the problem. When I rebuilt the radio in my 300 I found a site that sold solid state replacements for the old vibrators. I highly recommend replacing with the solid state one. Mine has been working well for 3 years now. Don't forget to also replace the damper cap along with the vibrator.

Bob, this is off your topic, but you seem to have access to original option books. I would like to know the interior color choices in '52 (or '53) that corresponded with the exterior colors. I have a '52 Mayfair with the red leather/ivory nylon interior. When I repaint, I want to change the exterior color to a correct blue and I would like to know if I'm still correct with the red/ivory interior. Thanks in advance!

The Wonderbar is an awesome radio! Friend of mine had one in a 1953 Buick and couldn't get over how great it sounded. Also it would pull in stations from 1000 miles farther than the one in his new Chev pickup, no kidding.

I bet you could get that radio in any Packard even the cheapest 200 coupe. That's the way Packard did things back then.

Somewhere around here I have an old 1963 Electronics magazine with plans for a transistor vibrator substitute. You could build it for about $5 worth of parts. Maybe if you browse around the net (Google) someone has posted the plans.

I've always thought it curious that Packard apparently offered the Wonderbar radio a year or so before Cadillac, yet the radio is a GM product. Do I have this correct?

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I'm sorry I can't help you. I looked up the 1951 accessory booklet on this website. I don't have much information myself. I'm sure there are many people here that will help you with what you're looking for.

Greetings Friends the wonder bar radio was an option and could be had on any model as I have on on my 250 Mayfair, however it was not cheap $149.00,I have a vacuum antenna that goes up like 5 ft and that is why you can get so many stations.

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In the old days I would have gone the rout of building my own solid state vibrator but now there is too much to do and too little time.

I found the website that I bought a solid state vibrator from. What is nice about them is they are completely plug and play. They even look exactly like an original mechanical one. Here is the link to the web site,

radiodaze.com/auto_vibrator-FAQ.htm


Good reading.

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You are right, Delco did make the radios for Packard at least from 1951 and up. Probably started much before that. I don't know when Packard first offered the Wonder Bar radio but it was at least as far back as 1951. As far as GM goes my mom's 1950 Cadillac came with one. I remember that you could push a button on the floor to get the radio to seek the next station as well as the bar on the radio itself.

Bab, what color interior is in your blue '51?

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Was there more than one version? I seem to recall one that had only the auto & knob tuning or did they all have buttons as well? I think I remember seeing something that only had a large bar.

On page 559 of the AQ Packard book, it talks of the radio and Nance's desire & idea for one that had 3 way tuning. According to the book, he took the idea to Delco to build & found they already had one about ready so he asked for it. By asking for it, he got it 5-6 months before Cadillac.