The History of Car Radios (2024)

FAQs

What is the origin of car radio? ›

In 1924, Kelly's Motors in NSW, Australia, installed its first car radio. In 1930, the American Galvin Manufacturing Corporation marketed a Motorola-branded radio receiver for $130.

The earliest car audio systems are attributed to brothers Joseph and Paul Galvin. They named their $130 car radio the Motorola. Yes, their company went on to become the telecommunications behemoth we know today.

A car radio is born (1930s–1950s)

Named to blend the words “motor” and “Victrola,” the system used battery-powered vacuum tubes and sold for around $130 (around $2,000 in today's money).

Most importantly, “the transistor could be manufactured by highly automated processes and at extremely low cost.” The car radio, an accessory only 40 percent of cars had in 1946, was in 90 percent of cars by the 1970s.

The first car radios were used by Chevrolet in the early 1920s. They were very expensive at that time and incredibly bulky, with huge batteries, speakers, and antennas that barely fit into and onto a car.

The first commercial car radios were introduced by two brothers named Paul and Joseph Galvin, who revolutionized the driving experience. The 1920s was a time of booming entertainment in the United States, and among the many new forms of theater and dance, radio programming also began to flourish.

The related TP (Traffic Programme) flag is used to allow the user to find only those stations that regularly broadcast traffic bulletins, whereas the TA flag is used to stop the tape or raise the volume during a traffic bulletin.

1966 – The first R/C car becomes available to consumers in Europe. Lamborghini and Ferrari are the first models. 1967 – Car kits start selling to consumers. 1970's – The US and UK begin getting their first models.

The first modern car—a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use—and the first car in series production appeared in 1886, when Carl Benz developed a gasoline-powered automobile and made several identical copies.

1960s: The Car Stereo Is Born

The 1960s saw the introduction of both eight-track tapes and car stereos. Up until that point, all car radios had used a single (mono) audio channel. Some had speakers in both the front and back that could be adjusted separately, but they still only had one channel.

Do car stereos still get stolen? ›

Even in this age of advanced technology and security, thieves continue to target car audio equipment. Having your car stereo stolen can be costly in several ways.

Most car speakers will last between 4-8 years. The first parts to go are often the tweeters. These speakers, which reproduce higher-frequency sounds, can start to become distorted after four years of regular use.

The VAST majority of cars from the 50s thru the mid-60s had only AM/FM radios. Actually, the early 50's had AM. Back then, FM was just getting popular. It's like new tech today.

In 2001, the first Bluetooth hands-free car kits were introduced.

By the 1980s, there were hundreds of FM radio stations across the country, each with its own unique sound and audience. During the 80s, the introduction of digital audio broadcasting (DAB) promised higher sound quality and greater signal stability.

Other names for automotive head units include car stereo, car receiver, deck, in-dash stereo, and dash stereo.

In 1930 Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduced the Motorola radio, one of the first commercially successful car radios. Company founder Paul V. Galvin created the brand Motorola for the car radio—linking "motor" (for motorcar) with "ola" (which implied sound). Thus the Motorola brand meant sound in motion.