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Most Blaupunkt radios have a paper tag on the right side of the radio body that shows a letter code indicating its “series”. This letter code always refers to a two-year span in which a specific series was produced (for example: A-series = 1969-1970), since new models were mid-year introductions.
Although this paper tag is almost always on the right side (passenger side of the car when mounted) of the radio, on early tube radio (circa 1955-58) the paper tag is on the left side. During the transition period in which tags moved from the left to the right, there are even radios that have two paper tags, with one on each side.
Depending on heat and humidity, these paper tags have often fallen off, since they were held in place with a dab of glue. The 1950’s and 1960’s radios have a higher chance of the paper tag still being present (more or stronger glue?), while the 1970’s radios have a smaller chance of the paper tags being in place.
The paper tags with the letter code also have a serial number. It is my understanding that the serial number on 1950’s and 1960’s radios are just the numeric order in which a certain radio was produced in that series. And until the Z-series 1968-1969 model, an old series was immediately discontinued once the new model year series was introduced. For example, a W-series will always be from 1965 and 1966 and will not have been produced any later than that.
This changed starting with the A-series 1969-1970 models. Some series continued being built for a few additional years, meaning that an old series was not immediately discontinued once the new model year began. It is the model code (not the serial number, which is usually located next to it) that gives us more information with the fourth digit indicating the year that radio design was originally introduced. This information works hand-in-hand with the letter code, which tells us the actual year the radio was built.
Examples:
Model Code: 7630 640 000 with C-series is a 1970 design built 1971/1972
Model Code: 7632 641 200 with F-series is a 1972 design built 1974/1975
Model Code: 7631 640 000 with D-series is a 1971 design built 1972/1973
Letter Series Codes:
1955 - 1956 - R
1956 - 1957 - K
1957 - 1958 - S
1958 - 1959 - G
1959 - 1960 - Q
1960 - 1961 - D
1961 - 1962 - E
1962 - 1963 - T
1963 - 1964 - U
1964 - 1965 - V
1965 - 1966 - W
1966 - 1967 - X
1967 - 1968 - Y
1968 - 1969 - Z
1969 - 1970 - A
1970 - 1971 - B
1971 - 1972 - C
1972 - 1973 - D
1973 - 1974 - E
1974 - 1975 -F
1975 - 1976 - G
Various antenna models were offered throughout the decades. Some universal, others vehicle model specific. This catalogue is from the mid to late 1970's, although some of the universal antennas are identical to some 1960's antenna models. Of particular interest are the early motorized antennas.
Volkswagen Beetle 58-65
Rear deck mounted speakers
Volkswagen:Transporter
Volkswagen Transporter 62-65
Stuttgart: AM, longwave and shortwave only. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Five preset buttons.
DM 268.-
Volkswagen Beetle 65-67 (Note the black buttons with white knobs)
Blaupunkt Date Codes
Koln (US model named New Yorker): FM,AM, longwave and shortwave only. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Five preset buttons. Auto-seek by pressing right shaft.
DM 595.-
Of particular interest are the prices in Deutschmarks that show how expensive these radios were. At a time when a new standard 1966 Volkswagen Beetle cost DM 4635.- the Koln radio cost DM 595. With other words, the price for 7.8 Koln radios was the same as a new car. Hard to imaging in todays world of throw-away consumer products.
Essen: FM, AM and longwave. On/Off operated by left shaft. Tone adjusted by buttons. No presets.
DM 298.-
Late 1960's packaging
A favorite collectible: 1966 Blaupunkt sales binder
Exportsuper: FM,AM, Marine-band. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Five preset buttons. Auto-seek by pressing right shaft. I believe this model was later renamed "New Yorker"
DM 545.-
Blaupunkt Radio Knobs
BMW 1500/1600/1800
Email: iprangenberg@hotmail.com Call or Text: (631) 697-1611
Mid 1970's packaging
Porsche 356 B,C
(Note the white buttons with black knobs)
Bremen: The least expensive radio Blaupunkt offered. AM and longwave only. On/Off and tone operated by button, not the left shaft. No presets.
DM 199.-
Frankfurt (European model): FM,AM, longwave and shortwave only. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Five preset buttons.
DM 389.-
Volkswagen Beetle pre-54 (retrofit offered in 1966)
Porsche:
The radios shown below are not all of the radios Blaupunkt offered. A number of other radio variants were available depending on the bands offered within a given area. One example is the longwave band. While some areas on some continents offered longwave bands such as Europe, longwave was never made available in the US. Other continents such as Africa had Blaupunkt radios that focused on shortwave, making the button layout lock in to various shortwave frequencies. While some radios were factory installed, many were installed at the dealership, allowing customers to choose the model they preferred.
Frankfurt (US model): FM,AM, and shortwave. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Five preset buttons.
DM 389.-
Some Important Blaupunkt Radio Facts
BMW 700 LS/Coupe
Dash mounted speakers
BMW 2000
Vintageblau
Rear deck mounted speakers
Volkswagen Transporter 66
Porsche 911/912
Dash mounted speakers
Sales Literature
BMW 1800 T.I.
Original instruction manuals, schematics and warranty cards with original yellow pouches with embossed Blaupunkt logo.
Hamburg: AM and longwave only. On/Off and tone operated by left shaft. Least expensive radio with presets.
DM 249.-
We are asked on a daily basis what the correct configurations are for installing a period correct radio into a vintage car. Original literature is extremely difficult to find, yet over the years we have collected a variety of Blaupunkt literature that shows an abundance of information for most vehicle models of that era and earlier. We collect early repair manuals, installation diagrams and dealership correspondences as well. These items go into our collection and are not made available for sale. We will be adding similar information for Becker in the near future.
Our aim is to share this information by making it available to the public. Due to vast quantity of information, it will take time to create this reference section. We ask for your patience during this process. The images below show the various radios Blaupunkt made available for individual vehicle models. Interesting are the images of the radios installed in the dash of various classic cars. Interesting as well are the prices shown. These were not inexpensive accessories!
Complete installation schematics are printed onto the backs of the sales pages, although it will take some time to make this available for viewing. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.
All knobs before the 1967/1968 Y-series had knobs with set screws. The Y-series itself had a partial "D-shaft" for knobs with either set screws or push on knobs. Starting with the 1968-1969 Z-series, all knobs were push on.
Early 1960's packaging
Volkswagen:Beetle
Blaupunkt Radio Antennas
Other favorite collectibles: Original binder with dozens of hand typed dealership correspondence letters that outline sales and advertising strategies for promoting FM to the public (left) and a 1959-1960 full repair binder for all radio models including the auto-seek Koln model.
Volkswagen Beetle 54-57
Blaupunkt Radio Models
KV 900: Shortwave accessory unit. Under dash mounted shortwave receiver that plugs into DIN port in back of some radio models.
DM 130.-
Blaupunkt Radio Speakers
BMW 700 LS/Coupe
BMW:
Blaupunkt Literature and Packaging
Green versus white dial face?
All T-series (1962/1963) and earlier Blaupunkt radios had a green dial no matter what model radio or which vehicle a radio was intended for. The green dial was not specific to any one vehicle as some people believe. This holds true for both European market radios as well as US market radios.
During the following model year, the U-series (1963-1964) had the dial color changed to white, no matter what model radio. (Note: Some Dortmund deluxe models from the early 1970’s were built with green dial faces and ivory/chrome buttons offered as a throwback look for earlier cars).
When was shortwave added?
The Marine band feature on US market radios was dropped and shortwave added with the introduction of the W-series (1965-1966). Previously the buttons were labeled M,AM,AM,FM,FM. They were changed to AM,AM,SW,FM,FM. Shortwave was available before 1965 though using a seperate undermount shortwave adapter such as the earlier "big button" KV 810 or later "small button" KV 900.
Shortwave was added to the European market radios as well beginning with the W-series (1965-1966). Previously the buttons were labeled L,M,M,U,U. They were changed to L,M,K,U,U.
What are "M", "L" "K" or "U" buttons?
The “M” button on a US market radio is the marine band, while the “M” button on a European market radio is the AM band. "L" stands for longwave, "K" stands for shortwave and "U" stands for FM on European models.
The FM range, US market verses European market radios:
The FM range on US market radios always goes up to 108. The FM range on European market radios only goes up to 104 and even only up to 100 on earlier European market tube radios from the 1950's. The only European model Blaupunkt to break this rule are some Dortmund deluxe models from the early 1970’s and the export version of some Volkswagen specific Emden models. These were offered with a 108 FM range.