There are two moments in the life of a classic car owner that are particularly nerve-wracking: the purchase of the vehicle - and the question of what to put in the radio compartment.
Because while the purist angel on the right shoulder whispers „Original remains original, please“, on the left shoulder is a little devil with a smartphone that screams for Spotify from the very first kilometre on the motorway. Welcome to the eternal debate: original device with patina or modern technology in retro guise? Both have charm, both are justified - and both have their very own fan base. Let's take a look at the most beautiful solutions.
The original radio - because that's the sound of the 60s
Anyone who has a genuine Becker Europa in a Mercedes 190 SL, a Blaupunkt Frankfurt in a Porsche 911 or a Grand Prix in a Gullwing knows that an original radio is not just „a radio“. It is a piece of furniture. A contemporary witness. A kind of acoustic glove compartment full of history.
The warm FM voice, the light background noise sound, the creamy rotary knobs that click as satisfactorily as the door locks of a well-maintained W113 - it has soul. And anyone who has ever tried to listen to medium wave while travelling through an Alpine tunnel will also know that it has soul. Patience.
Because yes, with the original devices you also get a few endearing quirks:
- FM reception, which sometimes goes down the drain in wooded areas
- Cassettes that apparently want to consult briefly when inserting
- Medium wave, which is de facto discontinued in Germany
- Loudspeakers that are original, but would have liked to remain in 1967 in terms of sound
In short: pure character. But also a character with whom you can have a dialogue at some point during a ten-day rally through the Alps.
Königs Klassik-Radios in Haan - the magic workshop around the corner
And this is where a real institution comes into play, which we have practically on our doorstep in the Bergisch region: Königs Klassik-Radios at Elberfelder Straße 5 in 42781 Haan.
What began in 1982 as a master radio and television technician's workshop has developed over the years into an address that enjoys cult status in the classic car scene. The Königs have specialised in historic car radios since 1986, and shortly afterwards they became an authorised workshop for Becker Autoradiowerke. Then, in 1995, came the coup: Königs acquired the entire classic radio and spare parts stock of Becker Autoradiowerke - and has been an authorised workshop ever since. the Becker contract partner in the classic car sector.
(C) Königs Klassik-Radios
What happens there borders on magic: old Becker Mexico, Europa Stereo, Grand Prix - but also Blaupunkt, Telefunken, Philips and others - are optically and technically restored to condition 1 in the workshop by master craftsmen, including a two-year guarantee. And yes, Bluetooth retrofitting is also possible: the original radio remains completely untouched visually, but gets the genes of the 21st century injected into it. The Mercedes-Pagoda driver suddenly hears his playlist from his iPhone - while on the outside everything looks as if the sound is still coming fresh from the „SFB 2" station.
Incidentally, a visit is not only worthwhile to hand in a radio: there is also a small car radio museum on site. For rally participants from our region, this is a must-visit with potential for further education in automotive history.
The retro line from Blaupunkt - the latest technology in a grandma's guise
But sometimes - hand on heart - the original device simply can't be saved. Or one has never been installed. Or the previous owner installed a dreadful JVC radio with Pioneer stickers in the 90s (we all know these sins).
For these cases, Blaupunkt did something a few years ago that was enthusiastically received by the scene: they revitalised their retro line. The „Retro Car Radio“ line revives old cult radios - with an original look but with many modern features. The look fits perfectly in classic cars and modern classics from the 70s to 2010s.
The three stars in Blaupunkt heaven:
🔹 Blaupunkt Bremen SQR 46 DAB - the classic for vehicles of the 80s and early 90s. Perfectly modelled on the design of the classic Blaupunkt Bremen radios of the 1980s - including the cassette compartment. Only today, it no longer conceals the cassette compartment, but a USB port, an SD card slot and an AUX input. A small stroke of genius that appeals to purists and technology enthusiasts alike.
(C) Blaupunkt
🔹 Blaupunkt Frankfurt Stereo Classic - a great journey through time for vehicles from the 60s and 70s. With the classic dimensions of the axle units of the 70s, real rotary and push buttons and a striking chrome trim, the device looks as if it has just rolled off the assembly line in Hildesheim. Inside, however, beats an ultra-modern heart: a 3″ TFT colour display (which can be displayed either digitally or - just like in the old days - analogue), the Blaupunkt Codem IV high-end tuner with DAB+, FM and even AM, plus Bluetooth Twin Connect, USB and AUX. So you can pair your smartphone, use Siri or Google via the voice assistants, and the title display of the stream appears in retro style. A little tip: The device is the latest addition to the Blaupunkt retro line and has been available since spring 2026 - ideal for anyone who wants to bring a Mercedes Pagoda, an early Porsche 911 or a classic Beetle up to date musically without visually damaging it.
(c) Blaupunkt
🔹 Blaupunkt Hamburg SQM 23 DAB - based on the Hamburg model from 1983, purist in look and also with DAB+, Bluetooth and hands-free system.
All three have one thing in common: they look like something out of a black and white catalogue, but can do everything you need on the road today. Hands-free calling, navigation announcements, music from your mobile phone, traffic radio via DAB+, and the lighting can be adapted to the cockpit in different colours. And best of all: cassettes are out, memory cards are in. Finally, you no longer have to rewind the magnetic tape with a pencil.
🌐 Blue dot
And what about the purist faction?
For all those who say „Radio? I can only hear the engine anyway!“ - I wholeheartedly agree with them. The rich sound of a well-running six-cylinder engine is a concert in itself, and no Bluetooth radio in the world will ever be able to replace the bubbling of a V8.
But when music does need to play - for example on the BND rally between Belgium and the Netherlands, when the sun is low and the day is drawing to a close - it's nice to know that you don't have to choose between charm and technology. Both are possible. Both are beautiful.
Our conclusion
Whether you opt for a lovingly restored original radio from the Königs Klassik-Radios workshop, a Bluetooth retrofit into the existing device or a modern Blaupunkt retro classic: In the end, all that matters is that the music suits you and your vehicle.
Because whether it's Pink Floyd from a crackling Becker Europa or Lynyrd Skynyrd crystal clear in stereo via a Bremen SQR 46 DAB - the street remains the same. And it is still the most beautiful concert hall in the world.