Speaker Grills for 356 C

For those who obsess about exactly how their 356 left the factory!
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Ai-Ling Lee
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Speaker Grills for 356 C

#1 Post by Ai-Ling Lee »

Hello,

I am confused about which is the right speaker grill for my 1964 356 C.

All round, or sorta round (not oval)... Which is correct?

Thanks.
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P1010091.jpg
speaker_round_lg.gif
speaker_round_lg.gif (58.44 KiB) Viewed 6216 times
Last edited by Ai-Ling Lee on Fri Dec 09, 2011 7:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Dave Wildrick
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#2 Post by Dave Wildrick »

Both of my C coupes (64 & 65) have the ones like your right-hand photo, square with rounded corners (see photo stolen from Der White's web site).
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BlauBT603c-speaker.jpg
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
#10230
64C coupe
65C coupe

Ai-Ling Lee
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Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#3 Post by Ai-Ling Lee »

Thank you, now I know what to look for. (I've just re-attached the photos, so I presume you are saying yours looks like the ones in the top photo)

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#4 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

It is believed that the round speakers were seen more often in late C's as they were also used in early 901 cars.

My early C cab 159286 "sorta round" speakers.

My late C coupe 222053 round speakers.

There likely will never be a concensus (witness Dave's '64 & '65 with the same speakers) but if you already have the "sorta round ones", and it is a '64 you will be good because there are plenty of examples of '64 C's with those speakers.

HTH,
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Richard Milstead
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#5 Post by Richard Milstead »

To re enforce what Sebastian says my early 64 C Coupe (126627 - Sept 63) has the "sorta " round speakers while my 65 C Cab (161215 - Sept 64) has round ones.
Dick Milstead
Dick Milstead

Ai-Ling Lee
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Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:24 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#6 Post by Ai-Ling Lee »

My '64 C is 129851. Guess puts it in the earlier batch. Those o my car now are aftermarket modern black grills. I bought a round set but it's pretty beat up and not sure if it's really from a 356 or a vw. But now I know which kinds to look out for. Thanks!

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#7 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Keep an eye out on the Registry classifieds or eBay.

They used to sell for a few hundred dollars when people started paying attention to the differences, but you should be able to find some good ones in the $150 range with the wire mesh screen.

If you find any with the original cloth covering, you'll pay a bit more but that would be ideal.

Regards,
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

Ai-Ling Lee
356 Fan
Posts: 59
Joined: Thu Aug 25, 2011 2:24 am
Location: Los Angeles, CA

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#8 Post by Ai-Ling Lee »

Sebastian Gaeta wrote:If you find any with the original cloth covering, you'll pay a bit more but that would be ideal.
So the original for the C comes with cloth covering and not wire mesh? I have seen the oval ones with cloth covers, but haven't come across a C speaker grill with cloth yet... I'll keep an eye out for them!

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#9 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Actually, the cloth covering goes over the wire mesh grill.

It is rare to see speakers with the cloth intact, and no one makes the material right now.

I was recently able to look at original cloth that was still in the original box with these "sorta round" speakers. It has a silver like thread that runs through it, that would be a neat (or expensive!) project to find someone to weave that material.

Regards,
Last edited by Sebastian Gaeta on Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Jim Nelson
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Location: SoCal

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#10 Post by Jim Nelson »

Richard Milstead wrote:To re enforce what Sebastian says my early 64 C Coupe (126627 - Sept 63) has the "sorta " round speakers while my 65 C Cab (161215 - Sept 64) has round ones.
Dick Milstead

To muddy the waters, my '63 T6 B Cab (158420-May 63) has round speakers.
Image

Note: Originally equipped (and documented from the factory) with a Becker Grand Prix. Perhaps Jim Brezeales's comment about Becker radios extends further back than just the C's.
Last edited by Jim Nelson on Tue Dec 13, 2011 10:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#11 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

I have never seen a T-6 with the round speakers before; that is as early as I have seen.

Now, are there any T-5 owners out there with the round speakers?
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Charlie White
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Joined: Fri Mar 14, 2008 1:12 pm

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#12 Post by Charlie White »

Sebastian,

Your comment begs the question of Jim Nelson. Jim, what is the your history with your car? Did you buy it new? Do you know for a fact that your round speaker wasn't installed by a PO somewhere along the line, or perhaps the original dealer. Not questioning what's in your car, more I'm interested to know how it got there. To me, that speaker doesn't look original......but I could be wrong.

CW
Charlie White

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Sebastian Gaeta
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Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#13 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Here is a picture of a round speaker from a one owner 356C coupe for reference.
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356C speaker.jpg
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com

Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Jim Nelson
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Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:18 pm
Location: SoCal

Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#14 Post by Jim Nelson »

Charlie White wrote:
Your comment begs the question of Jim Nelson. Jim, what is the your history with your car? Did you buy it new? Do you know for a fact that your round speaker wasn't installed by a PO somewhere along the line, or perhaps the original dealer. Not questioning what's in your car, more I'm interested to know how it got there. To me, that speaker doesn't look original......but I could be wrong.

CW
Charlie,
I've owned the car for about 3 years now, but I've known it since the mid-70's, and I know there have been no changes along these lines. Owned from 1978-2008 by my best friend, who wouldn't have changed a bolt if he couldn't find an original (and asked me about virtually every aspect of the car), and there are meticulous records from prior owners for expenditures on the car. What can I say? Could a PO changed it? Sure, but if he did, he didn't include it among his other expenditures, like oil filters, every gallon of gas, a clutch, a muffler, a few sets of wipers. etc.

Oddly enough, for the longest time ("back in the day"), the cars I owned all had round speakers, and it wasn't until I went to a Zone 1 concours in the late '70's that I saw a non-round one. That included my '62 T6 Hardtop Coupe, (bought in 74) which now doesn't have either those speakers or its original radio, and my '65 C.
Last edited by Jim Nelson on Mon Dec 12, 2011 12:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Charlie White
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Re: Speaker Grills for 356 C

#15 Post by Charlie White »

Thanks, Jim, for the information. That adds a lot!

CW
Charlie White

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