Now I don't often work on stuff this old, at least not 240s this old, and this was sure a surprise. Putting the dash back together on a 77 244. While snaking all the little HVAC vacuum tubes back into place, one got caught on a larger something--like a vacuum hose, or maybe a cable of some sort. I had no idea where this came from and it took me some time to get the thing out through the old speaker cutout atop the dash to get a look. Lo and behold, not a hose, an antenna cable. It's attached to a noise capacitor on the cowl underside and the cap's other lead goes through the edge of the cowl near where the windshield seats. Concealed antenna lead???!!! I've never heard of the early cars using these. What say bricksters?

DS

Not sure about 77s but my 75 had an antenna built into the windshield. It had 2 thin copper wires going up through the center and across the top. My guess is that your car had one of these, but the windshield has been replaced. I doubt you can still get windshields with antennas in them.

Wow, just like the GM setup of old. I was not aware Volvo ever used anything like this. Thanks for the confirmation.
DS

David, in a former life I used to stick two-way radios in police cars. The disguised antennas were specially tuned masts built to look like ordinary telescoping AM radio antennas until those sleek cars came out with the "invisible" wires inside the windshield. It wasn't just GM; Fords and Dodges too.

The detectives insisted I try to load them up to the 110-watt 150MHz radios they used. Had to burn one up before convincing them to drill a hole for their old antenna. The 70's...
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

The man who fell into an upholstery machine is fully recovered.

Well, I gave Art time, but he didn't tell about the two antennas who got married. The wedding really wasn't that much, but the reception was unbelieveable. Sorry guys but how many times can you segway with a joke like that?

Another life, hunh Art? No doubt. I'm of the mind that anyone messing with voltage for a living has at least nine. And I don't mean volts.

I wonder what the last year for the in-glass antenna was for Volvo? (They returned to them for the 855--in the back side glass.) I can't ever remember seeing a 240 with this intact, you? I think I'll leave the cable and such in place, just for prosperity....er, proclivity...positivity? Just for the heck of it. Where is Norm Crosby when we need him?

DS

And speaking of G.M.: Why should I care about posterity? What's posterity ever done for me?

My 74 144 came with the factory 8 track audio, and had the in glass antenna.
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...and the bricks keep on rolling

Did you own it back then? How well did it work?

I'm really surprised to hear the 855 employed this method in a side window. My recollection of the windshield version (domestic cars) is they sucked as antennas go. Then again, that A-pillar antenna most of my 240's have, while durable and unobtrusive, is not the best at grabbing stations either.
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Art Benstein near Baltimore

You feel stuck with your debt if you can't budge it.