Brought home a 40 Chevy 2 dr. last weekend and under both running boards there are 2 metal straps running front to rear suspended by rubber hooks on both front and back of the boards, looks factory to me, tried to get a pic but didn't turn out? Anybody?
Well I thought that but it has no wires and it also has a cowl mounted antenna, maybe added though Thanks guys.
Rag top, I was thinking the same thing, it did come from west Texas, that's pretty close to Area 51, Right?
I think the earliest cars that had those under the boards, were circa 1932 when radios were aftermarket only. A couple years later, car makers put the antenna array in the padded roof center on closed cars. I do not know when cowl mount, and center windshield masts came out. RCA made a cool one like a wing right at W/S top with RCA logo, but no long mast like later cars Your later one might be short wave? I know that was popular, but I don't know what type of array is needed for S/W. .
Thanks F&J I had a really cool antenna like you describe, sold it to someone at a swap...Should have kept it.
One of the optional antennas for that year. After it rotted away or failed, the mast was added. Short wave became an option in '41-2 on Buick & Chevrolet.
Winner winner Chicken Dinner, you smart guys that suggested the Antenna were correct, SWEEEET! Thank you HAMB! I'm still sticking with 47 Ragtop, Marty where are you when we need you?
My '37 Terraplane had a similar antenna from the factory and the service manual had instructions for repairing and tuning it.
I had a 38 Chrysler Royal that had a radio antenna under the running boards like that, but mine looked more like one of the old aluminum TV antennas. It was a long oval loop, made out of thin aluminum tubing, suspended by rubber. Don't know if it was factory or not. I always wondered how it got reception down low like that, especially after it got caked with mud from dirt roads.
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