1960-1964 “Golden Touch Tune” Search-Tune 7 Button Bendix AM Chrysler Radios –
by Carl Bilter

The 1960-64 Chrysler “7 button” AM radios were produced by Bendix, and offered power search tune capability, as opposed to the less expensive “5 button” radio. They were marketed as the “Golden Touch Tune” radio whereas the “5 button” radio was marketed as “Golden Tone.” For 1960-62, the Golden Touch designation was used on the radio dial, but that designation was absent in the narrower, simpler dial face presentation used in 1963-64.

The front dial/pushbutton cosmetic appearance of the radios was changed each model year through 1963, but the physical chassis and electronic circuits remained nearly identical from 1960-64. They were all hybrid radios, using 4 vacuum tubes for the radio section, one PNP transistor for the audio driver, and a matched pair of PNP transistors for audio output. For each model year, the Chrysler radio was also electronically identical to the Imperial version of the radio, but they were different cosmetically. Because they were the same electronically, both versions of the radio are covered together in some of the radio service manuals. The exception is 1963, where the Imperial version of the radio still used electroluminescent dial lighting, but the Chrysler version used incandescent bulb dial lighting. For each year, the radio was available with a front speaker, or both a front and rear speaker at additional cost for the hardtops, except when dual A/C was available and ordered. On the convertible the rear speaker was not available until 1963, but since there was no 300J convertible, the first letter car convertible that offered this radio with a rear speaker was the 1964 300K.

We will examine each model year separately, and illustrate some of the cosmetic and electronic changes by model year. Please refer to our introductory page about radios for general information and servicing tips here: https://chrysler300club.com/tech/radio/1.html

Let's first look at some new information regarding service and operation of these particular radios that was not covered in the introductory page.

Rear speaker socket and fader control:
The rear speaker socket circuit is unique on these radios. Unlike the 5 button radio where a 4 pin socket was used, these models used a 5 pin socket with a center pin. Normally when a rear speaker is not used, a jumper is required in the socket which takes the fader control out of the circuit, enabling the front speaker to play. But these radios do not use a variable resistor for a fader control; they use a switch that offers 5 fixed positions in a somewhat complicated circuit. From the front of the radio, the furthest left position is the front speaker only. When a rear speaker is not attached, these 7 button radios will play through the front speaker WITHOUT use of the jumper IF the switch is in this position, whereas the 5 button radios will not play at all. Moving the fader to the right to the next position connects a 5 ohm resistor into the circuit that reduces the front speaker volume, while allowing some sound to be routed to the rear speaker (if attached). Moving the fader further to the right introduces another 5 ohm resistor in the circuit to provide more balanced volume between the front and rear speakers. However, when a rear speaker is not attached, the front speaker volume will still be reduced. In the right-most fader position, the front speaker is taken out of the circuit, providing full power to the rear speaker. If a rear speaker is not attached, and a jumper is not installed, then no sound will be produced. So in the scenario where only a front speaker is used, such as on a 1960-62 F/G/H convertible, it is best to install a jumper, which will take the fader control completely out of the circuit, and will eliminate any user issues with the fader.

On these 7 button radios, the jumper must be installed in the proper pins in order to function, and it is different than what is shown in the FSM (the FSM shows where to install the jumper on the 5 button radio). On the 7 button radio, the jumper must be installed between pin #3 and the center pin, as seen in the photo here of the rear of the radio:

Also, note the hole in the chassis above the rear speaker socket. This was for a phono socket, and was used only when a record player was installed in the car.

Because those aforementioned resistors were installed on the fader switch, an elusive potential problem has been discovered during servicing the radio receiver. When the front panel is removed and reinstalled, care should be taken to ensure that those resistors do not accidentally short to one another or to the metal front panel. They are metal encased and covered with fabric insulators can can slip off. Here is a photo showing these resistors, where they have managed to short because they are touching one another. If this happens, the radio volume output will be greatly diminished. Ask me how I know this!

Power Output and Speakers:

For each of these model years the radio was advertised as having 7.5 watts of audio output. This was before power output was more accurately specified as RMS output at a certain impedance, at a certain rate of distortion, which became more standardized later in the 70's and 80's. So take the stated output with a grain of salt, as it is nowhere close to 7.5W RMS. Frequency response of the radio is not stated, but seems quite good for an AM set. For each model year, Mopar “Deluxe” 6”x9” speakers were used rated at 3 to 4 ohms.

When using modern speakers as replacements, choose something simple, such as the Metra brand replacement speaker (available from NAPA under Audiovox brand, or other online sites at lower cost) or the “factory radio” brand. Costly triaxial speakers designed for modern car stereos are not needed and will not provide better sound.

Now let's examine the radio offered each model year.

1960

The 300F “Golden Touch Tune” radio was model 403, available with front speaker only as sales code 423, or with both front and rear speaker as sales code 428. 52.5% of 300Fs were equipped with this radio (42.8% had the 5 button radio, and 4.7% were ordered without a radio).

1960 used a “smooth” dial face, as seen in this photo. While this radio is actually a 5 button set, it is the same dial face as the 7 button set, and is a good photo to illustrate the dial face design:

Here is a photo of the 1960 seven button set, albeit a little blurry. Note that the radio knobs are painted black in the center.

The dial was lit by the car's electroluminescent power pack, which is connected to the white wire as seen in the photo above. The radio used 4 tubes: 12FX8 RF amp/converter, 12EK6 IF amp, 12AE6A detector/AVC/AF amp, and 12DY8 trigger relay control. The audio driver was a 2N1287 transistor, and the audio output used a matched pair of 2N1227 transistors.

1961

The 300G “Golden Touch Tune” radio was model 407, available with front speaker only as sales code 423, or with both front and rear speaker as sales code 428.

1961 used a dial face with hash marks and was lit via the electroluminescent power pak.
The radio knobs were painted black in the center.

The radio used 4 tubes, same as 1960 except that the RF amp used an updated 12FX8A tube, and the detector/AVC/AF amp was changed to a 12FK6 or 12FM6 tube. All three transistors were upgraded with new “A” suffix versions of their 1960 counterparts.

1962

The 300H “Golden Touch Tune” radio was model 410, available with front speaker only as sales code 363, or with both front and rear speaker as sales code 365. We do not have all the 300H records, but of those we have, 52.9% were equipped with this radio (42.1% had the 5 button radio, and 5.0% were ordered without a radio).

1962 used a triangle design on the dial face and was the last year to be lit via the electroluminescent power pak.
For more on the differences on the dial faces, click here.
The radio knobs had chrome centers.

Electronically, the 1962 radio was essentially a carryover from 1961, with the same tubes and transistors.

1963

The 300J “Golden Touch Tune” radio was model 411, available with front speaker only as sales code 363, or with both front and rear speaker as sales code 365. 46.0% of 300Js were ordered with this radio (46.8% had the 5 button radio, 2.5% had the new AM-FM radio, and 4.8% were ordered without a radio).

Cosmetically, the 1963 version of this radio looked all new. The dial face, pushbuttons, and tone and fader controls were completely redesigned. The volume and tuning knobs, however, were identical to the 1960-61 style with black painted centers. The 1963 radio dial was lit by two type 53X incandescent bulbs.

While the 1963 version of the radio looked all new, electronically it was a carryover of the 1962 model with the same tubes and transistors. There were some very minor changes in the physical layout of the internal circuits/wiring, but nothing of significance.

1964

The 300K “Golden Touch Tune” radio was model 415, available with front speaker only as sales code 366, or with both front and rear speaker as sales code 367. The rear speaker could be ordered in a convertible, making the 300K the first letter car convertible that could be equipped with a rear speaker.

Cosmetically and electronically, the 1964 version of the radio appears to be identical to 1963. 1964 was the last year for the hybrid tube/transistor 7 button radio.