From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

Ford First in Marketing 8-Track Players for All  Ford Vehicles, ’66

 

 

 

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CHICAGO — There wasn’t a cartridge system that engineers had confidence in until 8-track was developed, stated Harold Sperlich, advance program and component planning manager for Ford, at the Billboard Cartridge Conference here last week. Sperlich offered some insight into the manufacturers’ historic decision to break with the 8-track instead of utilizing the already existing Fidelipac concept.

Sperlich spoke at a Tuesday (August 30) session in which he painted a glistening picture for auto -installed playback units.

Ford’s decision to become one fourth of the Lear-Motorola -RCA Victor party heralding the creating of a new, untested playback system, was based on the approval of Ford’s engineers and the engineering opinions of these other companies.

Ford decided to act on the “sum knowledge” which theorized that 8-track would have the most success in the auto and because collective minds felt that system would survive. “We couldn’t know for sure that 8 would survive,” Sperlich
said, “but the collective judgment said 8-track was superior.”

Sperlich said “It was the collective information” which spurred Ford’s decision to run with 8-track.

There was a period for four to six months, Sperlich said, about one year before the unit went into production, in which the “conference table was full of pros and cons,” with representatives from Lear, Muntz, Motorola and the music companies all offering their thoughts on the new industry.

Ford had been eyeing tape playback as an accessory item for “many years,” Sperlich said. The 4-track system had validity, the executive admitted, and Earl Muntz “had done a great job,” but Ford didn’t feel 4 was as good as 8.

Product planner John Nevin (recently promoted to another division) was as close to being the company’s decider to go with 8-track as any one individual could be in the huge organization. Ford’s initial interest was in the cartridge and player; the music business involvement through RCA came later.

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There had been problems the first year with the system, Sperlich admitted, but the company expected that. Technological improvements in 1967 models would eliminate deficiencies, he said.

Asked if Ford was aware of comment arising from the West Coast – principally from Muntz – that 8-track system was troublesome, Sperlich replied Dearborn was cognizant of Muntz’s remarks. The California duplicator had attempted on several occasions to interest Detroit in his 4-track system. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 10, 1966)

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From the MCRFB NEWS archive: 1966

 

 

 

 

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DETROIT — The Chevrolet division of General Motors has thrown its hat into the tape CARtridge ring as it announced Monday (September 12) that it will offer cartridge playback units as optional equipment on most of its 1967 models.

The entry of General Motors into the field marks the second car manufacturer to embrace the cartridge concept on a factory-installed basis. Ford Motor Co. has offered 8-track continuous loop equipment since the beginning of the 1966 car year. Chrysler has jumped aboard the cartridge caravan following Ford, and American Motors disclosed it will offer players this year. Thus all four major car makers are in the field.

The unit on the Chevrolet will be 8-track continuous loop. This dispels all rumors that the division was eying the Philips 4-track reel-to-reel cassette. “We decided on the 8-track solid-state stereo player after nearly two years of study to find the best possible type,” a spokesman for the company said.

Offered as a factory or dealer-installed option, the unit will be manufactured by General Motors’ Delco division. Cost of the accessory has not been determined. “We expect the tape cartridge player to become an important seller among the 400 options and accessories offered by Chevrolet,” said E. M. Estes, GM vice -president and Chevy general manager. The 8-track player will be available in all Chevrolet models except the Corvette and Chevy II.

The deck, mounted on the lip of the instrument panel, may be installed with an AM-FM push-button radio and FM stereo Multiplex to provide a “complete music center on wheels.” Four speakers, one in each corner, are mounted in the car.

Chevrolet has also disclosed a deal with RCA Victor in which the record company will furnish one tape cartridge to be given away by Chevy dealers when the customer orders a playback unit for his new car. The cartridge features Lorne Greene narrating a musical tour of the U. S. The cartridge will not be available elsewhere.

The tape cartridge unit will receive prominent play in all new model advertising run by the company. Also a special promotion package will be sent to dealer salesmen. The package contains window posters and literature on the product. Salesmen will be given special information on the playback equipment features. The unit will also be displayed on Chevrolet television commercials. END

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DETROIT — At press time, both the Pontiac and Oldsmobile divisions of General Motors revealed that they would offer 8-track tape CARtridge playback units as factory-installed, optional equipment on their 1967 lines. Buick and Cadillac will not offer the equipment this year. A full report will follow next week. END

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(Information and news source: Billboard; September 17, 1966)

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