A Visual Evolution Of The Car Stereo

Hi-Fi And FM Of The 1950s

By the early 1950’s, AM radio dominated the airwaves. However, the first FM car radio wasn't produced until 1952 by a German company Blaupunkt. By 1953, car radios with both FM and AM capabilities were available for purchase. In 1956, Chrysler created the first Highway Hi-Fi, which was mounted to the bottom of the car’s dash and slid out into a little turntable. It played approximately forty-five minutes of music from artists who had contracts with Columbia Records. The system was phased out after a few years with the majority of people sticking to their AM/FM radio as records skipped too much when the car hit a bump.