They missed one of the more interesting Bose/GM systems, as far as the car it was available in. That being the '82 '83(?) Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. That car was a new branch of the Cutlass line being front wheel drive model, prior to the Ciera Cutlass' were rear wheel drive. At the time front wheel drive was new to cars larger than sub compacts, out side of the Toronado. I recall a friend having bought one of these new Cutlass Ciera's and he's spent the extra money for the optional Bose audio system. I remember the sound being great, and also the price for that option was up there, though I don't recall how much. At the time, anyone having the new front wheel drive Cutlass with the Bose system had stepped up the very latest technology.
As far as Chrysler being late in their match-up with Infinity in 1987, one needs to understand that Chrysler had a very good no-name sound systems in they cars by around '83-'84. I remember being shocked by the very good sound in my parents brand new '84 LeBaron. But again, one needs to consider the time.
In the early 1980's we were just coming out of the weak muted audio system of the 1970's. I've always thought car radio's from the 1960's sounded better than what we had in the 70's, and that the systems of the later 1960's were becoming more like what we would have in the '70's. And the 1960's systems weren't as good as the what we had in the 1950's. Though I have to mention my first car a $125 '64 Chrysler New Yorker, in very good shape. My Dad bought it for me from our local Pontiac dealer, and it was eight years old at the time. It had the normal radio in the dashboard with a big 6X9 speaker facing the passenger compartment instead of the facing the windshield like most cars, and also a single 6X9 speaker in the rear deck. What was special about this particular system is there was a push-pull knob on the lower part of the dashboard. Pulling the knob out kicked-on a reverberator mounted in the trunk behind the rear seat. That reverberator transformed what was a nice sounding radio into what the Chrysler owner's manual called "Concert Hall Sound". And it did. I actually heard what I imagined was being seated in one of those big old playhouses with the wooden floors and seating more like church benches rather than those in a theater. All of my friend's were wowed by it, as was my Dad.
A few years after a friend of mine who was older than me and I were out bombing around one night, and we came across a used car dealership that had a few old cars mixed in with the usual five to eight year old cars this place sold. My friend spotted a 1958 Buick like the one his Dad had back in the day. We got out to check it out and never having seen one I was taken with the heavily laid-on chrome and stainless GM stuck onto Buick's that year. It was unlocked, and we were looking over the interior, and my being the closest my friend said "Turn on the radio". I said there's no key. He said I'm sure these work without the key being on. I did and nothing happened. My friend said wait a minute or so, if it's working the tubes have to warm up. Sure enough a few moments later that radio produced the most magnificent sound. I was aghast. The sound was so full and rich. And it was all coming out of one speaker in the dashboard. I was completely impressed. The best way I can describe what it sounded like is one of those big old tall stand-up radios with the wooden cabinet and a large amount of fabric covering a huge speaker. Those big old radios people had in the 1940's. We spent a good five minutes hearing the sounds from different stations and trying the tone knob for different effects. I was very taken as I had no idea that there was anything that good in cars back in the 50's.
What I've learned over the years is auto sound systems have changed for both the worse and the better. Each car I've had didn't necessarily have a better system in it, though at times a system was noticeably better. If I had to pick a favorite I don't think I could. It certainly isn't the ten-speaker Harmon/Kardon in my newer MINI Cooper. What I have noticed is that the build on cars for at least the past ten years have become more and more alike. Things like the design of the doors and gasketing, and small components under the hood, it's as though there are only one or two manufacturer's of a given component and all the car manufacturer's use those. It makes me wonder if we'll reach a point when all car audio systems will sound just about the same. I know this won't happen so long as there's money to be made involving a big name audio corporation match up. But maybe we'll reach a point that there won't be much to for systems to stand apart and then all of them would sound just about the same.
