modern head unit into 70s radio slot

If it's like the one in the photo, then there's every chance it'll be a spindle mount. This is where the radio is fixed into the dash by nuts on the back of the volume/tuning knobs. Spindle mounts tend to have a rectangular hole in the middle for the radio/cassette main section then the two seperate holes either side for the spindles.

99% of modern car stereos use a DIN size mount which is a single large rectangular hole in the dash. The stereo for these are mounted via a cage which slides into the hole and tabs around the edge of the cage are pressed in to hold the cage in place (generally, no bolts to hold in place with the exception of a lot of 80's & 90's Japanese cars). Once the cage is secured, the DIN stereo is slid into the hole.

There is a 'crossover' period where car manufacturers put DIN sized holes in the dash/centre console to allow for easy fitment of the 'new' DIN stereos (most likely on higher spec models) then fitted spindle mount stereos on the lower spec models using an adapter plate.

If your car has a spindle mount stereo, it could possibly have the spindle mount dash which will mean cutting to open it out to a DIN sized slot....or it could (if you're lucky) have a spindle mount on an adaptor plate which, once unbolted, leaves you with a DIN sized slot for a more modern stereo to be easity fitted.

Unless a Cortina nut knows exactly what arrangement your dash has, the only way you'll properly find out is to unbolt the spindle mount radio and have a look.

I think those retro sound ones can be modified into different positions as well (eg where the centre display is, how far apart the knobs are, etc...). I was looking at them before and they were pretty cool

The mk5 had the stereo in the centre console the heater controls where your radio is and fresh air vents where your heater controls are, a mk5 centre console will fit in quite easily, give you a place to mount a DIN unit as well as some useable extra space.

I used to work as a car radio fitter in the eighties and did loads of these. I seem to recall that the in dash aperture of a Mk3 or Mk4 Cortina cannot have a standard DIN size head unit fitted neatly into the aperture. It has to be severly butchered and never looks good when it is done. The common mod we did was to fit the later centre console which was DIN compatible or to install a universal under dash fitting kit.

If I remember rightly (which I probably don't!!) I think you have to remove the glove box, release the radio spindle nuts and draw it out backwards and along through the glove box hole. I seem to recall that the spindles are mounted through the metal frame of the dashboard.

the radio is spindle mounted, you need to remve knobs etc then undo the 2 nuts.
remove glovebox & push radio in then remove through glovebox.

as you want to fit a modern din radio you'll have to remove dash. it will take ages to explain here.
simple job with a haynes manual.
once removed you'll have to cut original steel radio mount out of dash, the dash surround will need triming but a din radio will fit.
bortaf can prob provide online pics.
or go to www.buysellcortina.co.uk for mre info.

You could do the aux in mod to the old radio, or shove a small amp behind the dash and put an aux in lead in a strategic place for your phone/mp3 player.

If you do the amp you could wire both the old radio and aux/rca into it and get both worlds, and probably a bit better sound quality.

right, now i want to fit one of these



wonder if they ever made a 12" version?
if they did i'll have to get two and a dashboard mounted mixer ;-)

No, they didn't, I'm afraid - but even if they did I wouldn't want to risk anything in one. Shame you can't access that collection of music in the car though.