Pony Car Perfect: Custom Autosound USA-230 Radio, Dual Voice Coil Speaker & Kick Panel Install on a 1965 Ford Mustang
A 1965 Ford Mustang is one of the most iconic pony cars ever built, and the last thing you want when restoring one is a modern head unit ruining that perfect factory dash. In this episode of Cruising with Kendra, host Kendra Summer heads into the garage to install a complete Custom Autosound audio system on a classic '65 Mustang, and the results are exactly what every Mustang owner hopes for: modern sound, stock appearance, zero modifications.
The package covers three components: the USA-230 radio, a dual voice coil dash speaker, and a set of kick panel speakers. Together they transform this Mustang from a single-speaker AM setup into a full stereo system, using only basic hand tools and no cutting whatsoever.
The USA-230: Affordable, Classic, and Built for Your Mustang
The Custom Autosound USA-230 is the entry point into the Custom Autosound lineup, and it delivers an impressive amount of performance for the price. Like all Custom Autosound radios, it is engineered specifically for your vehicle, so the shaft lengths are pre-set and the face is styled to look completely at home in the Mustang dash. On this '65, that means a chrome face wearing the Mustang script and running horse logo right on the front, making it look every bit as factory as the radio it replaces.
The USA-230 shares the same cosmetics as the higher-end USA-630 and USA-740 models, so you get the same classic look at a more accessible price point. The tradeoff is that it does not include a USB port or CD changer control, but everything else is there.
The full USA-230 feature list includes:
- AM/FM stereo with electronic tuner and simulated classic AM appearance
- 200 watts peak power (4 x 50W) for clean, room-filling sound
- 16 station presets (12 FM / 4 AM)
- Auxiliary input via rear RCA with a 26-inch 1/8" mini-jack cable included, compatible with iPod, iPhone, Android, satellite radio, or any device with a headphone jack
- 4-channel RCA pre-outs for connecting external amplifiers
- 4-way fader plus separate bass and treble controls and left/right balance
- Digital clock display
- Power antenna lead
- Chrome Mustang script and running horse logo on the face
- No cutting or dash modification required, and installation is fully reversible
The two-part wiring harness plugs directly into the back of the radio and connects to the car's factory wiring. Everything needed for installation ships in the box, including the radio, wire harness, knobs, metal rear mounting strap, auxiliary cable, and owner's manual.
Dual Voice Coil Dash Speaker: True Stereo from One Opening
Early Mustangs came with a single mono speaker mounted in the dash, which means the factory cutout was designed for one driver. Custom Autosound's dual voice coil (DVC) dash speaker solves this elegantly: it drops directly into the original mono speaker opening using the provided fasteners, no new holes or modification needed, while delivering true left and right stereo channel separation from a single unit.
The DVC design gives you roughly 70% more cone surface area than a standard single-voice-coil speaker, which translates directly into noticeably better bass response and fuller overall sound. It handles up to 140 watts, pairs cleanly with the 200-watt USA-230, and uses the original speaker grille so everything looks completely stock once installed. Left and right channel terminals are on opposite sides of the speaker, keeping the wiring clean and straightforward.
Kick Panel Speakers: Stereo Staging Up Front
To complete the front soundstage, the install also adds Custom Autosound's direct-fit kick panel speakers for the 1965 Mustang. These are pre-molded ABS plastic panels that come with speakers already installed and wired, ready to drop into the factory kick panel location.
Installation couldn't be simpler: run the speaker wire over the top of the panel, slide it into position in the kick panel opening, and let the pinch weld and door seal plate hold it securely in place. No drilling, no cutting, no fasteners needed. The panels are available in a choice of speaker configurations to suit different build goals, and the textured ABS surface can be painted to match any interior color.
Placing speakers in the kick panel position directs sound upward toward the listener, which dramatically improves stereo imaging compared to a dash-mounted driver. Combined with the dual voice coil dash speaker, this Mustang now has genuine left-right separation filling the entire cabin.
The Install: A Few Simple Hand Tools, Nothing More
As Kendra demonstrates in the video, the entire three-component install requires only basic hand tools and follows a logical sequence. The dash speaker goes in first, mounting in the factory cutout with the included hardware. The radio wires are run and connected next, the rear mounting strap is hung, and the radio slides in and is secured from the front with two nuts. The bezel follows, and the knobs press on last.
For the kick panels, the process is even faster: route the wire, slide the panel into position, connect the speaker terminals from the harness, and tuck the excess wire under the dash. That's the entire job. From start to finish, this is a realistic afternoon project for any home restorer, and because nothing is permanently modified, the car can always be returned to its original configuration.
The Finished Product
With everything installed and the wires tucked away, this 1965 Mustang looks exactly as it should. The USA-230 sits in the dash wearing its Mustang logo and chrome face, indistinguishable from a factory radio at a glance. The kick panels blend naturally into the interior. The dash speaker grille sits right where it always has.
Turn it on and the transformation is immediate. Satellite radio, a phone plugged into the AUX input, or anything else with a headphone jack plays through 200 watts of clean power, spread across kick panel speakers and a dual voice coil dash speaker that delivers real stereo from a single opening. It's a complete, cohesive audio upgrade that respects everything that makes this Mustang special.
Ready to upgrade your classic ride? Shop Custom Autosound products at First Place Auto Parts and find everything you need to bring modern sound to your classic vehicle.