There's a dilemma every classic truck owner knows all too well: you've poured your heart into preserving an iconic machine, the lines, the patina, the feel, but the moment you turn the key, you're stuck listening to a tinny AM radio that belongs in a time capsule. For the team at Performance TV, the solution was a complete audio overhaul on a stunning 1969 Chevrolet C10, and they turned to one brand to make it happen: Custom Autosound.
The result is a system that sounds like 2025 while looking like 1969. Here's how they did it.
The Mission: Stock Looks, Modern Sound
The 1969 C10 is one of the most beloved classic trucks ever built. Its squared-off cab, chrome trim, and simple dash are part of what makes it special, and the last thing any self-respecting C10 owner wants is a modern double-DIN touchscreen sticking out like a sore thumb. Custom Autosound has built their entire product line around solving exactly this problem, engineering audio components that slot into classic vehicles with zero cutting, zero fabrication, and zero compromise to the original look.
For this particular C10, the installation covered three components: the flagship Slidebar Radio, a set of Kick Panel speakers, and the UNDERCOVER II under-seat subwoofer enclosures. Together, they form a complete, full-range system, and the installation is well within reach of a confident DIYer.
The Slidebar Radio: The Heart of the System
The centerpiece of the build is Custom Autosound's Slidebar Radio (PN CAM-CHTKL-SBR), and it's one of the cleverest products in the classic car audio world. At first glance, it looks exactly like a factory AM/FM radio, with big chrome knobs, a traditional horizontal layout, and OEM-style push buttons. Nobody walking past the C10 would give it a second look.
But slide the bar, and everything changes.
Behind that stock-appearing face is a full-featured LCD digital display with seven selectable backlit color options, letting you dial in the exact hue to match your dash lighting. The digital readout shows artist, song, and album information from connected devices, and you can navigate tracks directly from the radio itself.
The feature list reads like any modern head unit:
- Bluetooth (A2DP) for wireless music streaming from your phone or tablet
- Hands-free calling via built-in microphone, a genuine safety upgrade on the road
- USB and iPod/dock connectivity for playing music directly from a device
- AUX input compatible with satellite radio, an external CD/DVD player, or any other source
- 300 watts peak power built in, plenty for most classic truck builds
- Four pre-outs plus a dedicated subwoofer pre-out, making it easy to add external amplification down the road
Installation is designed to be painless. The Slidebar mounts from behind the dash with no special tools and no cutting of the dash opening, and the wiring harness is plug-and-play with labeled connectors. The chrome fascia/bezel sandwiches between the unit and the back of the dash for a clean, secure fit using a single post nut, and everything is keyed so incorrect connections are nearly impossible. For a 1969 C10 owner, it's a couple of hours of work, not a weekend project.
Kick Panel Speakers: Sound Where It Counts
Once the radio was in place, the next step was getting great sound into the cab, and Custom Autosound's kick panel speakers (PN KCHT-67-72) are purpose-built for the job.
Pre-molded to fit 1967–1972 Chevy and GMC trucks perfectly, these kick panels slide into place and are secured by the door's weatherstrip seal with no drilling, no cutting, and no permanent modification. They're constructed from textured black ABS plastic, which can be painted to match any interior.
Each panel houses a 6½-inch, 100-watt coaxial 2-way speaker, angled upward toward the listener for optimized sound staging. The speaker wiring comes pre-run, so once the panels are in place, it's simply a matter of connecting leads to the head unit. The kick panel positioning puts the speakers closer to ear level than a typical dash-mounted driver, delivering cleaner midrange and highs right where you want them.
Custom Autosound has been making kick panels for classic vehicles since the 1980s, and their direct-fit approach means these aren't a generic solution crammed into place. They're engineered specifically for the C10's interior dimensions and door panel profile.
UNDERCOVER II: The Low End Solution
Great mids and highs are only half the picture. For a system that truly fills the cab with sound, you need bass, and in a classic truck with no trunk and a bench seat, a traditional subwoofer enclosure isn't really an option.
Enter the UNDERCOVER II.
Custom Autosound's UNDERCOVER II enclosures are designed to live exactly where the name suggests: tucked under the seat, out of sight, not consuming an inch of usable cab space. Each slim enclosure measures just 3" H x 11" W x 12½" D, barely larger than a shoebox, and packs in an 8-inch woofer plus two Piezo tweeters for a surprisingly full-range output. Each unit handles up to 250 watts, and they're sold in pairs, giving you dedicated low-frequency support on both sides of the cab.
The tweeters built into each UNDERCOVER II enclosure mean the system covers the full frequency spectrum: lows from the 8-inch woofer, mids from the kick panel speakers, and highs between the kick panel tweeters and the UNDERCOVER II's own Piezo units. It's a genuinely complete audio solution, all hidden from view.
Mounting is flexible: the UNDERCOVER II can be installed under the seat or mounted horizontally on a wall surface if your particular vehicle requires it. No permanent modifications needed.
The Finished Product
With all three components installed and buttoned up, the 1969 C10 looks exactly as it did before, at least until you open the door. The dash reads stock. The knobs look factory. There's nothing to tip off a casual observer that this truck is running a thoroughly modern audio system.
Slide that bar, and the secret comes out. The digital display lights up, Bluetooth pairs effortlessly, and through 100-watt kick panel speakers and a pair of UNDERCOVER II subwoofer enclosures, the cab fills with clean, powerful, full-range sound.
It's a restomod philosophy applied to audio: respect the original, but don't be a prisoner to it. Custom Autosound has been making this possible for classic car and truck enthusiasts for decades, and installs like this C10 build show exactly why their approach works. You get the truck you love, with the soundtrack it always deserved.
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.