For People Who Love Music On The Move - Four Masters

I
n this article, we explain
where exactly today’s In-Car
Specialist came from. As the
Darwinian title suggests, events
and developments outside
their control have led to a rapid
evolution in their skills but the
roots are still there for all to see.
In the late 60’s and early 70’s, car electrics
were very basic. Adding a 12 Volt device
was relatively easy, provided the dynamo or
alternator on board could provide enough
current to drive it and also that someone
took care to protect it (and all other
on-board electrical devices) from harm
through correct power wiring and fusing.
At the time, cars were sold with no in-car
entertainment. No speakers, no aerial, no
nothin’. This led to a proliferation of auto
electricians who focussed on distributing
and installing such items. Known as the
“Fitter Distributor” these tradesmen
became so busy, they set-up whole
companies responsible for speaking to car
dealerships and offering their services and
a slice of the extremely lucrative action to
them.
In due course, the equipment
manufacturers were doing deals directly
with car manufacturers and quickly began
to deliver in-car entertainment for fitment
on the production line, so they too got
in on the action. This was a major blow
for the Fitter Distributor. However, not
all car manufacturers got on board with
this programme and in particular, many
imported cars and commercial vehicles
still came without anything fitted. This
was of course set to change but by then,
consumers were demanding current
technology like FM Radio, Cassette and
8-track cartridge. The problem with the
line fit option was that car manufacturers
were and still are obsessed with protecting
their customers from harm particularly
when it came to fitting third party
equipment (sometimes called OEM for
Original Equipment by Manufacturer) –
This ensured that the Fitter Distributor
still had lots of business to go for. By now,
they had evolved into “specialists” as
distribution became the job of equipment
manufacturers’ local offices and fitting
became more of a challenge due to the
growing sophistication of cars’ on-board
electrics.
Further evolution came from technological
development – CD, Cellular phones, car
security etc. all of which were pioneered
by the specialist, with car manufacturers
taking three to four years on average to
get on board and offer line fit versions.
The ongoing requirement for newer, better
technology in the car meant that specialists
were required to develop more skills and
not just electrical and electronic but also in
terms of physically modifying a vehicle and
re-trimming panels to make them look like
part of the original vehicle finish. There was
The Origin of
6 Driving Sounds www.drivingsounds.co.uk
Tel: 0800 652 5125