When Every Driver Wanted A Handle And A Radio
Before cellphones, GPS, and traffic apps, there was a time when the coolest thing in your car wasn't under the hood. It was a microphone hanging beneath the dashboard.
During the 1970s CB-radio craze, ordinary Americans started talking like long-haul truckers, giving themselves ridiculous nicknames and warning strangers about speed traps. Automakers noticed, and soon even luxury cars and sports cars could be ordered with factory CB radios.
Some of those options cost hundreds of dollars, but being able to say “breaker, breaker” from your brand-new car was apparently worth it. How many of these unusual factory-equipped vehicles do you remember?
1977 Buick Riviera
The Riviera was already one of Buick's most luxurious personal coupes, but in 1977, buyers could make it even more unusual. Buick listed a factory Citizens Band transceiver for $197, along with more elaborate radio combinations. Imagine cruising in a plush Riviera while exchanging highway reports with truckers. It was a strange marriage of personal luxury and roadside chatter, but that was exactly what made the option memorable.
1977 Pontiac Firebird
The Firebird was built for drivers who wanted something more exciting than an ordinary family sedan. In 1977, Pontiac offered a 23-channel CB radio option for $195. Suddenly, the same car that looked ready for a street race could communicate with tractor-trailers on the interstate. It was a particularly appropriate accessory during the year Smokey and the Bandit made CB chatter part of American popular culture.
Michael Barera, Wikimedia Commons
1977 Pontiac LeMans
The Pontiac LeMans was another unlikely participant in the CB-radio craze. Factory option records document a Citizens Band radio offering for the 1977 model year. The LeMans was a practical midsize car, not an eighteen-wheeler, but its driver could still join the conversation on the highway. For families taking long trips, the appeal went beyond novelty. Other motorists could share traffic conditions, road hazards, and travel information.
1978 Chevrolet Corvette
Perhaps the most surprising factory CB installation belonged to the Corvette. For 1978, Chevrolet offered RPO UP6, an AM/FM stereo with a 40-channel CB radio and power antenna. It cost an astonishing $638, and Chevrolet recorded 7,138 installations. That's a serious amount of money for a radio option. But apparently, some Corvette owners wanted to talk to truckers almost as much as they wanted to enjoy their V8 engines.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Pontiac Trans Am
The Trans Am and CB radios were practically made for each other, thanks in no small part to Smokey and the Bandit. For 1978, Pontiac listed several CB-equipped radio configurations, including an AM/FM stereo and 40-channel CB combination priced at $518. With the famous hood bird, aggressive styling, and a microphone inside, the Trans Am looked like it had rolled straight out of a Hollywood highway chase.
grassrootsgroundswell, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Cadillac Seville
Cadillac's Seville was designed to appeal to buyers who wanted European-inspired luxury without giving up American comfort. Yet even this sophisticated sedan could be ordered with a CB radio. Cadillac had introduced an AM/FM stereo and CB combination for the Seville in 1977, and additional configurations followed. The idea of a finely dressed Cadillac owner saying “breaker one-nine” might sound ridiculous today, but it was a genuine factory offering.
1978 Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Few vehicles captured late-1970s American luxury better than the Coupe DeVille. Its enormous doors, plush seating, and distinctive styling made it an unmistakable presence on the highway. Cadillac's 1978 equipment lists included AM/FM stereo systems incorporating CB radios, allowing Coupe DeVille buyers to participate in the craze. You could be surrounded by padded vinyl, simulated woodgrain, and chrome while listening for reports about traffic ahead.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
The Sedan DeVille offered much of the same Cadillac luxury with four-door practicality. For 1978, its available radio equipment included CB-equipped combinations, some paired with eight-track playback. That meant a family could listen to its favorite albums and communicate with other motorists using factory-installed equipment. Considering how much time Americans spent traveling by car, a CB could be more useful than its novelty suggested.
1978 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham
The Fleetwood Brougham was one of Cadillac's most prestigious sedans, offering an exceptionally comfortable interior and a long list of luxury equipment. A factory CB radio was among the unusual electronic options available in the late 1970s. Cadillac's integrated systems were considerably more discreet than aftermarket radios bolted beneath dashboards. For wealthy buyers who wanted the latest gadgets, a microphone was another interesting addition to an already elaborate cabin.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Cadillac Eldorado
The Eldorado was famous for its front-wheel-drive layout, distinctive styling, and enormous proportions. By 1978, it was also among the Cadillacs eligible for factory CB equipment. Cadillac offered several radio combinations, including systems integrating CB communication with entertainment features. Imagine navigating a massive personal-luxury coupe while discussing road conditions with truckers. The Eldorado wasn't exactly a practical highway workhorse, but it could certainly join the conversation.
1978 Buick Electra
The Buick Electra was a traditional full-size luxury car, known for its smooth ride and spacious interior. Buick's late-1970s factory CB offerings gave buyers the opportunity to add two-way communication without installing a separate aftermarket unit. The Electra was particularly well suited to long-distance highway cruising, where drivers could benefit from hearing about accidents or congestion ahead. It was luxury transportation with a little truck-stop personality.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Buick LeSabre
The LeSabre was a familiar sight on American highways, serving as dependable family transportation for countless motorists. During the CB craze, Buick promoted integrated radio and CB equipment across its lineup. A LeSabre equipped with the system could provide entertainment and highway communication from the same dashboard area. It was the kind of feature that could turn an ordinary family vacation into an adventure, especially if the kids got to choose the driver's CB handle.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Buick Regal
The redesigned 1978 Buick Regal was smaller than its predecessor but retained the personal-luxury character that buyers appreciated. Buick's CB-equipped radio offerings were part of the division's push toward sophisticated electronic accessories. In a Regal, the equipment seemed almost futuristic, particularly when combined with the model's comfortable interior. The radio wasn't standard, and buyers still had to decide whether highway chatter justified the additional expense.
1978 Buick Century
Buick's Century was another important part of the company's downsized midsize lineup. The 1978 model combined more manageable exterior dimensions with traditional American comfort. Buick's period advertising promoted CB-radio integration as part of its broader entertainment equipment range. For buyers who regularly traveled between cities, the possibility of hearing road reports directly from other drivers had genuine appeal. It was an early version of crowd-sourced traffic information.
Raymond stout, Wikimedia Commons, Enhanced
1978 Buick Riviera
The Riviera remained one of Buick's most distinctive luxury coupes, and its CB-radio equipment was particularly well documented. For 1977, Buick listed an elaborate AM/FM stereo and CB combination priced at $547, while a separate CB transceiver option was also available. By 1979, the company continued offering integrated CB equipment. These were expensive accessories, but Riviera buyers were already accustomed to paying extra for comfort and technology.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Regency
Oldsmobile's Ninety-Eight Regency was built for buyers who wanted luxury without the Cadillac badge. Its roomy interior, soft seating, and substantial equipment list made it a natural candidate for sophisticated radio options. Oldsmobile participated in GM's late-1970s CB-radio program, allowing buyers to combine highway communication with premium entertainment equipment. For someone spending hours on interstate highways, that microphone could be a surprisingly appealing accessory.
Elise240SX, Wikimedia Commons, Modified
1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88
The Delta 88 was one of Oldsmobile's most recognizable full-size cars, balancing comfort with everyday practicality. Factory CB-radio equipment fit the model's long-distance cruising personality. Drivers could listen to music and, when necessary, contact other motorists about traffic conditions. The feature became especially appealing during an era when highway speed limits, fuel availability, and road conditions were frequent topics of conversation.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
The Cutlass Supreme was enormously popular during the late 1970s, combining stylish personal-luxury looks with comfortable everyday transportation. Oldsmobile's available CB-radio systems offered buyers another way to personalize their cars. Some integrated combinations were exceptionally expensive relative to the vehicle's base price. It was a remarkable moment in automotive history when a communication device could cost as much as several more conventional comfort options.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Oldsmobile Toronado
The front-wheel-drive Toronado was already one of Oldsmobile's most technically interesting cars. Its distinctive proportions and luxury-focused interior made it an ideal showcase for unusual electronic accessories. The CB-radio craze reached Oldsmobile's upscale lineup, giving Toronado buyers access to factory communication equipment. The combination was wonderfully excessive: a sophisticated personal-luxury coupe with the ability to trade highway chatter with truckers.
Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons, Modified
1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Calais
The Cutlass Calais brought a sportier character to Oldsmobile's downsized midsize range. It was a different sort of car from the luxurious Ninety-Eight, but GM's integrated radio technology wasn't limited to its largest sedans. Period Delco documentation includes the Calais among the Oldsmobile applications covered by the company's radio and CB equipment. A sporty coupe with a factory-style CB setup captured the unusual overlap between automotive fashion and communications technology.
Pokemonprime, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Chevrolet Camaro
The Camaro was another sporty Chevrolet that became associated with factory CB-radio equipment during the late 1970s. Chevrolet's option records identify CB-equipped AM/FM systems for the model. Although the Camaro's appeal centered on styling and performance, a CB radio gave it another connection to contemporary car culture. The microphone was especially fitting in an era when car-chase movies and trucker slang were everywhere.
Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons
1979 Chevrolet El Camino
The El Camino was practically designed for the CB-radio craze. Half car and half pickup, it offered the perfect setting for drivers who wanted to borrow a little trucking culture. For 1979, Chevrolet listed an AM/FM stereo with CB and power antenna for the El Camino SS at $570. That was a remarkable amount to spend on entertainment equipment, but the integrated installation was much tidier than hanging a separate radio beneath the dashboard.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Chevrolet Caprice Classic
The Caprice Classic was a staple of American family motoring, known for its roomy cabin and comfortable highway manners. Chevrolet's late-1970s radio offerings included integrated CB technology for selected models, fitting the Caprice's role as a long-distance cruiser. For families traveling across several states, CB communication offered something radio broadcasts couldn't always provide: information directly from other drivers who had just traveled the same road.
Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons
1979 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
The Monte Carlo was one of Chevrolet's best-known personal-luxury coupes. Its comfortable interior and distinctive styling made it a popular choice among drivers who wanted something more fashionable than an ordinary sedan. During the late-1970s CB boom, integrated radio and communication equipment became part of GM's broader accessory offerings. The idea suited the Monte Carlo perfectly: stylish transportation with a little extra electronic sophistication.
Rutger van der Maar, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac's Grand Prix was another personal-luxury coupe that fit naturally into the CB-radio era. Its distinctive cockpit-style dashboard already made the driver feel surrounded by specialized equipment. Factory CB availability across Pontiac's late-1970s lineup added to that atmosphere. For a driver who enjoyed highway travel, the combination of a comfortable coupe and two-way communication had obvious appeal, even if the novelty eventually wore off.
MercurySable99, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Ford Thunderbird
The Thunderbird was Ford's personal-luxury flagship, and the late-1970s versions emphasized comfort, styling, and an extensive range of accessories. Ford was among the American manufacturers that responded to the CB-radio boom with factory offerings. A Thunderbird equipped with CB communication could look perfectly conventional from outside while carrying a surprisingly elaborate electronic setup inside. It was an unusual combination of formal luxury and trucker-inspired technology.
dave_7 from Lethbridge, Canada, Wikimedia Commons
1978 Mercury Cougar
Mercury's Cougar shared much of its engineering with Ford's contemporary midsize models but offered its own upscale styling. Factory CB-radio offerings became part of the Ford Motor Company's response to the growing demand for mobile communication. In a Cougar, the equipment complemented the car's comfortable highway personality. It was especially attractive to drivers who wanted CB capability without mounting a bulky aftermarket transceiver beneath the dashboard.
Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, Wikimedia Commons
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