Yeah, those were the days. People would cut holes in their car's panels, put in a few speakers, and perhaps an 8 track and the sound was so much better than the car radio. Subs in the trunk weren't even a thought or an option.
Bose...I went thru that experience. Had a pair of 301's and decided to go for something better. The 901's were the sought after model by those wanting the best the brand could offer. Retail price, in those days, was high. I ran across a pair of 901 series 3 with stands and EQ for $350 and bought them. Cabinets were in excellent shape. Sound was just OK but didn't impress me much.
After researching the 901 I found that, with age, the foam surrounds would deteriorate. Took the grills off and found that the surrounds melted to powder with a light touch of the finger. Ordered a kit to replace them. Still no improvement in sound.
Up to that point I hadn't connected the Bose EQ to the system since I had a very good 12 band EQ. The Bose EQ made a startling improvement in the sound????
Not to be a 901 hater but after hearing other speakers (at a much lower cost) I developed the opinion that Bose was, and still is, overpriced/mediocre gear. But, in the day, the 901's were a sought after model. They could blast very loud but offered almost no bass. That's what a lot wanted back in the day.