I just put a Sony X-Plod system in my '73. It has the flip down faceplate that hides the CD port. It also has a 7-band EQ and a ton of features. The coolest is that I can change the color of the display (7 different colors to choose from) and it's high power (52 watts per cahnnel) so no external amp needed. The best feature is the included wireless remote...that's really a great feature because I don't have to lean forward every time I want to adjust the volume or change the station, or play the cd.
Food for thought .....

Alpine is great for the money. Kenwood is good, but a step down in terms of quality internal amplification but by no means bad. I had a Kenwood Cassette and CD Changer in my 82 but I'm going back to a more "stock" look now with an original style bezel. That means I had to pull the Kenwood head unit, 10 disc changer, and replace the center gauge bezel.

Custom Autosound is crap. I put one of their units in a classic Mustang (do not go there... I sold it and kept the 'vette.) The CD changer from custom autosound was fine... no complaints but the head units were some of the cheapest crap I've ever installed (think "Pyramid" or "Sparcomatic.") The buttons were tiny, the display impossible to read and the installation was NOT simple or precise. The "custom" fit they give you is merely a plastic bezel around a normal shaft-style stereo that fills in the appropriate sized gap with "Corvette" written across it. Same thing for the Mustang... except it says "Mustang" instead... :p If they were $99, I'd say go for it but you can get the a Sanyo from Crutchfield (with great support) for less than $100. I ordered a Kenwood from Discount Jungle but it arrived DOA so I need to get it replaced.

It's difficult to find a good shaft-style stereo these days!

Jerry