My Classic CB Installation
Choice of CB and Mounting Location
Antenna
Wiring
How it Worked Out
Other Owners' Installations

Photo: Author's CB Installation on seat front in Range Rover Classic

Choice of CB and Mounting Location
Several manufacturers (Cobra, Midland and Uniden) make CB radios with all the controls in the microphone unit, so that the other parts of the radio can be mounted out of sight. I used a Uniden unit, which contained all functions in a microphone-sized unit with a single coiled cable leading to a combined terminal box and microphone bracket. (Nowadays there is an even smaller and better all-in-one unit, the Cobra 75WXST).  This I mounted on the vertical plastic panel below the front of the driver's seat cushion -- inconspicuous but ready to hand (see picture above). When the unit is in active use, a hook and loop strip on the side of the plastic trim above the transmission tunnel provides an even more convenient resting place for the microphone.

Antenna
Many antenna mounting options are available, including rooftop magnetic mounts (these can be used on the steel sunroof of earlier Classics even thought the rest of the roof is aluminum), bumper and gutter mounts, and the through-glass window mount. However Kevin Kelly warns that most gutter mount antennas are designed for steel roofs and will permanently dent the softer aluminum roof of a Classic (he says "ask me how I know!").

The through-window mount that I chose uses capacitive coupling of the signal through the windscreen to the antenna, without the need for any holes. I chose the Antenna Specialists Co. Model 240; the antenna comes with an excellent mounting kit and instruction sheet. Installation involves cleaning a suitable spot on the windshield (usually the upper right hand corner), and affixing the antenna base on the outside and the coupler inside using double sided tape and silicon adhesive. I mounted the antenna base an inch or so below the top of the windscreen to allow plenty of clearance from the heater wires embedded in the glass. 

The antenna itself is a center-loaded quarter wave type, about four feet long and rated "9 1/2 on a scale of 1 to 10" according to my vendor who sold a wide range of radios and antennas. It can be easily mounted and dismounted from the base as needed, and collapses into two parts for easy stowage -- for example under the carpet in the back seat. (I leave mine off unless I am on a trip, since it won't fit under the garage roof, and is not too convenient in car washes!)

Wiring
The required electrical connections present few difficulties; the coaxial cable from the coupling unit on the inside of the windshield can easily be routed downwards behind the plastic trim piece inside the "A" pillar so it is out of sight. The cable is then led under the carpet and behind the center console to the space under the driver's seat. Plastic jumper connectors can be conveniently used to make the two required connections (12 volts and ground) between the CB terminal box and existing wiring. Any of the numerous black wires under the seat will do for the ground. I connected the 12 volt input to the load control relay feeding the driver's side seat controls; this line (also located under the seat -- white with yellow tracer) is fused at 30 amps and is activated both by the ignition switch (including the auxiliary position) and the driver's side door courtesy light switch. This ensures that the CB will not drain battery power if accidentally left on when the vehicle is left unattended, but allows operation of the radio from outside the vehicle without having to reach in with the key and turn on the ignition; you can merely open the door and grab the microphone. 

As with any CB setup, the antenna should be tuned for optimum performance (minimum VSWR) after everything is installed -- the vendor performed this service free of charge.

How it Worked Out
The resulting installation is extremely unobtrusive but readily accessible, and has given good service, although I have found the antenna mount to be insufficiently rugged for long term off road punishment. The antenna's threaded base tends to get bent from the weight of the center loaded whip swaying around vigorously above it, and for off road convoys I have often used only the bottom half of the antenna to prevent this problem. Also, it would be nice not to have to attach and detach an antenna every time one wanted to use the CB. One final comment is a problem common to any installation -- it is a nuisance losing the channel setting every time the power is turned off. Someone should invent a CB with a small built in battery for retaining the channel setting when power is absent! 

Other Owners' Installations

Gordon Kallio did a very neat installation in his Range Rover -- his CB is mounted inside the front of the center console cubby box with the controls facing upwards. The antenna is mounted to the left rear light guard, and can be bent down and attached to the roof rack for entering garages. He reports that range with this setup is rather limited but otherwise it works well.

Perrone Ford has installed his CB behind the cubby box, with the antenna mounted to the hood. He says it has worked out extremely well in practice both on and off pavement, and emphasizes the importance of professional tuning of the installation.
Step by step pictures of his installation procedure appear at this link.

Scott Dickenson mounted his CB under the rear seat of his Great Divide Edition RR, facing forward -- a very neat trick. He ran the antenna cable through the sunroof opening when the CB was in use.

Chad Manz has a nice installation of a Uniden Bearcat PC78LTW CB behind the center console on his 89 Range Rover; see the pictures at this link. He used a removeable Wilson antenna mounted on the center of the roof.