Here is an antenna mount that causes very little damage to the vehicle it is attached to.  Shown, in this photo, is a 2 M/70 CM base loaded antenna on an "L" shaped bracket.  That bracket is screwed to the vertical inside lip of a car trunk.  RG-58A/U cable, feeding the antenna, is passed through the trunk gasket.  A small screwdriver was used to punch a hole through the gasket before the cable was routed through.  This provided a water tight seal for the trunk.  No extra caulking was required.

The antenna, mount, and cable can be removed from the car and there will be no outward damage when the trunk lid is closed.  The downside is that the antenna is lower in elevation than a roof mounted antenna.  Also, the ground plane in at least one direction is poor.  Remember, these antennas work best when mounted on a sheet of metal that is at least 1/4 wavelength in every direction.  1/4 wavelength at two meters(147 MHz) is about 18 inches.  At 70 CM(440 MHz) is is one third of that.  Regardless, this type of antenna installation works well and causes the least problems when selling a car. 

Thanks to Paula WØHA for letting us use her car as an example for this article.

Story by Mark WØMH 

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