Editing 8-track cartridge (section)

=== Commercial success ===
[[File:1967 Marlin gold ny-inf.jpg|thumb|right|Factory optional 8-track stereo player in a 1967 [[American Motors]] [[Rambler Marlin|Marlin]] mounted between the [[Center console (automobile)|center console]] and dash]]
[[File:1978 AMC Matador sedan red NC detail of factory AM-FM-stereo-8-track unit.jpg|thumb|Factory installed AM/FM radio/8-track unit in a 1978 [[AMC Matador]] with a ''[[Briefcase Full of Blues]]'' cartridge in "play" position]]
The popularity of both four-track and eight-track cartridges grew from the booming automobile industry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.videointerchange.com/audio_history.htm |title=Vintage Audio Recording History |publisher=Videointerchange.com |date=10 May 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 }}</ref> In September 1965, the [[Ford Motor Company]] introduced factory-installed and dealer-installed eight-track tape players as an option on three of its 1966 models (the sporty [[Ford Mustang|Mustang]], luxurious [[Ford Thunderbird|Thunderbird]], and high-end [[Lincoln (automobile)|Lincoln]]),<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/01/25/archives/some-help-from-debussy-for-the-hassled-driver.html|title=Some Help From Debussy For the Hassled Driver |last=Despagni |first=Anthony J.|date=1976 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2017-09-29 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and RCA Victor introduced 175 Stereo-8 Cartridges from its RCA Victor and RCA Camden labels of recording artists catalogs.<ref name="Billboard Sep 1965">{{cite magazine |title=RCA Fires 175-Title Burst with Release of Stereo 8 Cartridges | magazine=Billboard |volume=77 |issue=39 |page=3 |date=25 September 1965 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA3 |issn=0006-2510 |access-date=27 January 2013 }}</ref> By the 1967 model year, all of Ford's vehicles offered this tape player upgrade option. Most of the initial factory installations were separate players from the radio (such as shown in the image), but [[dashboard]] mounted 8-track units were offered in combination with an AM radio, as well as with AM/FM receivers.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JHVaQFDrx_MC&q=AMC+AM/8-track+stereo+tape+player&pg=RA1-PT16 |page=73 |last=Mitchell |first=Larry G. |title=AMC Muscle Cars | year=2000 |publisher=MBI Publishing |isbn=978-0-7603-0761-8 |access-date=26 January 2013 }}</ref>

The 8-track format gained steadily in popularity because of its convenience and portability. Home players were introduced in 1966 that allowed consumers to share tapes between their homes and portable systems. By the late 1960s, the 8-track segment was the largest in the US consumer electronics market (Low UK & Europe sales as Compact Cassette was released 1962) and the popularity of 8-track systems for cars helped generate demand for home units.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sgoEAAAAMBAJ&q=8-track+segment+of+this+booming+market+is+by+far+the+largest&pg=RA1-PA32 |title=8-track market booms |first=Oscar P. |last=Kussisto |magazine=Billboard |date=2 November 1968 |access-date=23 April 2014}}</ref>{{page needed|date=September 2022}} "Boombox" type portable players were also popular but eight-track player/recorders failed to gain wide popularity and few manufacturers offered them except for manufacturer Tandy Corporation (for its [[Radio Shack]] electronics stores). With the availability of cartridge systems for the home, consumers started thinking of eight-tracks as a viable alternative to 33 rpm album style [[vinyl record]]s, not only as a convenience for the car. Also by the late 1960s, prerecorded releases on the 8-track tape format began to arrive within a month of the vinyl release. The 8-track format became by far the most popular and offered the largest music library of all the tape systems in the US.<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=5ikDAAAAMBAJ&q=Eight-track+by+far+the+most+popular+offers+the+largest+music+library&pg=PA128 |title=The best tape system for you |first=Sam |last=Shatavsky |magazine=Popular Science |date=February 1969 |pages=126–129 |volume=194 |issue=2}}</ref>