Battery C-3

[Harmon C.]

We had a battery in a C-3 at Queen City chapter meet that said (Engerizer) on the label but nowhere did it say Delco. It was a question if this battery could get some points as a service replacement as current over the counter Delco battery as it was not a reproduction. I know the word Engerizer was used on early batteries but is this new battery a Delco. Has anyone seen this battery and is it a Delco? Is Engerizer a GM trademark? Lyle

[Don G.]

Re: Battery C-3

I probably can only add to the confusion. To the best of my knowledge, GM spun off all battery operations as it did all component production. GM markets their replacement parts under the trademark "ACDelco" regardless of where the parts are manufactured. It is possible that the "old GM" battery operations are producing and marketing the battery in question. As I understand it, our 15,000th NCRS member is the President of Delco-Remy and may be able to enlighten on the specifics.

My opinion would be that partial credit would require the ACDELCO identification unless we can establish that GM markets and distributes another trademark.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Battery C-3

Don I never checked the Freedom batteries but i think they said ACDelco on them. Someone not the owner thought it was a AC Delco battery. Lyle

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery C-3

Lyle and Don-----

ACDelco is GM's brand for aftermarket-type parts. It's also GM's brand name for many parts used as original equipment on GM cars and parts sold through both aftermarket and GM parts channels. ACDelco is a MARKETING organization and, if it ever was, is no longer a parts manufacturing operation.

In "today's world" many companies manufacture parts which are sold under the AC Delco brand name. In fact, this has always been the case. Even in the "old days" many of the lower volume OEM parts branded Delco, AC, or ACDelco were actually manufactured by outside suppliers. Today, that includes virtually all parts branded ACDelco. GM has "spun off" most of their parts manufacturing operations except for core engine, transmission, and body panel manufacturing. The DELPHI "spin-off" was the largest. This took out Delco Chassis, Delco Electronics, AC Spark Plug, Saginaw Division, Packard Electric, Harrison Radiator, and Inland-Fisher-Guide. Guide was later sold off from DELPHI. Other former GM parts manufacturing operations include Delco Remy America, American Axle and Manufacturing, and others.

All of the "spun off" MANUFACTURING companies supply parts to ACDelco MARKETING organization but they are not the exclusive supplier of parts to ACDelco. As far as batteries go, GM has used mainly batteries from their old Delco Battery manufacturing operations now, I believe, part of DELPHI. These battery manufacturing operations have also supplied batteries to at least one other customer that I know of---Sears Die Hard (although, as far as I know, they no longer manufacture batteries for Sears). Exide and Johnson Controls are 2 other major manufacturers of automotive batteries, although I don't know if either has supplied batteries to ACDelco.

In any event, OEM batteries used by GM for installation in current PRODUCTION vehicles do have the brand name ACDelco on them. Also, SERVICE batteries supplied by GM's ACDelco MARKETING organization carry the ACDelco brand name. No current battery that I am aware of carries the name as solely "Delco" or "Delco Energizer". I think that "Energizer" was an old Delco trademark but, if so, it's now been sold or licensed to Eveready Battery Company for use on dry cell batteries. Maybe they've licensed it to someone else for use on automotive batteries.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Battery C-3

Joe In order to find the deduction using the NCRS judging reference manual one must decide if this Energizer battery was made for Gm. If it said interstate, diehard, ect. it would have been an easy call.Thanks for the information Lyle

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery C-3

Lyle-----

If it was made for GM, it will say "ACDelco" on it somewhere. If it's an older GM unit, it might just say "Delco". It's hard to imagine that a Delco battery with "Energizer" on it would still be in service, since I think that they dropped this name well over 10 years ago. But, regardless, if it's a DELCO Energizer, it will say "Delco" somewhere on the battery.

[Tom Freeman]

Re: Battery C-3

The Energizer battery is its own line. Look here: http://www.autobatteries.com/brands/energizer.asp

tom...




Energizer Battery

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery C-3

Tom------

Just about as I figured. The "Energizer" brand battery is a non-GM, non-Delco battery. It even states in the "small print" that "Energizer" is a registered trademark of the Eveready Battery Co. So, either Eveready makes these units or they license the name to someone else.

I did a little more research on Delco Energizer batteries. I thought that the name was familiar and, as it turns out, that's what was originally supplied on my 69. Batteries with the "Delco Energizer" name were used from ABOUT 1967 to ABOUT 1974. These were pre-maintenence free type batteries and had fill caps. The "Delco Freedom" battery came after them as one of the first maintenence-free and even that name was dropped quite a few years ago.

Except for reproductions, I doubt that there are any "Delco Energizer" batteries still in service. Even the "Delco Freedom" batteries should have vanished from service by now and, as far as I know, these batteries are not reproduced.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery C-3 *TL*

I've got a Delco Energizer R79S sitting here. It is not yet in service, but could be if acid was added. I suspect there may be some other Delco Energizers on the shelf just waiting for the motivation to come to life. Do I need to add Joe's favorite phrase? I didn't think so. Oh, and it is not a reproduction, either.

[Dave S.]

Re: Battery C-3

In the Delco collection I've got an R89S and a Y59 energizer, both still dry. I'm told they will last indefinately as long as they stay sealed. The Y59 is the top post style used in later mid years and the R89S is the heavy duty replacement for the cars with side posts.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Battery C-3

Terry,

Is that battery for sale?

[couldn't resist]

Patrick

[Harmon C.]

Re: Battery C-3

Joe We had a 67 on the judging field with a Delco Energizer reproduction battery in it and the owner of the 71 told me he thought what he had(Engerizer) was a GM battery . With the site Tom posted this battery should get a total deduction the way I see it. Lyle

[John Wissocki]

Re: Battery C-3

Since everyone is talking about batteries, I wanted to say that I'm still looking for an AC Delco Freedom or Freedom II battery. Blue top with white sides. Just ask your price.