R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

[Allan K.]

I am looking for experiences/opinions from anyone who has oris using a Reproduction (not restoration) type battery. I am not concerned about judging points, but,I would like to have the car look like it did back in the day, including thebattery.The look and, the fact that itis a modern maintenance free battery is what I am looking for.I have seen RestorationBattery.com, and,AntiqueBattery.com mentioned in some of the threads, but, nothing very recent.Most postings were 10+ years old.RestorationBattery.com site is notoperational.
http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/batteries/gm/R59-b.html
https://www.batterycentralmall.com/Batteries/TurboStart/Script/SR59_HC.html
I emailed Battery Central Mall about what type of battery itis, they replied AGM. I am waiting tohear from Antique Battery on this.
If anyone has had any experience in the last several years withthese Reproduction maintenance free type of batteries and/or these tworetailers any information/opinion you have would be greatly appreciated.

[Dick W.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

I suggest that you do a little more research, there was a thread here a few weeks ago about the batteries.

[Michael H.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

I've had mine in my 67 since 2/12. I bought it from Restoration Battery and its a AGM. I also bought there battery charger which you have to use to keep the 5 year warranty in effect. I have never had an issue with this battery. I lost 7 points when it was judged at Regionals. I will buy another one if this one ever fails.

Mike

[Leif A.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

Restoration Battery is going out of business and is not taking any new orders. Rumor has it that Antique Battery is right behind them...I can't get them to answer the phone or return calls.

[Bill S.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

If both of these places go out of business what does that mean for repro batteries. Looks like there will be none available.

[John L.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

I recently purchased my second agm battery from Antique Battery. The one it is replacing lasted 15 years. I have had excellent luck with them.

[Patrick H.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

I recently purchased my second agm battery from Antique Battery. The one it is replacing lasted 15 years. I have had excellent luck with them.

How recently?

In the last several months reports are that they are taking orders but not filling them. That's why Tom has closed down Restoration Battery - he can't get product reliably.

[John D.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

Sign of the times and very sad. My friend Tom has been talking for years about going out of business for one big reason. He could NOT get the company he buys from to fill the order. I believe that's the Antique battery in Ohio. Rumor has they are about history also.
So just buy an AC battery and forget about batteries.
Make up the points but passing operations check. Seriously at the PA regional so many cars there lost a lot of points because nothing worked. That's a little harsh. Lost points because of a few items not working. 25 point hits add up fast.
My 63 the LWC is getting an AC battery shortly. Taking off the decals. Or buying a auto store battery and removing decals. A powerful one.
John

[Brian M.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

John, if you leave the AC decals on you will get half the points during judging.

Sign of the times and very sad. My friend Tom has been talking for years about going out of business for one big reason. He could NOT get the company he buys from to fill the order. I believe that's the Antique battery in Ohio. Rumor has they are about history also.
So just buy an AC battery and forget about batteries.
Make up the points but passing operations check. Seriously at the PA regional so many cars there lost a lot of points because nothing worked. That's a little harsh. Lost points because of a few items not working. 25 point hits add up fast.
My 63 the LWC is getting an AC battery shortly. Taking off the decals. Or buying a auto store battery and removing decals. A powerful one.
John

[Dick W.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

Restoration Battery is going out of business and is not taking any new orders. Rumor has it that Antique Battery is right behind them...I can't get them to answer the phone or return calls.

Restoration was just a dealer for Antique. Sad thing is that Antique supposedly makes (made) all the logo batteries, Delco, MoPar, etc

[Larry M.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

Restoration was just a dealer for Antique. Sad thing is that Antique supposedly makes (made) all the logo batteries, Delco, MoPar, etc

Dick:

If Antique folds, I see someone else eventually getting into this market. They will probably buy the Antique Battery casing molds. Today's reproduction battery is simply a reproduction battery casing and a purchased AGM battery with electrical cables installed inside.

Some folks I know have done this retrofit themselves using an old original battery casing. But it is a bit of work.

Larry

[Dick W.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

Dick:

If Antique folds, I see someone else eventually getting into this market. They will probably buy the Antique Battery casing molds. Today's reproduction battery is simply a reproduction battery casing and a purchased AGM battery with electrical cables installed inside.

Some folks I know have done this retrofit themselves using an old original battery casing. But it is a bit of work.

Larry

It will take sometime to work out the licensing agreements with the OEM's

[John L.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

How recently?

In the last several months reports are that they are taking orders but not filling them. That's why Tom has closed down Restoration Battery - he can't get product reliably.

purchased the battery this past summer. The lead time was about 6 weeks.

I

[Bill S.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

There are battery "toppers" for the R59, R89, and the tar tops available. You place the topper on your commercially sourced battery and it provides the cosmetic appearance of a period correct battery. For the C3 guys there are also toppers for the Freedom and Freedom II batteries available.

[Brian M.]

Re: R59 Reproduction Maintenance Free Battery for 1967 Vette

A Topper on a generic battery will get you 0 points.

There are battery "toppers" for the R59, R89, and the tar tops available. You place the topper on your commercially sourced battery and it provides the cosmetic appearance of a period correct battery. For the C3 guys there are also toppers for the Freedom and Freedom II batteries available.