[goatman65]

would the R59 battery be correct in a 65 or did they all come with DC12? Actually I want use a battery 'topper' on my 65 and the R59 is much better looking than the DC12 toppers.

[John V.]

According to the history, Delco introduced the R-59 Energizer battery for limited usage in some '66 models.

It was first used by Pontiac in the '66 GTO and 2+2, in '67 in was std in all Pontiacs.

Since it was used in the '66 MY in the GTO and 2+2, it was actually introduced by Delco during the 1965 calendar year.

But the R-59 was not factory installed in any '65 Pontiac as far as I can tell.

The '66 Pontiac usage was pretty unique. The '66 Olds 4-4-2 got the 24T case Model 568 tar top from what I can tell. Looks like Chevy only used the R-59 in the '66 Caprice, not even the '66 Corvette got this new advance in battery technology. Then in '67, the tar tops were gone.

[Option 382]

The term DC12 and R59 could be used together. The 65 GTO came with a DC12 battery but the DC12 battery had different amperage options. If you went to the Pontiac parts department and asked for a DC12 battery then they would need to know what kind of amp options you would need to determine the correct battery. If you told the parts department you needed a R59 then that told them exactly what amp of the DC12 battery you needed. They are the same generic term. A/C cars received larger amp DC12 battery called the R61.

The 65 had the threaded caps with yellow on the caps where the 66 had pressed in caps with the half moon Rochester logo on them that I think was a different color. Also the 66 was the 1st year of one of the caps having a tab that went into the cell with an eye to determine if your battery was good or not.

[Option 382]

John V was talking about the R59 Energizer battery. In later 1965 that battery became known as the E59 when Energizer made them but prior to that it was the R59 from what I recall.

[8LUG]

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...c_tech_part_2/

[Jeff Hamlin]

Based on the above info; look for one of the Tar Toppers it's would be closer to correct.

[John V.]

8LUG good reference.

Energizer was the trade name.

Delco Remy always was the manufacturer.

The Energizer series was available in various case sizes, same as the DC-12 series had been available in various case sizes.

The R59 was a Group 24 case configuration, meaning it was a "will fit" replacement for any DC-12 series battery with a Group 24 case, such as the Model 558 which was the O.E. battery used in all '64 GTOs and I believe all '65 GTOs as well.

The DC-12 battery series used the tar top.

The Energizer battery series used a rubber top but the main changes were internal and the R59 was more powerful and expected to outlive the 558.

Delco heavily promoted the Energizer as a replacement battery for older cars right from their introduction around Aug. '65 as best I can tell. They produced various printed materials to ballyhoo the Energizer for aftermarket service replacement.

It is NOT correct to suggest the R59 was a DC-12 battery. You could replace a DC-12 battery with an Energizer battery, just choose the correct Group size.

In '64 Tempests, the base V8 battery (non-GTO) was the DC-12 Model 458 and it also was a Group 24 case size.

For aftermarket, Delco offered a good, better, and best Energizer.

The letter prefix indicated the specific Energizer "quality" and corresponded to color markings on the case. R for Red was the top line E-5000, Y for Yellow was the intermediate E-3000, and G for Green was the low line E-1000. Therefore, the R59 was a Red E-5000.

As far as I know, Pontiac always installed the Red E-5000 as O.E. but then I have a '64 so I haven't paid much attention to the Energizer. I found a forum where a guy claimed no GM car ever came with an R59 as O.E., he doesn't explain his claim so not sure why he says that.

[goatman65]

I like these.