[hiyabradHO]

Hello, Is this the correct battery for a 1971 Trans Am? Does anyone have experience with the Turbo Start reproduction batteries? Thanks!

[22687]

Can't speak to whether the top post battery was used in 1971 or if GM had just switched to side terminal. I'll leave that to others with more familiarity. I can tell you that I had this battery in my 70. I bought it about 2009 and it lasted 8 years without a problem. You do need to keep it topped up with a trickle charger suitable for an AGM style battery if the car isn't used regularly.

I believe back then the company was called Axion and later changed their name to TurboStart during a reorganization of the company. When they reorganized they halted production of all of their Collector style batteries "temporarily" to focus on the main business. To my knowledge they have not reintroduced collectors since that time. I checked their site tonight and they still show them all as "out of stock".

https://turbostart.com/product-categ...lector-series/

If you have found one for sale and it is not directly from TurboStart, do your due diligence in terms of the manufactured date and warranty as it could quite possibly be several years old even if still in the box. You would want to investigate the shelf life of AGM batteries as well.

Good luck.

['ol Pinion head]

'71 T/A would have a side terminal battery. R89 something. No experience with the $350 battery, I bought a $50 R89W battery topper for eventual use on my '72.

[77 Canamman]

You would be better off with an original. These were shipped dry without acid, so they have an almost indefinite shelf life, and are better quality than a repro battery.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-GM-DELC...oAAOSw7zxfRwP9



The most sensible option, unless you are doing an absolute concours resto, is a topper with a modern battery.

[Tellyshavilli]

I have a few NOS R89 , if anybody needs one

[1971455HO]

Yeah, your '71 is a side post battery car.
If a genuine NOS AC Delco Energizer R89W is all that will do for your level restoration, then by all means, make that purchase. All of my friends that have top level stock original investment quality cars advised me against buying one. They have been showing cars for years and had yet to be gigged on a non original battery. Their experience had taught them that judges understand that reliability far outweighs correct originality. That being said, that mindset may not exist at some shows across the country. I live in the Southeastern corner of the country and its not an issue here. I stressed over every little detail with my car, air filter, plug wires, distributor cap, etc. only to see nobody give a damn.

Here's a link to a topper on eBay...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1969-75-GM-...gAAOSw7qtfKZlo