[Jim Doran]

I am thinking of buying a reproduction battery for my car ( 65 GTO ). I have seen and been told mixed opinions on which one is correct.
The one which I am leaning towards is the DC 12 Yellow Caps with Black "DELCO, but I do see alot of cars with the black caps and vent holes in caps also ( AC Delco R-59 )

Anyone have a definitive answer here.

- Jim Doran -
Some Pics of my 65

[This message was edited by jrdoran on September 23, 2002 at 08:22 AM.]

[Jim Doran]

I am thinking of buying a reproduction battery for my car ( 65 GTO ). I have seen and been told mixed opinions on which one is correct.
The one which I am leaning towards is the DC 12 Yellow Caps with Black "DELCO, but I do see alot of cars with the black caps and vent holes in caps also ( AC Delco R-59 )

Anyone have a definitive answer here.

- Jim Doran -
Some Pics of my 65

[This message was edited by jrdoran on September 23, 2002 at 08:22 AM.]

[Terry M. Hunt]

I've read conflicting stories on this also. I have a number of old car magazines from 1965 featuring various coverage/road tests of the '65 GTO. In all the engine compartment photos where the battery is shown, it is the tar top with black caps and yellow letters, which is exactly opposite of the info I've seen published in various other places, including the makers of the reproduction batteries themselves. I've bought 4 of the batteries over the years(from Newcastle) and they lasted pretty well, but I now use a Battery Tender on all my cars. Also, have you heard of a company called Legendary Battery Toppers (319) 373-5568? They make a molded plastic cover that is designed to fit over the top of a Delco 24-60 maintenance free battery. Their first product for GM cars was a repro topper for the R-59 Battery. I have one on my '71 GTO and it is very "believable". It even has the small plastic "Poison" tag that fits over one of the posts. (I understand they have added a topper to mimic the Delco tar top.) The last topper I bought cost $54, which seems like a lot for a piece of plastic and some caps, but I can use it over and over with the moderately priced 60 month maintenance free battery and avoid shelling out $140 or so for a reproduction battery.

[Jim Doran]

Actually, my question is in regard to my pending battery topper order, so yes, I am familiar with them. thx

- Jim Doran -
Some Pics of my 65

[gtoguy1967]

put a topper on my car as i have seen two of the high $$$ repo's leaking on nice paint jobs. not saying they all do. i did not want to pay $200 for a batt then pay for shipping on top. now i have a topper that sould last for a long time and it is amazing know one ever knows.
Don

some times when you race with squirrel's, you get your nut's cracked!

[Andre]

I have also used the topper. If you peel the stickers off the side of your generic battery, the topper does a nice job of disguising it. I highly recommend it.

[Jim Doran]

So we are all fans of the toppers, but does anyone have any more information on correctness of the repro battery style for '65 ?

- Jim Doran -
Some Pics of my 65

[64 tripower]

from what I know: from 1964 thru part of 1965 (early whatever that means) was DC12. Rc59 was used in 65 onward until later version. I would guess for a 65 either would be correct.

[rickschabener]

Thanks for bringing this subject up! I knew they were once available but they are no longer listed in the parts catalogs. I've wanted one for years. Now it's on the way.

http://www.batterytoppers.com/ (319) 310-3668