Batteries and Class Judging

[1967 Red Deville]

From the Judging guide lines

Batteries may be of modern manufacture, but they must be visually the correct size, style, and color for the era of the vehicle manufacture. Specific brand is unimportant.

 

 

So I have a correct modern battery in place that meets all of the above requirements . (I think)

BUT

I know my car is supposed to have a Delco Freedom II battery and I have not found any one who makes a reproduction yet. That being said ,I have found there is a vendor who makes a battery topper that has the correct color and decals on it (as far as I can document from pictures from my owners Manual and service manual)  At first glance with the topper on it looks like a correct battery, unless you know they are not available and then give a second glance under stricter scrutiny 

 

What are the rules or thoughts on these battery toppers . Is it better not to have a topper and just say the battery I currently have meets the above judging requirement .

 

I personally appreciate Original appearing cars as they left the show room floor ,When I walk up to a car the things that JUMP out at me be sides the air cleaner ,is the battery,Battery cables, Belts, hose clamps, Hoses, incorrect Tye Wraps,  I can drill down more but the battery always seams to jump out  .  

 

So the real question is ,I have my battery topper on now and I love the way it makes the engine bay look factory correct , Do I take it off for judging day to avoid a possible deduct, or leave it in place to go with the spirit of apearing factory correct. I am looking forward to attending a Battery CJE one day that may help me with these concerns . I have up loaded pictures, one with topper and one with out. The with out picture shows the battery after I removed the stickers from it and use plastic black plastic paint to cover the white lettering still on the battery fill covers, If I left the stickers in place the battery would jump out even more as not original. I feel sticker less makes it just disappear 

 

Looking forward to hearing every ones thoughts , this is a car I am bringing to Hershey this year for class Judging ( I hope as last week I had to cancel my Virginia trip last minute to deal with a concern )   

Edited September 1 by 1967 Red Deville (see edit history)

[MCHinson]

I would probably leave the topper on. From your photos, it looks like the ends of the case have the mounting brackets from a plastic top strap that came with the battery. I think that if you carefully and neatly cut or grind off that piece, the battery with the topper would look more like the original battery. Without that on the battery case, and with the topper glued or securely taped down with double sided tape, the battery would look like the original. Hershey is a large meet with a lot of cars to judge. Worrying about this might be overkill for Hershey, but obviously, the better you can make the car, the better off you will be.

[1967 Red Deville]

@MCHinson WOW Thanks that was a good Eye on the battery lifting strap retention parts still in place ,I did not even realize it was still there , An osolating saw & File made quick work of it . I took another picture after correcting the battery strap retention parts and I put my restored air cleaner lid. It seams with age the hood liner in these car sags and wears on the air cleaner lid . I am going to see what I can do to Better support it  

Thanks again for the sharp Eye 

[TAKerry]

My understanding as far as judging is concerned is that the battery toppers are 100% acceptable. I would definitely leave it in place.

[Avanti Bill]

I agree that the topper looks more original than a modern Delco battery.  I could not imagine a deduction for this vs an off the shelf battery.  With recent supply problems from the restoration battery industry it can be hard to do any better than a correct topper.  The problem is that depending on the award you seek you have to be within a few points of the best car in your class.  Very often there is a perfect score car so this can be a tough problem to overcome.  The reason for this rule is simple, it pushes everyone to make their cars a good as possible and gives a reason to keep showing the car.  In any case you are competing with the best car in your class as well as the judging sheets and you need to do the best you can to make the car original.  I think restoration batteries are the best investment the average guy can make to give a good first impression even though they are expensive.

[ted sweet]

eccept one for his car isnt reproduced

[Roger Frazee]

I feel your pain.  The correct battery for a '60 - '64 Corvair is a Group 53 size.  That battery is no longer manufactured by anyone.  A group 51 battery fits but it is obviously too small for the space allotted for the battery.  Wadda ya gonna do? 

[1967 Red Deville]

On 9/4/2024 at 5:29 PM, Roger Frazee said:

I feel your pain.  The correct battery for a '60 - '64 Corvair is a Group 53 size.  That battery is no longer manufactured by anyone.  A group 51 battery fits but it is obviously too small for the space allotted for the battery.  Wadda ya gonna do? 

Thats a good question , I have seen an original battery cleaned out and a mini battery installed inside , Ill see if I can find the link to post , I think it was on a 80's Camaro forum 

[Roger Frazee]

39 minutes ago, 1967 Red Deville said:

Thats a good question , I have seen an original battery cleaned out and a mini battery installed inside , Ill see if I can find the link to post , I think it was on a 80's Camaro forum 

That appears to be my only option, but finding an old battery to gut is the challenge.  

[TAKerry]

I ran into a fellow last year at the Camaro Nationals in Morgantown pa. He had made empty battery cases that looked like vintage batteries. These allowed a new battery to be placed inside of it. He was carrying one around like a piece of paper which caught my eye. I figured the dude had to be Lou Ferrigno to be palming a car battery. After talking with him for a few minutes he told me he had a few different models made and after quite a few years couldnt give them away. Nobody wanted them so he discontinued making them! I wish I had his no. but I dont.