Looking for advice on purchase of an autolite reproduction battery. Only the sealed type is under consideration. Where did you get yours and would you do it again? Restoration Battery and Antique Auto Battery seem to be the two companies that are now making this product, looking for an endorsement on either clmpany.
Edited by - Murf on 03/21/2007 23:19:14
John,
I have one of the sealed Autolite repros from Restoration Battery and it has been great. Granted it's not an original, but there's no battery box acid to deal with.
I also have the Restoration Battery and I have no complaints. Tom at Restoration Battery was great to work with after UPS damaged the first one that was sent. Hint - follow the instructions on the box and immediately open the box to make sure UPS didn't damage the box. If you don't know - the "battery" is really a smaller sealed battery inside the reproduction case.
They are not cheap but look great and don't have to worry about leakage and maintence.
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I also have the Restoration Battery and I have no complaints. Tom at Restoration Battery was great to work with after UPS damaged the first one that was sent. Hint - follow the instructions on the box and immediately open the box to make sure UPS didn't damage the box. If you don't know - the "battery" is really a smaller sealed battery inside the reproduction case.
They are not cheap but look great and don't have to worry about leakage and maintence.
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I 100% agree. I have had one for about a year and it has been great. The battery inside is an Optima type Gel Battery.
Is there a difference between the battery sold by Antique Battery in Ohio and the battery being sold by Restoration Battery (sorry, i do not know their location)?Price seems to be the same, does construction differ?
Edited by - Murf on 03/20/2007 17:48:36
Also, do they all have the hold-down lip at the bottom?
Have any of you purchased one of these recently? I tried to buy one about a year and a half ago, and all of the Mustang Parts shops I called told me that they could no longer get them. I ended up with a standard battery instead. If these are available again, I am interested.
Craig
Some folks just want the original battery for shows and use a cheapo for driving. you can save $$ this way. The original design acid fill repo is less expensive than the sealed version. Never fill it with juice. Just install it for diplay. It will always be new. I know this is not for everyone but it is an option
There is now only one company that makes the Autolite Batteries-Antique Auto Battery. Everyone gets them here. They are available, but sometimes shipping is a bit slow, particularly in the spring and summer months. It seems to be a great battery. That sealed one is just nice not to have to mess with the acid.
I definately am happy with my sealed repro: no acid to make a mess
AND eat up the battery box. Got mine from Virginia Mustang.
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I realize the sealed repop batteries are fairly new to the market but I'm curious what kind of life people are getting out of them. Anyone had one fail unexpectedly yet?
In response to someones question, Yes, the reproduction batteryes are available and in stock, at least at Restoration Battery (513 - 574 4481) I called them today and the man said they did have them in stock, the price quoted was $240.00 for the sealed battery. Still not sure if there are two different sealed batteries available or if two companies are selling the same battery. Both claim to have the AGM (absorbed glass mat) type, (only better) their words, not mine. Hard to make sense of this. Some responses say that at least one of the batteries contain an Optima, but neither company has mentioned this when I called. I am so curious about all of this. So do the batteries from Antique Auto Battery in Ohio, also dropped shipped from there when you order from Virginia Mustang by the way, contain the Optima battery, or just the ones from Restoration Battery. Hope to get the straight info on this! Newcastle Battery (TurboStart) has gone out of business and their building and products have been taken over by a company called Axiom - I talked to someone there and they are not making the Autolite battery right now. They have applied for the rights to manufacture the Autolite but have not yet been granted the license. Their advice was to check back in about a month or six weeks. AND, YES, the reproductions have the little tab for mounting the battery just as the originals had. At least the ones I have seen had the tab, but darned if I know which company furnished them. Help me get to the bottom of all of this!
Edited by - Murf on 03/21/2007 23:27:38
I bought one a few months ago from Shelby Parts and Restorations it was $260 with shipping. It was droped shiped from vendor got it about 5 days.<img src=images/icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
There is only ONE company making the sealed Autolite reproduction battery. The email I got from Antique Auto Battery said they are of "AGM type only better", and expected to last seven to ten years with proper care. The availability factor is good right now. I ordered one from Virginia Classic Mustang this morning, the sales rep said to expect it to be on my doorstep in about one week. From everything anyone has posted or written to me there seem to be few if any problems with this battery. Thanks to every one for all of the information and comments! The price on these btteries is now $235 retail plus shipping, so be prepared for the increase.
Listed as NOS Autolite battery. Final price????
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/196…1QQcmdZViewItem
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Seeing the real battery on Ebay and imagining what kind of money it will bring makes me appreciate the fact that we all enjoy so many reproduction parts. The real battery would be a treasure but the repros at $270.00 to my door are a bargain. The battery arrived today (as promised) and is just exactly what I had in mind. Thanks, Va. Mustang, for making these available to the general car guy.
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