Author Topic: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?  (Read 4407 times)

Shvegel

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Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« on: September 29, 2019, 06:21:45 »
Check out this video of a worker hand assembling a tar top battery.  The only problem is they only make 6V classic batteries.  I would buy one in a heartbeat if there were a 12V for our cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvmpOrr_BsY

Pawel66

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2019, 08:44:16 »
I asked them a question, let's see what they say.
Pawel

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mbzse

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2019, 19:20:03 »
Quote from: Shvegel
.../... a tar top battery.  The only problem is they only make 6V classic batteries.  I would buy one in a heartbeat if there were a 12V for our cars
You can buy a 12V tar top battery from Bosch Classic. This came on the market a couple of years back.
See:https://www.bosch-presse.de/pressportal/de/en/12-volt-variants-extend-the-classical-battery-range-for-vintage-and-modern-classic-cars-44854.html
« Last Edit: October 24, 2019, 11:32:14 by mbzse »
/Hans S

WRe

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114015

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2019, 20:17:32 »
Quote
You can buy one from Bosch Classic.


Yes, you are right, Hans...,
but this battery from Bosch is NOT CORRECT for the Pagoda. :o :P

The Pagoda never had batteries with open pole connectors between the individual cells. >:(
Only older cars had that, like the 190
but not the Pagoda.

So....,
useless.

Let's wait until Varta makes a proper one.... ;) ;D 
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 22:25:57 by 114015 »
Achim
(Germany)

mbzse

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #5 on: September 29, 2019, 20:39:05 »
Quote from: 114015
.../...but this battery from Bosch is NOT CORRECT for the Pagoda...The Pagoda never had batteries with open pole connectors between the individual cells
Not from factory, that is true. But an owner could easily have put in such a battery in her/his Pagoda in the late 60's.

I enclose a picture of the flat-top type 12V battery that was common in the 1970:s.
You can see this type also in John's (49er) car, captured in this great colour photo of the engine compartment in his then fairly new 250SL
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 22:57:55 by mbzse »
/Hans S

114015

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #6 on: September 29, 2019, 22:20:04 »


Correct (again) Hans. ;)

30 years ago I had the chance to buy an almost original battery, almost ... See enclosed. :o

However,
1) it was a Bosch, not Varta or Hoppecke   :P
2) had only 55 Ah instead of 56 Ah (as the Varta)   >:(
3) but fitted the battery compartment perfectly.    8)

It was dry, without acid.    ???
Someone more knowledgeable than me told me that the battery was by then already far too old and I should discard it - what I did .... a couple of years back.   ???

So, currently,
no easy - almost original - replacement battery available currently
or as one famous Board member would say in such situations ... 'unobtainium.'
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 22:26:40 by 114015 »
Achim
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Cees Klumper

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2019, 01:38:59 »
Alternatively, you can get a 'Tar Topper' cover, almost the same thing (google it, it actually doesn't look half bad).
Cees Klumper
1969 Mercedes 280 SL automatic
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Naj ✝︎

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mrfatboy

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2019, 14:04:04 »
For a $100 (on sale) at Pep Boys you can get a Bosch battery, replace the modern Bosch sticker with the Bosch decal in the members section in our tech manual.

Now add Cees's topper and you would have something that is close😁

The new Pepboys batteries are completely black.  There is no white lettering  on the top any more.  They are 7 year batteries.

And yes before you ask.  I was bored that day🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
1969 280sl (Aug 1968 build)
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Shvegel

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2019, 14:55:04 »
“Tar topper” from  Eckler’s Corvette parts.  The yellow caps are a separate molding that peels out from the back.  Going to sand the “Delco” off the caps and repaint them yellow.

mrfatboy

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2019, 15:01:58 »
If you have access to a 3D printing machine it probably would not be difficult to create a replica cap.
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John Betsch - "SADIE"

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2019, 23:05:15 »
I thought that Varta batteries were a white case?
JB; 1965 German market SL, Rot Met 571, Summary Code 213 Interior

Mike Hughes

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #13 on: October 01, 2019, 15:22:14 »
Yes, in more recent times, but until sometime in the 80's black cases were still the norm for most manufacturers.
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MikeSimon

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2019, 15:27:00 »
Are you guys looking for original German air for the tires too? I may have a source...... ::)
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dpreston Virginia

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #15 on: October 01, 2019, 15:38:34 »
How about just glueing red caps to the fill covers of a new battery? Thats what I did to my 190SL.
Looks decent and you don't have to buy an expensive battery. A fellow 190SL club member showed me this trick.
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RobSirg

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #16 on: November 07, 2019, 05:47:44 »
Not exactly true.

You can purchase a maintenance free battery from "Antique Auto Battery" in Ohio that looks the part, and fits the top frame perfectly.

However, because it is a modern battery in a classic case the overall height is a problem, and it wont in our cars unless you lower the base tray. As I was doing a complete resto I decided to get that done.

I even went with the yellow caps to emulate John's (aka 49er) original engine bay photo.

For the fanatics I would suggest :)
1969 280SL Auto RHD 906G,  H'top 387H, Parchm't
1970 280SL Man. RHD Dark Red 542G, Bamboo MB Tex
1962 E Type Jag BRG with Tan
1974 White Alfa Spider 2000
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mrfatboy

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #17 on: November 07, 2019, 09:09:29 »
Rob,

Where did you get the yellow caps?
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RobSirg

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Re: Anyone have influence with Varta battery Company?
« Reply #18 on: November 07, 2019, 12:05:26 »
The yellow caps were ordered with the Battery from Antique Auto Battery.

I have red ones on my 1969 Pagoda. (see below) Note: l’ve since removed the lead bars that were simply glued on. For my 1970 l ordered it without the bars.

Today I changed the Varta sticker over to the round classic style supplied by Authentic Classics  - finishes it off nicely.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2019, 14:18:42 by RobSirg »
1969 280SL Auto RHD 906G,  H'top 387H, Parchm't
1970 280SL Man. RHD Dark Red 542G, Bamboo MB Tex
1962 E Type Jag BRG with Tan
1974 White Alfa Spider 2000
2023 Range Rover
1982 280TE (my daily)
1967 Alfa Spider ("Duetto") Red
1977 Yellow 911 Targa
1991 Nissan Figaro
1959 190SL Black
1970 300SEL 3.5