Optima Battery Worth It?

My brother has had the same Ultima in his 71 Pantera for at least 10 years......only drives it a few times a year.

Ross K. Peterson
68X,GoPac,343,AT,52A(1stCar)
68X,GoPac,390,4sp,52A
69X,GoPac,390,4sp,64A
70X,GoPac,390,4sp,87A,8
70X,GoPac,390,4sp,BBO,8
70 Jav SST,390,AT,BSO
74MatX,401,AT,Prototype
74MatX,401,AT

i had a red top in an old datsun pick-up. lasted 5 years (in extreme desert heat) while i had it, and it's probably still going. the datsun was a diesel, and it never failed.

Edited by 330inthemorning - Oct/13/2019 at 7:01pm

'66 Ambassador 880 2-door sedan, 232 2V, T-96 OD.

Have used Optima red tops for more than 25 years, first in electric race cars in the 1990's (university student competitions). We used Optimas because of the physical abuse they could take, and for safety in case of a crash (AGM batteries don't leak liquid battery acid). I've used Optima red tops in my 70 AMX, my 66 American and my 79 Spirit with good results. I've seen too many battery trays, and sub-frames below the tray, that have been damaged by leaking battery acid, so protecting the integrity of the battery area is my number one reason for using Optimas. I also use an Optima yellow top to power the winch in my trailer, again no liquid acid. The only caution is that my experience has been that a totally discharged Optima will not come back to life. Evidently my AMX had a small electrical short as after about two months the battery was dead and wouldn't take a full charge, an expensive mistake. I now keep a battery tender on the Optima when not the car is not in service and have installed disconnects on the batteries in my cars.

1966 American HT, 401 with STR 11, T10
1979 Spirit GT, 401, T10
1975 Hornet Hatchback, 440 c.i. stroked 401, to be an LSR race car
1930 Essex coupe, to be a 401 with 3 deuces, TKX 5 speed, hot rod

They look like crap in a classic car. If I am looking to purchase a classic and I see a modern battery or a crooked antennae.......I walk away.

they call me Capt RETIRED!

I don’t use them but I saw one at a car show and it was finished to look like a 6 pack of beer. That almost convinced me to buy one.

Content intended for mature audiences. If you experience nausea or diarrhea, stop reading and seek medical attention.

Located usually near Rochester, NY and sometimes central FL.

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Gremlin401 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Apr/12/2019 Location: Bryceville FL Status: Offline Points: 217	Post Options Post Reply Quote Gremlin401 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Optima Battery Worth It? Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 5:18pm
	I'm thinking about buying a yellow top Optima battery for my car. Are they worth the money? Read they last longer and can take more abuse.

401MATCOUPE Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: May/20/2010 Location: Salisbury, MD Status: Offline Points: 5367	Post Options Post Reply Quote 401MATCOUPE Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 5:35pm
	My brother has had the same Ultima in his 71 Pantera for at least 10 years......only drives it a few times a year.
	Ross K. Peterson 68X,GoPac,343,AT,52A(1stCar) 68X,GoPac,390,4sp,52A 69X,GoPac,390,4sp,64A 70X,GoPac,390,4sp,87A,8 70X,GoPac,390,4sp,BBO,8 70 Jav SST,390,AT,BSO 74MatX,401,AT,Prototype 74MatX,401,AT

70BBOAMX Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Sep/30/2008 Location: South Carolina Status: Offline Points: 568	Post Options Post Reply Quote 70BBOAMX Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 5:50pm
	I have the yellow top in my jeep. The last one made it 11 years.

330inthemorning Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Nut Joined: Mar/25/2019 Location: AZ Status: Offline Points: 276	Post Options Post Reply Quote 330inthemorning Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 6:04pm
	i had a red top in an old datsun pick-up. lasted 5 years (in extreme desert heat) while i had it, and it's probably still going. the datsun was a diesel, and it never failed. Edited by 330inthemorning - Oct/13/2019 at 7:01pm
	'66 Ambassador 880 2-door sedan, 232 2V, T-96 OD.

Heavy 488 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/27/2019 Location: In the Status: Offline Points: 3557	Post Options Post Reply Quote Heavy 488 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 6:24pm
	I hear mixed results. The one I'm using now came out of a junker. Sat around the garage floor for a long stretch, charged, used for powering BS. Again. On the floor. Toss a charger on it (correct AGM charger). Decided to use it in my AMC this spring. Date code 2010. Still works fine. My older son had his yellow top die last year after 10 or 12 year service. Key is a good charging system as with any other. For me, hard to justify that much outlay. Have no problems with Costco Interstate batteries and their warranty. Edited by Heavy 488 - Oct/13/2019 at 6:33pm

Tomerekson Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Apprentice Joined: Jan/03/2013 Location: Leslie, MI Status: Offline Points: 214	Post Options Post Reply Quote Tomerekson Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 6:42pm
	Have used Optima red tops for more than 25 years, first in electric race cars in the 1990's (university student competitions). We used Optimas because of the physical abuse they could take, and for safety in case of a crash (AGM batteries don't leak liquid battery acid). I've used Optima red tops in my 70 AMX, my 66 American and my 79 Spirit with good results. I've seen too many battery trays, and sub-frames below the tray, that have been damaged by leaking battery acid, so protecting the integrity of the battery area is my number one reason for using Optimas. I also use an Optima yellow top to power the winch in my trailer, again no liquid acid. The only caution is that my experience has been that a totally discharged Optima will not come back to life. Evidently my AMX had a small electrical short as after about two months the battery was dead and wouldn't take a full charge, an expensive mistake. I now keep a battery tender on the Optima when not the car is not in service and have installed disconnects on the batteries in my cars.
	1966 American HT, 401 with STR 11, T10 1979 Spirit GT, 401, T10 1975 Hornet Hatchback, 440 c.i. stroked 401, to be an LSR race car 1930 Essex coupe, to be a 401 with 3 deuces, TKX 5 speed, hot rod

bigbad69 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Supporter of TheAMCForum Joined: Jul/02/2007 Location: Ottawa, Ont. Status: Offline Points: 6685	Post Options Post Reply Quote bigbad69 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 7:13pm
	I expect regular lead acid batteries to last 10 years in my daily drivers. Granted, they don't get cooked by the Florida sun, but they do have to withstand temperatures down to -25C every winter. Never had a problem with Delco batteries achieving this expectation.
	69 Javelin SST BBO 390 T10

turbo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Oct/26/2008 Location: chicago area Status: Offline Points: 2568	Post Options Post Reply Quote turbo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 7:19pm
	They look like crap in a classic car. If I am looking to purchase a classic and I see a modern battery or a crooked antennae.......I walk away.
	they call me Capt RETIRED!

Heavy 488 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Apr/27/2019 Location: In the Status: Offline Points: 3557	Post Options Post Reply Quote Heavy 488 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 7:36pm
	Yeah they do look like crap in an old car. There are a lot of companies doing AGM batteries now that don't look like a 6 pack of tall boys.

6768rogues Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List AMC Addicted Joined: Jul/03/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 6241	Post Options Post Reply Quote 6768rogues Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Oct/13/2019 at 11:17pm
	I don’t use them but I saw one at a car show and it was finished to look like a 6 pack of beer. That almost convinced me to buy one.
	Content intended for mature audiences. If you experience nausea or diarrhea, stop reading and seek medical attention. Located usually near Rochester, NY and sometimes central FL.