Stoddard battery

[George Kehler]

Hi Guys !! I was wondering if the current 6V Stoddard acid battery will fit in Pre A front trunks ?? My car is very late in production, #54200. The salesman was not sure. Thanks.

[Jack Stenner]

Happen to be working in that area right now. I think the maximum width x depth is 9.25” x 7.25”

HTH

[Brad Ripley]

Currently, Stoddard offers only one 6 volt battery from Porsche. It's the larger 84 amp version which is length 215 x width 171 x height 184 mm. The later cover is used. See https://www.stoddard.com/90061100191.html for details. See Johnson's book, pg 96 for details about battery covers.

The earlier and almost square battery is the 66 Ah. You can still get that one from a couple of companies in Germany.

[George Kehler]

Thanks Mr Ripley !! Anyone know of a source for these batteries in Germany ???

[Sebastian Gaeta]

Might this one work? Looks like it can be bought stateside.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/BAT7244 ... lsrc=aw.ds&

Then there is this one in Europe, but do a Google search, many will come up.

https://www.burton2cvparts.com/electra/ ... ry-6v-66ah

[Donald Zingg]

George
The domestic size Group 19L is the closest currently available 6-volt battery that replaces what originally came with your pre-A car. Group 1 batteries are too large to fit under the original metal battery cover. The 19L size is typically 8.25"L x 6.75"W x 7.5"H to the top of the posts. The obsolete size Group 17L 6-volt battery was compatible with the pre-A metal battery cover with fitted wooden blocks.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/fl ... /19l?pos=0

[James Davies]

Back in the 1950s, battery sizes were standardized by their capacity via DIN standard. Pre-A Speedsters used the 77 Ah battery and coupes and cabs used the 84 Ah battery.

voltage, capacity, CCA, (LxWxH, total height)
6V, 77 Ah, 490 A, 215 x 170 x 166mm (191 mm total height with terminals)
6V, 84 Ah, 460 A, 225 x 173 x 195mm (220 mm total height with terminals)

These are all standard sizes to within ~2mm. Moll, Bosch, Varta and several other companies all still make these. Moll makes the Porsche Classic one. "Oldtimer batterie 84Ah" search will turn them up.

Note that bent-window pre-A coupes and cabs use a battery cover with metal tabs covered in rubber to secure the battery, and this is sized for the 84 Ah version. The pre-A Speedster battery cover has wooden blocks to secure the slightly smaller 77 Ah battery.

The earliest split-window coupes and cabs also used the 77 Ah battery, but had a completely different batter location and securing method.

It looks like the Stoddard battery is the smaller 77 Ah battery, based on the picture which says "77 Ah" and has the measurements of the smaller version.

[George Kehler]

Thanks for everyone’s expert and in depth analysis !!