Most car makers use the smallest battery they can get away with for cost reasons. Keeping in mind that the new car is, ... well, ... new, it should fire up almost immediately so a small battery that will survive the batterys warranty period of usually 2 years, [much less than new car warranties] is all they seem to supply.

Within reason, you can't have too much battery.

Awesome guys, that answers all my questions. Cheers to everyone that has given their thoughts.

Good point. A larger battery will generally last longer. And you can 'drive' it on the starter (if need be), at least to the side of the road. The little batteries might run down if you have trouble starting the car (no problems noted so far though).

Oddly enough, I tend to go the other way. I usually install the largest battery that will comfortably fit in the carrier. I work on the principal that should I ever break down, I can still drive it home on the starter.

Well, OK, I lied about the starter.
Within reason, the greater the battery capacity, the less the overall drain when you hit the starter & the less it takes to bring it back up to voltage again.
With a lower voltage drop when under starting loads, there is more voltage available during the cranking period to spin the starter faster & also to fire up the ignition.

Generally speaking, all things being equal, the larger battery should have a longer service life & I like to see if I can get about 4 or 5 years or better from my batteries. So far so good in that department.

The extra weight should not affect performance noticeably in a street car.

+ one for that idea. This winter I bought the smallest car battery I can find. It worked fine in the cold weather (freezing temps).

It takes almost no power to turn over an A14 (relative to other car engines).

In Japan, the 1400s come with a very small battery, a size not used in USA (tall, but small).


Japan-market battery, takes up only a portion of the battery tray. This is powering the racing A14 in my Sunny Truck.

In warm climate, you can even use smaller batteries. Matt is using a lawn tractor battery -- $26 bucks and half the size and weight of my little 26R car battery.

Battery for Datsun 1200 article

26R battery, takes up only a portion of the battery tray:

The model B310, known in Australia as the Sunny from 1978 to '82 was available with three engines.
The Sedan & Coupe were available only with the A12.
Most Sunny Sportswagons came with the A14.
Very late Sunny Sportswagons came with the A15.

It's possible that one or two front drive cars came with the A14, but since I have no interest in anything with front drive, I am unable to advise.

sunnys mostly in Aus. (late 70s till mid 80s)

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

Does anyone know what car the A14's were released in?

I just went to Kmart and bought the smallest most powerful battery they had, I wanted to keep the weight down.

Try something like www.centurybatteries.com.au , they suggest a 41 or 51 from their range.