Did batteries change in quality in the 1990's, or have I just sold a car with a miracle battery? My old MGB GT - when I bought it 16 years or so back, the battery looked rather old in terms of the case being a bit marked, well, battered is a better description - it lives under the car exposed to the elements on a BGT - but worked fine. As a 'new owner precaution', I looked through the cars history file - and was absolutely stunned to see a battery receipt from 1993! Checked the remaining tattered stickers on the battery, and sure enough, 'twas the same battery. 16 years in my ownership, and I still hadn't changed it - 28 years old and still working exactly as it should, not even showing a hint of decreased performance. I don't know its lifestyle prior to me, but in my ownership all that it had done was it was charged once (after I flattened it due to starter motor problems). It lived on the car, which was a daily drive for six years, and then off road in the winter. First couple of off-road winter years I disconnected the negative, thereafter never bothered as there were no clocks etc to drain it. The only time I went near it, other than to disconnect if working on electrics or if welding was happening, was its yearly terminal clean and grease. I wish I had kept it now! I don't recall the make of it, other than it was some generic cheapo job.
Sadly my other cars batteries last around seven years before they begin to fail. Someone out there will look at that battery and think 'nah, can't be the same one', or worse, change it because of its dilapidated and battered case!