Hmm, that does sound odd, the 4th gen VC-Auto drive still had the hooks, and the catcher flap was still lifted by a sprung metal strap arching to a lever handle on top of the base.
is it possible the hooks have come off (rivet holes?) or that the handles have been swapped at some point.
i cant think of any self propelled model between the last vc-auto and the 550.
As for the sports wheels, thats news to me, i will see if i ever notice anything the same, i only thought those wheels came with teeth. its not the white walls they released in the late 70's, large white border around the cap, but no gaps or "Spokes"??
If you have the mowers handy sometime, could you put up a pic or two, i'm rather curios as to both of these mowers.
