I started about 6 weeks ago with a curbside pick up of a green VC-SPORT. I now have 7 Victa mowers 3 bases to be used. I'm picking up 1 on Wednesday and hopefully 2 more on the coming weekend. I just love these mowers! Art is perspective and I think these mowers, especially the 1970's era, are Art!!!
I've only just found the joy in these beautiful pieces of art! I need to catch up.... 🤣🤣🤣
I found it in the 1980s as a teen when I saw the green 1973 -74 VC 125 mk III and it's deep engine note. I saw two in quick succession and was completely smitten with the styling. They looked like the VC Sports but with less fancy features like smaller non ball bearing wheels and painted handlebars. Other than that, they had the same features as the Sports and Mustang only with a smaller capacity engine. I have been hooked on all thumb latch series ever since and also always loved the Powertorque models on that base.
I used to draw them in class, and the funny thing was the guys didn't care that much, one even thought it was cool, but girls were more derisive by far, except one nice pretty blonde who commented I should focus on the ride ons rather than push models. I had no passion for ride ons.
Another funny thing though is whenever I mention I'm painting up a mower to a female staff member in the paint department, they show interest and think it's cool.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Got these 2 today. Curbside finds! 1 Victa 70-71 Utility (Parts reference V83 and a Mayfair. I don't know much about the Mayfair mower but will keep me busy with research!!! The deck on the Mayfair is completely stuffed but that never bothers me! Happy day
That is GOLD!!! Cheers mate, now I want one of those....
That mower just did it for me. It was the first high arch Victa I saw with the old fashioned carburettor. I was totally intrigued at the modern sleek engine cover in combination with that. It would fart and sputter on start up and make a unique deep groan as it ran. It was a sight to behold. I also love how the engine pokes out the side from the cover in that organic way. They look good both with or without the catcher. The second one I saw being used only days later made the same deep groan.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
So when I found the green VC-SPORT on the side of the road, that was it..... I fell in love with these 70's model mowers.and when I was gifted my best mates nono's mower and saw the original orange colour I couldn't believe just how much that colour popped!!! It's really a beautiful orange! Ahh Victa you've done it again......
First time posting here, I hope I'll be able to attach a photo. I just picked up this old Victa at a junk shop in New Zealand for $18. It's lost its decals, but I bet the forum could help me identify it. Victas of this era are not common in NZ; our domestic Masports are far more plentiful. Orange is the original color of the alloy deck, but it's been over-painted blue at some stage. The remote throttle control has perished.
Last edited by D0nsean; 21/03/2105:51 PM. Reason: Photos added (I think?)
Looks like a 70's VC sport. But im not sure what they are called in NZ. This is my Red vc sport, looks very similar! I could be completely wrong! But I'm sure one of the more senior technicians can help!
Hi DOnsean and Seanoss, that mower you pictured DOnsean looks like a VC Sport with a cover from the slightly later self propelled PowerPlus model. Note the different outline on the front of the dress cowl for the powerplus decal.
Nice pic of a survivor there. Does it work? I imagine getting parts for a Victa of that vintage to be much more difficult your way.
This high arch chassis was feature packed even for now, as was the first VC chassis before it. The ones that stand out was the two piece rear flap which let you insert the catcher onto the machine without having to lift the flap first as you had to in later thumb latch series like the Corvette, Corsair and store brand alloy thumb latch series as well as Vortex and other thumb latch models with the Powertorque engine in the 80s. The other feature was the premium quick release handles which had teeth that allowed you to lock them in varied positions for going under bushes or to increase general mowing comfort. The previous premium mid arch chassis also featured these handles.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hey guys, I'm sure this manual is probably on here already. But if it isn't, can you let me know. It will take a decent amount of time to scan as it has a heap of pages. I got it today and it's an absolute beauty of a read!!!
MF, I get really annoyed when I see some clown who is making a video of something and watch him put the nozzel from the jerry can, drop it on the grass and then without cleaning it puts it straight back in the fuel container and gives it a shake. Not interested in listening to anything he said after that and he was dragging it out, can't be bothered
NormK, firstly, thanks for explaining your reason. I wouldn't do it myself but no biggie as all the tanks of my mowers have debris in them and function fine thanks to the inbuilt filter on the tap. If he put it on the soil I would be annoyed, but you couldn't see any stuff sticking onto the tube. Petrol probably saw to that. At least he added the correct amount of oil that's the main thing. I would put it in first though and he could have agitated the container more. Having said that, why needlessly contaminate your fuel supply with dirt or debris?
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF, and if they still made mowers like that today we would not have to put up with all the Chinese junk we have on the market now. Boy have we gone backward in the race to the bottom in so many ways.
The problem Norm is that green Mustang would cost well over a grand in today's money and people aren't prepared to spend that level for a mower for life.
I'm sure if they'd offered four stroke mowers for $30 that would last a year or two there would be plenty of takers in the mid 70s world. Today if you want a mower for a decade plus, you get a Honda OHV.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
MF, the last of the PT's were $700 tops and I did see some being advertised for $599 so not an unrealistic price but it is all hypothetical now as they have killed off the 2 stroke because of emission "issues". Nobody ever talks about the billions of tons of emissions pumped into the air by China pumping out millions of rubbish mowers that often only last a year or two and nobody will look at most of them to repair them so they go straight to scrap and the cycle continues and they keep whinging about our pollution levels here
MF and Norm. If you guy's want to have this discussion can you open a new thread or do it in private messages? If i knew how to delete this thread I would because it's tainted by your back and forth nit picking. I just wanted to post my collection.
Hello all, The big issue here is a topic going way off-topic.
I remind all members that good searching on ODK requires member discipline - that we stay on topic.
Otherwise, the 'thread' of the topic is lost. This topic is about a collection and a Victa repair manual - with a generous offer to present it to all members.
This topic was created in the forum 'Collectors Corner'.
My apologies to Sean for this. Goodwill has been lost here.
I hope he returns in the future as he has, in a short time, contributed so much.
I appreciate the issues here. I will refer this for a second and third opinion.
I am convinced this is all about misunderstanding of intention and needs. It is a timely reminder to all members of forum rules and the spirit of those rules.
We must be a role model for opposing junk social media. No keyboard warriors, and civility must rule the day.
All of us should take a teaspoon of cement and harden up. But unfair comment will ensue, sometimes, and I don't think members should tolerate that.
I mean, we're talking garden products. If you disagree, do it in a polite way!
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