Hello All, Pete here. Well I am almost finished my recommission jobs on 8 old Victa's. I named the series 'Restoration' and to some extent they are, but in truth there's nothing too original about any of them. I still have to get a few started, but wanted to finish the YouTube series as we're now in mid-March and I have a load of 'car stuff' to get done by the end of the Easter holidays. Anyway, here's the playlist URL:
If you're just interested in the final video, it's:
From my perspective, this is brilliant but niche. I would call them creative interpretations - maybe 'ratmows'... ?
The two things that really stand out are the quality of execution (and the choice of colours); and the decals that balance that colour. The 'Celestial' green is stunning.
Everyone knows lawnmowers are not 'London, Paris, New York' but to the enthusiast these interpretations bring a smile.
In these pandemic times you have given us 'mower art' of a high standard.
I had a giggle at the running of several mowers at once. I was thinking of trying that myself with my motley fleet of 125 and 160 full cranks as well as Powertorque mowers. Glad someone thought of doing that too.
Celestial was a Waltons brand not just for their mowers. I have an oscillating fan my late gran bought in 1978 that I use on hot nights to help me sleep. Very quiet and effective. Made in Japan.
You can get a repro "made for Waltons by Victa Ltd" label for the deck, though the Victa logo looks really neat together with the Celestial 160 badge on yours. I can't abide the Starlet Life label on bluey, however. It just looks incomplete on video at least.
Cyberjack, I really appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed reading your take on this extraordinary mass refurbishing of these increasing collectable and sought after low arch machines. Pete has made me appreciate their undeniable symmetrical aesthetic.
Here's the Celestial fan still saving me from an even harder night's sleep.
Last edited by Mowerfreak; 18/03/2104:24 AM.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
Hi Peter, Norm and Jack, you know you can't mow with those ever again right? Here's an old thread showing an 82 Super Start Mustang resto and the immediate degradation from using it!
Hi Jack and thanks so much! Yes, you're correct, these old things are never going to be London, Paris, New York but in my view, that's most of the appeal. Beautiful retro styling on an item so many are familiar. I always said if I won the lottery I would never buy a Lamborghini or Ferrari - I would buy old cars that I loved as a kid and which held significant meaning - my tastes never changed, cheers.
Hi Mowerfreak, Thanks so much for your comments and I was certainly surprised that the 'Celestial' brand was carried by Waltons. The decal guy on eBay had the Waltonts one and I very nearly bought it - just never knew to make the connection. Thanks for the pics too, they were great to see. The blue Starlet Life mower? Haha... I agree and I wouldn't have done it if not for my youngest daughter who insisted on it. We had a Starlet the same colour (this was the paint I had left over) after I taught her how to paint and blend the colour on the front guard... it had some delamination of the clear coat. Anyway, long story short, we went everywhere in that car and she loved it, but the Takata airbag crisis meant that the car was bought back by Toyota and destroyed. Hence the tribute Victa in its honour. I looked at the other restoration of the one you mentioned in the lower post and yes, to use these would certainly tarnish them. That said they are painted in automotive grade products from the etch to clear coat. If they were to be re-introduced to service I'd splash over them with a 2K iso-free clear which is a really hard coating, far more so than the original hammer finish which is essentially an enamel paint system. From what I could see in that earlier thread, the later Victa was painted in air dry enamel. There is QD (quick dry) and air dry - the latter gives a better finish but takes longer to tack off - both varieties lose their sheen level anyway and they stay soft which is why they can never be buffed. Either way, enamels are quite often sold as 'self priming' which is perhaps a bit of an oxymoron? Enamels have great adhesion, so most people don't etch prime beneath the coating. I am of the belief that aluminium should always be etched... whatever the case, these old things will remain rebuilt ornaments at least in the forseeable future. Cheers and thanks again.
As always Norm, thanks for your help and generosity. Every part you threw my way has been refurbished and found a nice home. I was particularly pleased with the torpedo muffler which looked like it had seen better days indeed... a quick wire brush divulged a canister in brilliant condition and I just happened to have a small bit of steel tube which served well as a tailpipe. You're a gentleman!
hey Peter, Thank for your a fantastic series. I really enjoyed every episode and it gave me lots of insight. Your previous victa 18 special video saved my bacon a couple of times, particularly with the walk through of how to clean a carb!!!!
