OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary COWLING CORNER

I thought I'd try and start a thread to see people's collections of cowlings! On a mower, off a mower, wall hangers, any make or model, any way you like or any era you like! Just show us your cowlings. I'm kicking off with some of the plastic 70's series cowlings I have. (Yes the powerplus one's are borderline 70's/80's)

I will continue to update this thread with many more cowlings as my mower journey unfolds!!!

Don't have a cowl man!

Actually I do. What a great topic.

Here's a start. More tomorrow.

Gold!!! More from me tomorrow!

Some more of my 70's series cowlings. I have to dig the last couple of my 70's ones out. Next posts on this thread will either be my utilities or my 80's series....

I got 5 new mowers on Wednesday. Here are the cowlings of 3 that I have removed to keep safe and 2 others still on the mowers.
1 Purple VC-SPORT
2 70's series Mark 4 Mustangs with red decals
1 80's series Mark 1 Mustang
1 80's series Mark 2 Mustang

More of mine. I transferred a good motor from a far gone steel base onto a good ute base I trash picked from a skip. I replaced a cracked shute with a better one from another ute base which I painted.
I trimmed the rear section off the cowl to make up a ute one with large fuel tank.
Next is a Powertorque with a later type cowl I fitted to a thumblatch base to make up a unique combination along with the solid rubber early 70s 8" ball bearing wheels.
Then we have a Powerplus cowl cut to accommodate a FC Mustang type fuel tank, in turn fitted to a VC160 mark III base.
Finally, my entire collection of the plastic 70s and early 80s low arch cowl. A couple are hard to get to but you get the picture from the others.

POWERPLUS!!! Has it got the correct high compression engine?

Oh NO!! It's a true Frankenstein mower. Probably just a bog standard 160cc mark IV. According to the serial no., it's a 77 build.

What's the number? I bet it's not 77! Still, if you have a good powerplus cowling the rest is pretty easy to find!!! I can help out with that.....

The number is 119 770 778. I doubt it's a Powerplus or Powerminus engine. Just your bog standard cup starter plastic carby 160 Victa churned thousands of in the disco era.

I'm really not after any powerplus motor. Very satisfied with what I've amassed so far. Only wanting a Victa VB (what I nickname the VC 125 mk 3 as I recalled the label saying VB for so many years and only got my memory corrected when I saw my first pic of one in 2016 since my 1988 encounters with the fabled mower) and a purple VC Sport -which I can live without.
After that, that's pretty much it.

You still have some pretty nice machines hiding in those pictures there!!!!

I forgot, I do have a Powerplus in the form of a side pull full crank self propelled.
Engine started briefly when I first got it then it made some popping sound, stalled and wouldn't start. It's been stored since (five years). SP system needs work, mainly the cable and belt pulley by the looks of things.
A couple of others I peeked at with the phone camera, including a better look at my 72 VC Auto Drive with the SP removed and carby troubles.
Silver streak and Corvette work but SS doesn't stop and Corvette runs ok but is loudish and has bearing noise that gets taxing as you mow.

I love it mate!!! They are your mowers, and if you want to leave some of them on the shelf then that's awesome! This is the best thing, they are yours and you can do as much or as little as you want!!!! It's not like you have just stuck them in the yard.... My car has been evicted from the garage. I needed the room because I'm in the middle of putting all engines that were on the wrong bases back to the correct orientation, then I can take a quick photo with all the cowlings back on and the catchers on too before I start doing what I'm going to do with all of my mowers.

Im also in the middle of tearing down a 71 125cc utility and a 72 160cc utility for parts for 3 other utilities I'm doing. Oh and that consul 2, I've found a great original deck and bars. So that's getting done too..

I used to love walking past the mower shop each morning to catch the bus when I lived in Maroubra in the early 1990s and always wondering what mowers would be parked out the front awaiting service or collection from customers. Always a great variety of two stroke Victas from the 70s and 80s guaranteed.
Now they're mainly boring modern Briggs things with the occasional Powertorque or two oh a good day.

I remember visiting a another mower repair place with someone in 88 and seeing at least three green VC Mustangs and a couple of the earlier shape VC as well as a Victa Twin which this bloke had never seen. That further fired up my fascination with these mowers. I was amazed at their styling.

MF, I was going to do a thread called catcher corner but I think it's just you and I posting so here are 11 of my green catchers. All have mowers to go on.

I have never seen so many in one shot lol.

You only need the late 70s green Corvette and the Victa Compact/electric to complete the set.

That's incredible how quickly you've amassed so many.

Can we see pics of your VC 125 mark III posed with a good original green catcher and the later type in the foreground that normally fits on the SPFC Mustang?
Also wouldn't mind seeing what the Vortex catcher looks like on it.

Your wish will be granted! I'll get all of the mock up's of the mowers I'm doing ready this week with catchers, decks engines and cowlings on them. So I should have
1 Red VC-SPORT
1 Purple VC-SPORT (no catcher 😔)
1 VC125
1 PowerPlus
1 Mark 3 Mustang (G3 carby Light Blue decal)
3 Mark 4 Mustangs (2 Blue Decals 1 Red)
1 of the first 80's Series Mustangs
1 of the second 80's Series Mustangs
1 Green 75-76 VC-SPORT
1 Green 76-78 VC Mustang S
1 Store Brand High Arch V186 (Badged as a Contessa)
1 Red Vortex 83-84
1 Yellow vortex 85-86
1 White 83-84 Mustang with Turbo blade decals
1 Utility 70-71 V83

I have more to sort, but I'm ready to do the mock up's of these ones to take pictures of. I'm documenting via video and pictures all of my mower stuff im doing! I've found so many mowers that have had engines swapped from their original deck but then I've been able to find the correct parts to put these all back to original set-ups. So you will, hopefully, get a flood of these mowers in the coming days and weeks!!!

G'day Sean and Mf

I can't get access to most of my mowers / parts atm but here are a few.




Cheers
Max.

MAXEEE, mate those are all some great pieces there mate!!!

I love the shine on those catcher's, I haven't had time to sit and shine up my catcher's. Have you cleaned those catcher's to get them so shiny or is that the condition they were in when you bought them? Doesn't matter either way! They are stunning!!!

Great cowlings too, I'm sure you have plenty on mowers too. But I definitely see my favourite's there!!!!

Thanks Max and MF!!! I hope a few more members join this thread!!! I love these mowers so much and just like seeing other people's collection's and their own way they keep their collection's!!!

I'm finding as I meet people, weather they are selling me something, someone I meet randomly in an OP-shop, my postie or anyone else that I have talked to about my new hobby and passion, that my enthusiasm rubs off on them, especially when I show pictures of my mowers and someone says "my dad had one of those". I'm getting so much pleasure from sharing all of this. Then I also love the "hunt" for mowers, parts, manuals and collectables. I love working on them and learning how to do all of the necessary things to properly restore them the way I want to. I could go on but I won't....

I've washed the catchers Sean ,that's all ,a few catchers look like they haven't had much use probably sat in a garage
most of the time since new,

There a few products you can use on plastic to bring back the shine.They are advertised for Black but work
on any plastic colours.





Cheers
Max.

Hi MW and SN,

Since we're on catcher corner now here are my black Corvette catchers. Probably the most stylish of all thumb latch designs. Both have damaged lips which have been repaired with metal and rivets, which you don't see while on the mower. It's hard to find them undamaged but they're out there.
They also weigh a lot when empty and have only one handle which make them harder to empty out.

I need to find a good one for my gold hi arch mower.

The red PT cowl has the grill missing which makes them look crap, but it's undamaged and may be useful down the track.

Thanks Max, great little clip!!! I struggle to learn by reading things but watching something like that and it all goes in.

So I really appreciate you posting that mate!!! I think 2 of my Green catchers are only good for testing products, techniques and as pieces to use to fix small damage to the others.

I've only got 2 red catchers at the moment and one has 2 small holes and the other has had a dog chew on the handel. But otherwise both are great condition. I'm going to have to wait until I'm confident with plastic welding and repairs until I do anything with them. But I have quite a few crappy black catchers to practice on too. I also have a lead on a Red VC-MUSTANG MARK 3 with a catcher in decent condition, but I think the catcher for it is a little bit darker Red.

Any way, thanks again Max and MF

I need to put the Impala 2 cowling in the cowling corner now don't I!!!

I threw in an old picture of some mustang cowlings. Some are mint some are beyond repair but have great store brand decals that I'll manage to ether use on another mower or as a display piece.

I think you'll find that Holley Equipped job is not original. Someone's stuck it there later on.

Good finds those white(ish) ones. No damage visible.
I can't believe a white grip really was released on production examples.

You must be a little sleepy MF. Those 2 "white" ones are actually green ones that are so weathered they look like they are white. They are both absolute destroyed. All the other green one I think have zero damage and they are for my main Mustang restorations and of each different V code.

Perhaps I should have mentioned I was talking about the 500 and Impala cowls but I did say undamaged cowls which those green Mustang ones clearly are not.

2 of them are mint, 1 has 1 scuff on the edge around the decal, 1 has minimal scuff damage and 3 are stuffed. My other good ones are in the house. Yeah those white ones are nice

Ok MF, you're going to be upset when I show you what I've found. I've just made an offer. The white cowling in perfect condition.

I also got some of my mock up mowers out today for a few pictures so here are 9 of the 11 I took pictures of.
73-74 Green VC125 V138
73-74 Red VC-SPORT V137
78-80 Green high arch store brand CONTESSA V190
76-78 Green Mustang Mark 4 V206
80-81 Black and Silver COMMODORE high arch VG 183 A0
83-84 Red Vortex VM 168 A2
85-86 Yellow Vortex AJ 059 A5
78-80 Green and white Mustang WA 174 A8
80-81 Green and white super start Mustang WA 150 A0

Love that shot of the 125 flanked by the two Vortices!
That is very significant to my memories seeing the yellow Vortex and white Mustang models on display in the shops and thinking about the fact they have the same thumblatch button as the older models people I knew had like the white topped mower in your first pic and the mighty 125 mk3. It was like a continuation of a tradition of the great high arch designs Victa came up with.

I would get mega upset if the skull shaped top mower you got had the 125. 160, not so much but would dearly love to get my slime soaked hands on that remarkably untarnished top.

Thanks for indulging me all those pics. Thumblatch heaven!

The spark plug is going in straight unfortunately. So it's a 160cc

Here is the side shot of the line up today

I saw that. Phew!

I was editing that post to add some other pictures from today MF

That disco purple Sport looks splendid even with a missing catcher.

1 of the 2 catchers I'm missing. A purple and a 70's Mustang green one with no magic eye

Did you know there was a once off fourth Vortex color combo made?

No, so what was the colour and do you have a picture? Have you ever seen a picture or is it something that someone told you?

See this post I put up a while back.
https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/85219/1.html

So they do exist. Here is the first original impala 4 I have ever seen. It's not mine but a member from a different forum.

Like the impala 2 I thought both of these things didn't actually exist but I have a 2 in the works and here is a 4.

I have come to realise that the actual impala 2 is different to the advertisement. As the only 2 cowlings I've seen are different to the advertisement. The vents on the front of the cowl in the advertisement are different to the actual cowl. It's been a general consensus between me and the owner of the other impala that they may not have the same catcher pictured in the advertisement. But im still going to mock my catcher up to match the original advertisement.

I have circled the difference in the cowling in the last 2 pictures and I've circled it.

I do love that Impala chassis how it has no step in the chute for the Mustang cover and how it shares the same hammered paint as the VC 160/125.

G'day Sean and Mf

The Impala 4 ,I've owned a couple of them ,the first one was sold and the second one just got thrown out a few weeks ago,
the base had too much damage so was not worth trying to save.


Cheers
Max.

So I now have a copy of the original impala 2 and the catcher isn't as it is in the advertisement. It shows the standard Mustang catcher but im guessing the darker green colour that came out on the Vc160 mark 2.

I've also included a collage with the catcher from the manual, the front cover picture of the impala 2 and a close up of the advertisement picture of the impala 2.

Thanks for all the input guys!!! I'm looking forward to being able to present my impala 2 with progress pictures as I put it back together. Bloody restrictions are the only thing Holden it up.

Yeah I love the clean arch too MF

So here are 4 of the different coloured cowlings I have in this particular shape. According to the high arch manual I have, it shows this shape cowl has 5 colours: Green, White, Black, Orange and Yellow. I can't remember off the top of my head but the manual may also have a Corvette under this shape too. I could be mistaken tho.

Here I have the Green, White, Black and Orange.

Take note the black one isn't a store brand, well it isn't reported as one in the part's reference guide. It's the Commodore high arch cowling. But it's the same shape and style as the others.

I wonder if Victa had a name for that mould? It was used on a lot of store brands as well as a few Victa models such as the Corsair and Commodore according to the pic above.
They even used it on SPFC models without the cup starter.
Here's the label that was on the one I'm slowly doing up. You can't categorise it as either a store brand or official model in the Victa lineup. I think it was an ultra budget 125cc high arch model with the low end features sold in the 1979/80 period.

So I can't find the exact name of the mould used and I can't find the page in the manual that shows the different colours and models. It wasn't Corvette in the manual I think I remember now that it said Corsair then it had, I think, 5 colours. White, black, yellow, green and I'm sure it said orange.

I was going to buy a side-pull Corsair model but it sold before my pay went in so I missed out, it was running, had a good base and catcher for $40. But I have got a couple of good reference pictures of the cowl off one that's up for sale on gumtree for $190 🤦‍♂️. Where it appears to be completely filled in where the pull cord would have normally come out through.

Im really enjoying buying and saving these 70's and early 80's store brand mowers. Saving the original decals on some of these decks has made saving some of these smashed up mowers worth it alone, I'm posting 1 decal picture but I have many more decals and pictures.

I'm finding some really really interesting things when I look at serial numbers and see what year the mower was produced and then see some things that I thought didn't come out as regular parts until a year or 2 later. I know things get changed and replaced over time but certain things are obviously original to these mowers and haven't been changed, I also have plenty that look original but I can easily tell these days when things have been upgraded or changed.....

But that's got a lot to do with certain members of this forum and a few others who have been amazing in sharing their knowledge, experience's and time answering questions that I thought were stupid now looking back but now I get asked these questions and realise that they were very important questions at that time for me. I'm a big pusher and believer of the philosophy that "there is no such thing as a stupid question" or "the only stupid question is the one you don't ask" well these early questions I was asking I'm now answering for people who are new to this, just like I still am.

So 1 more specimen of this shape cowl is already on this thread and it's Max's Utility one. I'm not sure of the year engine or model this has come off but at a guess I'd say 80-82 side-pull Super start utility. I'm not sure if I've seen the utility decal on any high arch models from the 70's and early 80's besides this one!

So to amend my above statement, I just found a picture of a side-pull Utility on a Utility deck. 🤦‍♂️ I hate it when I don't think outside the box or something right in front of me, which ever way you see it....

It seems odd for Victa to get even more mileage from this mould than they already had, when they were going for a new lower profile look with the starter now at the side instead of the top. Why make the motor stylistically like the previous cup starter series with the needless height on top that no longer houses a pull starter?
My guess is it was an economical way to offer more styles in their line up with different packaged looks at different price points for marketing purposes.

So I had a question raised recently to me that I don't have an actual answer for but I have a theory or speculation.
Question:
Why do some of the VC-SPORT series cowls have only a single set of vents at the font and others have 2 set's, one at the front and one at the rear in front of the fuel cap hole and next to the pull starter.

My initial answer was different models but then I decided it's a bloody good question. So my theory is, That the design changed after the first 2 year run of the cowl design 1972-73. Either due to an issue with heat and extra ventilation was needed, or it could be to do with patent laws and making small
changes every 2 years, heard that as a complete rumour.

So if I'm right all impala 2's should have only one set of vents. I have 2 red VC-SPORT'S one purple and blue and 1 VC125 and all are complete mowers. 3 of my 73-74 series were 1973 builds and all have 1 set of vents, the 1974 engine had 2 sets of vents. But in going back to a thread concerning serial numbers I believe Max's VC125 is a 74 serial number but has 1 set of vents. That could be explained that the cowl was just older stock, again speculation. I also have 1 cowl from a green V174 VC-SPORT and a VC Mustang S cowl. Both came off later engines and both have 2 sets of vents.

I'll put in some pictures of my own cowls and so pictures of others mowers for reference pictures.

Im not sure if anyone has any theories or actual knowledge of why these changes were made and why? But I'd love to hear any theories!!!

G'day Seanoss ,

The Cowl with one set of air intake vents looks to be an early release ( around 1974) then later models
have the 2 sets of intake vents for more airflow cooling ,just a running change when Victa ran out of the early
style covers.



Cheers Max.

So my speculation is somewhat correct in that they changed the design after probably a 2 year run of the mould and then changed during 74. As I have a 74 VC-SPORT with it's original cowl with 2 vents and all cowls onwards had 2 sets of vents.

Thanks Max, nice easy explanation. I had been talking about it in private messages with other vc enthusiasts and I thought it was worth putting it up on the forum.

I envisaged blanked off dummy vents but upon comparing the pics, I realise it was completely absent.
Good observation Seanoss, never would likely notice unless I got a collection with the two variants.
The only other variation I have observed is the different shape raised border for the powerplus label on the later black version.

Here's my sole Corsair style mould. It has a thin layer of UV degraded plastic I want to scrape off before I paint it.

That's about the same amount of sun damage as most of mine and I'm still working on the best way to remove it gently enough without damaging the colour underneath it.

The question about the vents came from someone else who put their hand up to ask me the question thinking it was dumb but it was a great question and one that I had missed completely. So I'm just the messenger who put the question together correctly with a theory behind it.

I had a person ask me today about having a VC-SPORT cowl but it had some different bits and he would show me tomorrow but I asked if it was black and if the decal spot was the difference. Yes straight away from him. I showed him the powerplus advertisement and one of my cowls and he was %100 yes. Many people mistake the powerplus for a VC-SPORT but power wise, I'll take the powerplus every day but noise wise give me mark 3 125cc at full revs

I'll post some pictures of my 2 other cowls that are for testing because they have unrepairable damage and one of my powerplus with the decal that will eventually go on it and without.

I've never noticed an older style Corsair label like that.
It's in remarkable shape with the battle weary cowl.
Reminds me of the situation I had with two side pull Mustang covers where one was cracked everywhere with ingrained marks all over but the label was immaculate whereas the label was creased and pock marked on the good one.
Thanks to a suggestion on here to use a hairdryer while slowly peeling off, I was able to successfully transfer the factory label over.

Ok MF, here is one of the Mustangs GTS Vortex style with the silver cowl, that looks to be stainless steel.This was posted on another forum so I'm just the messenger!

But it has an A4 size piece of paper hanging on the handelbars reading:

Presented to the Penrith Mower Centre
"In appreciation of outstanding sales performance during the ???? Mower season"

VICTA

How did you find that?!!!!!


I just got an endorphin rush. So you have just shown me that the Kennys Mowers one wasn't one of a kind after all. I don't remember it having a silver base or Mustang GTS label but that cover was it. Memory can play tricks.

Victa must have been handing these out as trophies.

There could be quite a few around the country and oh so collectable.

I was going to make a replica out of spare bits.

PS: appreciate the post immensely. That was excellent.

HOW DID I FIND THAT? Remember I'm the guy who can get things!!! Just because I'm not posting much at the moment doesn't mean I stopped buying, researching and looking for anything victa in general. But we both agree that there is a decent amount of luck involved....

I never go on Facebook much at all any more but I saw this yesterday, I think, and took some screen shots and was able to zoom in enough to read the little A4 plaque!

I did this just for you MF, as soon as I saw it I made sure I got pictures to post for you!!! But being able to read why it exists and what for, yes their must be a few around but not many. Remember they only made the vortex for a few seasons and I wouldn't think that too many were given out as it was for outstanding sales performance..... plus if it's stainless steel, it's wouldn't be cheap!!!

Im just happy I got to find pictures of one to post for you mate! Least I can do after all of your support!!!!

It actually looks good in a utilitarian way in that typical used condition like that. The one I used to see all those years ago was in showroom condition and I kept having to remind myself our wasn't a display model of a mower available for sale, but it should have been.
It did look a bit much in mirror chrome, like a Transformers toy, but used like the Penrith one, I can see it would have made a good legitimate variant.

This has certainly raised the standing of this topic on cowlings!!

PS: it's plastic coated in a chrome. It's possible to do as I've seen it done before on toys.

So I decided to do a couple of mock up pictures of what the Corvette or Orange Corsair cowl would look like on a black deck with black catchers and 2 choices of catcher design too.

Im not a fan of the Corvette on the black base but that could be because the decal on the deck doesn't match the decal on the Corvette, so the colour scheme isn't right and that's throwing me off because black and white should always work.

The decal I would use is off the broken cowl that originally came off this deck. I just need to put a lot of work in, to bring the other orange cowl back to original colour as possible. One picture is of the underside of the cowl I'm going to use so you can see the real original colour and why with the original Corsair decal from the deck matches so very very well. This also shows how much small colour differences make the designs, from this era, work so well and shows how much thought goes into every aspect of the design.

Any way, This was just a little bit of fun I had today. MF I'm sure you will have a strong opinion on this subject.....

My late nan had a mower branded as a Pace Premier 160 with that base in hammered blue and matching blue catcher shaped like the one you first put with the white Corvette top, with raised Pace lettering on the side. It had the same engine top shape as the Corvette in white too. It had the smaller solid rubber wheels (like the VC-125) with orange covers. Wish I took her up on her offer to let me have it as it was very well kept.

Is that Hi Power cover the same shade of orange as the tatty Corsair one? Those would be good to do a label transfer and get that mower back to good original patina condition. Interesting to see Sunbeam style hubcaps with the circle of bumps on them.

So I just acquired this Pace Premier 160 high arch. I now need to find the original blue catcher with Pace on it.

I have some references picture of the colour of the catcher and a few other pictures.

This really shows how small details like matching decals make these mowers colour concepts work and shows exactly why the Corvette I did in black didn't work because of the decals not finishing off the look. I now actively buy broken completely stuffed mowers from this era if they are for free or $5-$10 just for the decals, if I get extra spare parts that's just a bonus.

Yes the 2 orange cowlings are originally the same colour, they do look different shades at the moment due to different levels of fade from uv, I know because they are exactly the same shade of orange on the underside where the sun don't
shine!!!! The decals on the other hand are completely different colours on both and are exactly what make the cowlings truly match the mower.

Interesting to see the bigger ball bearing wheels, as well as a Victa Corvette counterpart!
I wonder if later batches did indeed come with the bearing wheels or was the set later fitted?
The rear axle is actually slightly different on this chassis for the 8" rear wheels. If you simply fit on a pair of them to replace original 7" wheels, you no longer have an even height front to rear.
I replaced the rear axle on a side pull Corvette of mine as I found the nylon sleeve wheels made the mower feel heavier to push. The bearing wheels make it glide in comparison.
If course there are 7" ball bearing wheels you can fit, but the 8" really make the mower look slick!
I'm glad you pointed out the importance of matching decals. It makes me appreciate the reproductions all the more.

And then there were 2........

Here are all of the store brand models from 1975-1976, it's off the back of my 75-76 dial a code. It has my Eclipse, which has the G4 carbys face outwards so no remote primer and the air hose over the arch and the serial number says its a 75 build.

It also has the Vcode for all of them and it includes at least 3 of my mowers!!!

My dad bought a Waltons Celestial 160 new and I can vaguely recall the unboxing which would have been between 1977 & 1978 (I believe mowers often remained in stock many months after manufacture.)
I remember V177 on it's throttle assembly. He took it for a major service in the early 1980s and that's when it must have gotten it's white primer cap. I see a service bulletin from 1978 instructing Victa dealers to fit them whenever a mower was brought in for services. I retrofitted one to my nan's Pace Premier 160 in the 1990s. It made starting way easier.

Just checked the KMart 125cc store brand I found last year, and it still has V170 on it's throttle assembly.

I would love to see some pictures of the part reference decals please MF!!!! It may be strange to some but I find them so interesting, well the first release of them before they stopped being just a V number.

Here is one for you Mowerfreak!! Remember when I showed the page from the 85-86 workshop manual and it had a silver streak with a big vortex cowl.

Well here it is, after much discussion about it with a dealership owner and 2 people who own one.

They have the same solid base and cowl as a vortex but the deck is grey and has silverstreak decals on the front and sides of the deck. But they both had red cowlings like the first 83-84 vortex and the colour scheme just does not work. I've had it suggested that they were using up the old stock.

In my opinion the cowl should be black and grey like the deck but with chrome accents or somthing like the cowl off the one given to the dealership owner for outstanding performance during the ??? mowing season.

But we have all come to the conclusion that this is the correct cowl for this model of silverstreak!!! Even the letter at the end of the cowlings part reference number is N and that is sometimes used for red, this is only what a dealership owner told me.

So when they made the first vortex the final letter for its reference number is A and once they make a variation they change the letter at the end, the Mustangs has a W (White) and the 85-86 vortex says Y (Yellow) and then N for the silverstreak and apparently N stood for red. But that's open to discussion because it sounded strange to me. But the 2 people who owned the 2 I have seen both say they got them from new and they came with red cowlings.

I don't care for it myself Sean.
A great model to restore a red Vortex wIth though! You can easily paint the base up with Rustoleum black hammered finish spray paint and order a repro Vortex label, or use the cover on a vortex mower.

Honestly if that was my mower, I'd paint the cowl to match the base and with white, black, grey and a little chrome. To make it look almost like a stealth bomber! I love the silverstreak decal on the front, I love the grey base and black decals. I think that if they did the cowl to match the base it would definitely be my favourite colour scheme on the vortex style. Just a person opinion on colours I like.

Honestly if that was my mower, I'd paint the cowl to match the base and with white, black, grey and a little chrome. To make it look almost like a stealth bomber! I love the silverstreak decal on the front, I love the grey or silver base and black decals. I think that if they did the cowl to match the base it would definitely be my favourite colour scheme on the vortex style. Just a person opinion on colours I like.

I have my doubts to the veracity of that so called
Silver Streak model. My gut says lines have been crossed somewhere to create this falsehood from a bitsa.
Why would Victa release this strange looking variant that looks too closely resembling their flagship Powertorque mower when they were so good at making differentiated models from combining few various components and colours?. They really dropped the ball with this one.
Silver streaks always had a black cover. Why would they depart from the usual black top with chrome hubcaps to make a mower that looks virtually identical to a red Vortex?

Exactly MF!!! But this isn't the only one I have seen it's the 3rd and all are the same red cowl with a silver or grey base.

Now the dealership owner said the old easy throw away line "they were using up old stock from the flagship model" now I hate this answer because that answer to me means "I don't know the answer! But I'm not willing to say so." Also the original 83-84 manual has the final letter on the cowl code as A this is what is put at the end of many parts in their first release but when they make a variation they use the colour as the last letter so the 85-86 vortex has Y at the end the 86-87 mustang has W at the end the Silverstreak has N, now the dealership owner also said "sometimes red is marked as N" now he could be telling the truth or we just don't know and the red cowl isn't the correct cowl.

I so agree MF it doesn't make sense but I've seen 3 now all different mowers but all pretty much twins in the looks department. So it's either the wrong cowl or the right one..... we may never know!