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!!!
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.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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.
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.
Ahh, if only victa had kept producing the thumblatch catcher series, they would be in better shape today!
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!!!
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....
