OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines Victa Mustang with V40 Power Torgue.

Hi All,

Just fell across this Victa fully enclosed "V40 Silent" in a scrap yard.

Are these a bit of a rarity or worth anything / saving as I've never seen one before ???




Cheers,
BB

Never seen one before either but I can tell you from my experience with other things sold to me as "Silent" or "Silent Series" they very rarely are.

Hi Trev,

Honestly I think it's a normal 2 stroke with panels covering up all the engine in an attempt to look both more Star Wars and to shut the 2 stroke noise down.

I'd say it must've been a poor seller as I've never seen one like this before, yes a few others with a bit more panel work on them but nothing like this with a 50 SPF rating.

Cheers,
BB

Hello BB, Trev
Is that a Victa Vortex?
I personally have never had one.
Should have a turbo disc blade plate underneath.
Also, a metal heat shield over the muffler, to stop coel melting, unlike other power torque engines.
Also, carburettor poppet valve, if a vortex is set to position A, unlike others set to C.
Happy to be corrected here.

Hello BB, aussietrev and mark electric

I believe these are 'sleepers' in terms of collectivity.
I think they are historically important - for styling and
technical reasons.

I'm hoping an expert can explain the V40 thing - is that the engine designation?

The story of this machine begins here:


There was a genuine attempt by Victa to lower the noise emissions from
their mowers. Note the significant figures: mowers will cut grass at 2500
RPM, but need extra RPM for efficient grass collecting.

CSIRO's solution was to 'smooth out the airflow', meaning that some
of the lifting capacity was transferred from noisy fluted blades
to quieter - and slower spinning - flutes built into the blade holder.

The new Power Torque engine also recognized the impact of aerodynamic
noise of the engine flywheel, by enclosing it lower in the chassis.

Note that the Vortex, when introduced in 1983, and introduced to the
trade by PM Bob Hawke. The Vortex was made with licensing arrangements
with the CSIRO.



Stylistically, the fully enclosed shroud, combined with the different
colours (red, yellow, white ...), and the lower engine profile made
for a handsome mower. Very '80s angular.

All in all, a collectible mower that's under-rated.
A serious collector would collect all the colours.

Hope this helps.
------------------------
Jack

the red and yellow bodies were vortex white was mustang gts my old man bought a red bodied vortex new in the 80s ive got a yellow one

Hello IRB73

Thanks for that information.
So ... could you confirm that the machine BB saw is, in fact,
a Mustang GTS? Also, did that mean the 'Vortex' name was dropped
at this time?

Cheers
-----------------
Jack

hi jack I posted a link to an ad on youtube that calls them a mustang gts as far as I knew
that's what the white bodied ones were called from memory

Hello all,
The white ones are definitely Mustang GTS's. The Vortex model were either grey/red, grey/yellow and possibly one more color but cant remember. The Vortex was designed in conjunction with the CSIRO and was dropped when the Mustang GTS was birthed. Those models ran from about 85-89 The only real difference between them and the standard alloy bodied 2 strokes was the distinctive Vortex styled blade carrier. They probably dropped the vortex name because royalties may have been paid to the CSIRO for their involvement in the design.
Interestingly enough though the Vortex name was re-birthed in the 90's on a steel based commando styled mower with the only difference being the Vortex blade disk. They carried that model from the early 90's to about 2000. All the vortex models had the poppet valve in the carby facing the letter "A" instead of the usual "C" and was due to the heavier blade carrier and hence the lower RPM that is specified.

A quick search returned some youtube links:

Victa Vortex 1984 (red shown)

Mustang GTS (white) 1987 but concentration is on the "Guaranteed To Start" bit

A slight aside, but found also. Maybe give some original item details for you sharp-eyed peoples.
Victa ad with Peter Wherrett predating vortexes (let's not have a vortexes vs vortices debate)
I guess the opening is not acceptable nowadays, nor some of the later stereotypes. Different times, different standards.

The Powerhouse Museum has a Victa sign with a good detail pic of the Vortex blade disc.

It's HERE - zoom it up to full screen for best viewing.

Hello all Contributors

It's great to get all this information.
I have recorded Gadge's link to the powerhouse.

Patrick, the Victa videos were awesome, and also recorded.
Peter Wherrett ad - he speaks of the 4 millionth Victa. That event
ocurred in 1983 - but before the Vortex launch in mid August.
Peter really knew how to cross dress a lawn

Bigted & IRB73, I have changed the topic to identify this mower as a
Mustang GTS.

I hope this is a fair summary:-
What we have here is a Mustang GTS.
This machine was identical to the Vortex that was introduced
for the 83-84 season and continued to the 86-87 season (4 seasons).
The Vortex became the Mustang GTS, introduced for the 87-88 season.



All very interesting.
----------------------------
Jack.