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Posted By: Blumbly It's Raining Corvette 2's - 12/11/16 09:56 AM
Since putting up in the wanted section for my search on a Corvette 2 model number 535 and or 545,it's been raining Corvette 2's.
Since then I have found a Model 523 and or 533.The 2nd Corvette Victa had produced (First top 3 photos) and a model 543.
It just seems that this model 535 & or 545 just seems to be avoiding me.I have decided though that the next one I find weather it is the same or not I'm going to transfer the engine I have onto it and make it that model.As I have all the other models that use the same base.So here's hoping I can find one more.Fingers crossed.

These 3 photos are the 1964-66 model 523 and or 533.I think due to the date it would more likely be the 523.

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This Corvette 2 is the 1967-68 model 543
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This is the 2 together
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This is the model 535 and or 545 of which started this search.
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This is the one I had years ago but due to the base being so bad I just kept the engine.I'm not sure that I still have the handles either.
Posted By: NormK Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 12/11/16 10:41 AM
Blumby, I just repaired a side pull for a bloke similar to the one you have in the last photo,he bought it 37 years ago when his daughter was born, it has been his only mower in that time, and after I repaired it we think it should be good for another 37 years. Tough machines they are
Posted By: Blumbly Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 12/11/16 11:07 AM
Yes indeed they are still had quality control back then.Certainly not what they are today.
Posted By: Blumbly Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 05/03/17 10:38 PM
OK just a follow up from all of this action I've been having in regards to the Raining of the Corvette 2.
I have had great success in finding the first 6 models in the Corvette 2 range.
Here they are.The first model (and possibly the more collectible) from 1963-64 model 513
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The second model from 1964-66 model 523 & or 533
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The third model from 1966-68 model 535 & 545 (this mower does have the wrong starter.It should have an impulse starter)
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The forth model from 1967-68 model 543
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The fifth model from 1968-69 model 563
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and the sixth and final in my collection,from 1969-72 models 69VB-1-2-3,70VB & 71VB.There are different model numbers there as there were some slight differences between them,but they all looked the same.
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Considering I wasn't going to collect the Corvette 2 but after I got the first model I thought I'll see what I can find and I've ended up with the first 6 models.
Posted By: squizzy Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 08/03/17 07:58 PM
well done Blumbly, you even have one of the hard to get catchers, nice
Posted By: CyberJack Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 08/03/17 08:09 PM
Yes Blumbly,

It is great that there is, at least, one serious collector of specific
1960s and 1970s Victas.

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Jack
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 08/03/17 08:18 PM
Makes you wonder,is the hi arch base that helpful for day to day mowing of dry grass?
Posted By: squizzy Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 08/03/17 08:27 PM
the low arch works fine, i reckon they only introduced the hi arch
base to fill bigger catchers.....but i might get mown down that one laugh
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 08/03/17 09:01 PM
I used an old 125cc Mayfair beater and it did a beautiful job. A group of mothers smiled at me as they walked past with it purring away. cool
Posted By: Gadge Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 11:02 AM
Originally Posted by squizzy
the low arch works fine, i reckon they only introduced the hi arch
base to fill bigger catchers.....but i might get mown down that one laugh
You're almost correct there squizzy - it was actually to be able to fill the big catchers with wet grass! grin

One reason that was done, was to target the 'wet tropics' market, basically north of latitude 18 degrees South, in Oz.
Where they have to mow wet grass, in their wet season...
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 02:27 PM
Why were thay marketed everyone else then? Oh yeah, an excuse to up sell and it served as an advanced looking design on something that generally didn't need to be changed that much.
Posted By: Gadge Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 07:14 PM
Yup, you got it. It's called salesmanship, in the trade.

By the way, the high arch bases were initially exclusive to the Victa banner; it was ~10ish years before a high arch storebrand was offered.
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 07:47 PM
Nan had a badge engineered Pace with the Victa Monaro style hi arch base, also used as the store brand hi arch alloy base.
It would have dated anywhere from the late 1970s.
Clue: had the G4 carby with grey float cover without primer, facing outward with snorkel on the right hand side.
Posted By: squizzy Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 07:56 PM
rationalisation gets in the way Gadge, after a few years of
the new fangle hi arch, the low arch seems old and is fazed out,
for not really any good reason...
Posted By: Gadge Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 09/03/17 10:00 PM
Originally Posted by squizzy
rationalisation gets in the way Gadge, after a few years of
the new fangle hi arch, the low arch seems old and is fazed out,
for not really any good reason...
Well, no good efficacy reason, for sure. The old designs do the job just as well as they ever did.

But other factors come into play; declining sales, and decreased profits. And those are the corporate/management lodestones....
Posted By: NormK Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 06:41 AM
Standardization of the catcher was a very good move by Victa for the customers benefit because replacement catchers became readily available
Posted By: Gadge Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 06:54 AM
G'day Norm,
Yep, and Victa ran the standardised mid arch 'Mayfair' catcher through the tin to plastic transition, and for years thereafter.
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 08:27 AM
Plastic transition must have quartered their production cost, and introduced pain to the consumer through cracking.
We were without a catcher through nearly all my childhood because of that. Only the steel decked series catchers got it right.
Posted By: Blumbly Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 11:57 AM
Quote
basically north of latitude 18 degrees South, in Oz.
Where they have to mow wet grass, in their wet season...
Yes wet season got none of that this year.Sounds like they are going to declare a drought up here very soon.I think I've even forgotten what mowing is too.When I do decide to I end up covered head to feet in dirt,not nice.Now that I have most of the Corvette 2's,I'd like to get some Corvette 4's.Those little buggers seem to be extremely hard to find.Haven't even had a chance to get close enough to get one.
Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 12:05 PM
You could always move onto Cortinas with the delightful 125cc.
Posted By: Blumbly Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 12:45 PM
Actually I do have two Cortina's already.I have 2 1964-65 model 527.Yes maybe I need some more now.
Pictured here.
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Posted By: Mowerfreak Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 02:33 PM
Imagine unpacking them out of the box!! smile
That first one would look quite the pearler with a coat of new hammer finish, especially with the simpler cowl without the bling.
Posted By: Blumbly Re: It's Raining Corvette 2's - 10/03/17 03:28 PM
Yes they certainly would have looked better than the stuff of today that's for sure.
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