OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Rare Finds & Donations 1972-73 Victa Impala 2

Found this Victa Impala 2 recently.Now I've said it before and I'll say it again,It doesn't have to be old to be rare.
This is the first time I have seen one come up that I was able to get.
They were only produced from 1972 -1973,but was that say June 72 to June 73.Which would make them only available for 12 months,or was it the start of 72 till the end of 73.That I do think would be very unlikely.
So in saying that I'd say they were only available for about 12 months,and not that popular either.I mean why would they there was such a variety of mowers at the time.Mowers include Corvette 2,VC-160 Mark II & III's ,VC-160's Auto Drive,the early VC-Mustang and even the VC-Sports,just to name a few.Which were all 160cc not 125cc.As well at the same time you could get the VC-125 Mark III as well,which also didn't sell well and are also hard to find.I know I'm still trying to find one.
So of what I know the VC-125 Mark III and the Impala 2 are two of the hardest series 70 mowers to find.So I'm very happy I found one.Here is some pictures.



These photos were after the first clean.I'm now pulling it apart to check and make sure all is good.
I'll put up more pictures as I go.



Unfortunately the old owner didn't have the original pull start handle which I know I won't be able to find as they were the same colour as the fuel cap and cowl,but I will work something out.

might be only because they didnt like the 125cc , not too much differnce to use for a faily good lawn though , still plenty of power , that impala is a 125 ? pity about the handle though and the beaut' muffler bracket thingy , niiiiiiice . should come up sweet though

Yes exactly vccomm why have a 125cc when you can have 160cc for just a few dollars more? Even though for most uses I'm sure it would do the same job,but it's just in our nature to want the bigger one.Yes the muffler bracket was not a great idea,I have found out why.Someone has removed the two small bars that the clips go on,wow now I have to find two for it.Not sure I have them myself,but it's going back to original.As well as the catcher flap is missing and I know I don't have any spare of those any more.I have the single flap one,but this is suppose to have (What Victa called)the safety flap.Which had the little hinged part at the bottom.
Yes it's a 125cc all Impala 2's were 125's.

Well the excitement was short lived.As I'd posted before was pulling it down & cleaning to make sure everything was all good.


Taking photos and documenting as I go,only to find that it's all not as it should.
This is a picture of the (I believe) the original cooling cowl.

Now as you can from this the engine number should at least start with 41720 which (From my own observation) would be very close to the original.
However this is what I found.

Yep that's right you can clearly see it's number is 269214081 and once again (From my own observation and records) that engine has come from 1968-69 New Utility Model 550 which was 125cc.
So from the pictures you can see that somebody did put the original head from the Impala onto this engine.Which I guess explains why the engine cut off wire didn't have the right fitting and was also tacked up and out of the way and wasn't being used.
So it's kind of bitter sweet now as I was just happy to find one that still excited but now,I find it's just a bitser and trying to find an original engine or at least the bottom part of the crankcase with the right engine number is like trying to find that hens teeth,or even a piece of hay in a stack of needles.
So if any of you have or can or do find a engine or crankcase with the numbers that start with either 4172 or 4173 and don't want please please let me know.
I just won't be happy now until I can find one.
I'll properly build another correct period 125cc engine,but it won't be right until the numbers are right.
Hoping somebody out their can help.I'll also stick part of this in the wanted section with some other parts I'll need.
Thanks for any and all help anybody can offer.

Just being doing some work on it.As I did manage to find another engine exactly the make and year just not the same model.So therefore the only different's is the engine number doesn't match.
I have taken some pictures of the base and I'm fairly sure now that there were only three models to ever use this base.One is this Model Impala 2 and two Impala 4's.
Here's how it's going so far.

You can see how the casting is different around the Victa section.Not like other bases of the same period.

It certainly is different style where the engine mounts as well.



Now it's still a little dirty but this is just a clean up and get running not a restore.I will restore it just not yet.
I did manage to find the pins and the tiny little clips that the muffler clips hold on to.Although I have a funny feeling these are the last spares I have.Which are now not spare.


Currently it has the head off as the one on this engine had broken fins.Although if I could find another one that would be great as I know I have no more spare ones left.