OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Rotary Mustang Month !

I like the Super Start cover how it's sitting on top of all those green tops .

Painted up my first Vortex cover. I used Dulux hot lips red gloss. It was the closest match to the unfaded plastic underneath. The Dy -Mark red was way off the cap colour. I'm thrilled with how this looks. Not sure whether to blacken the Victa logo or not. Looks good like this.
Seanoss, I took a couple of pics of my truck hubodometers as well.

Hi all,
I added a repro decal on the front and tried the repainted cover on for size. Only serves to highlight what else needs attention! I got the motor going after flushing out the tank, fitting a missing decompression valve, vacuum tube, spark plug, and adjusting the starter rope tension. It's a pretty quiet machine this one and has good low idle and doesn't over rev.

Slowly getting the old girl back in order.

Finally found a yellow I was pleased with for the other Vortex. I would have preferred an enamel but had to settle for an automotive acrylic from Duplicolor which turned out a shade to my liking. Ideally wanted a slightly more golden shade of yellow. If I find one down the track, I'll apply it then.

It looks great with clear applied.

I found a white Mustang the other day in good condition for it's 35 year old age. Just needed a tank clean and the blades are worn. Sign was left saying it worked well last time it was used.

The deck for the yellow Mustang. I moved the metal patch holding a crack together, from outside to inside and recessed the rivets so I could fill them in for a smooth external finish.
Brush painted the rear door with Aldi metal care paint after grinding away rust and treating the exposed metal with rust converter. Finish isn't fantastic but it looks far tidier than before.

Great work MF. I just noticed something on one of the pictures on here. See if you see what I see! Then look at what I'm picking up hopefully next week.

A VC Mustang with black cover and chrome or polished aluminium base. I wonder was it a commemorative production number mower that was going on permanent display somewhere? The one in colour is an earlier version with G3 carb instead of the G4 set up in the B&W 1970s photo, with a black cover (painted our not?).

So the colour one is definitely painted black but the one in the original picture is definitely a black version that I definitely haven't heard anything about and only noticed because I'm researching earlier models at the moment.

I would love to know if anyone has any suggestions or knowledge about the origins of the mysterious mustang with a black cowl.

I have just had it pointed out that the Mustang is running the G4 throttle controller and air hose system. So they were developing the G4 in 1970 minimum.

No about 1973 they started developing it I believe.

Well can you explain the airfilter assembly and throttle controller in the picture then? How do you know for sure that's when they started the idea, I don't know how someone can just say NO. I'm sure we didn't think the mustang was being developed in 1970. Unless the date of this picture is incorrect, I did get it off ODK.

So many times I hear that info from this era isn't very reliable. Just because you believe something to be a certain way for a long time doesn't mean that your information is correct. Just look at the serial number information all saying that the 73-74 engines were 77 and "WE" proved that the formula being used was wrong.

Cuz I read about it cuz!

I remember thinking the square air filter t bar controller was a whole new thing for Victa in 1988 after being used to the cylindrical design.
Same with the rear wheels with the large white section around the hubcap. Only years later found out they existed since the mid 70s for the higher end models.
I'm still getting my mind around that after 20 years of knowing that.

No way in 100,000 years am I buying that the pic dates from 1970. You have your information crossed somewhere.

Ok MF, I made a big mistake with that picture. It says in the 1970's not 1970 as I previously thought. So yes if the G4 was started in 73 then that at least makes this picture 73 onwards. It still doesn't explain the black mustang cowling but it could be paint, a prototype or just showing what's coming next? Only the people in the picture will know, I guess.

Thanks for challenging my post! I wouldn't have investigated it more if you didn't put forward a very very important argument! I've said it before and said it again, I'm happy to be wrong as long as I'm learning.

That's a mega difference between 1970 specifically and "the 70s"!!
You know how much change in styles, pop culture and technology in general changed from 1970 to 79?
It was gargantuan!!
It might as well have been 20 years or more!
Could you see a Holden Commodore or XD Falcon in say 1972? Only Mercedes could come up with something close back then.
1975 was much more like 1980 compared to 1970.

Only the very start of the project to develop the plastic carburettor we first saw in 1975 with the unveiling of the 500 twin, occurred in 73 some time. I don't know of any pictures of Powertorque motors dating from 1978/79 even though that's when development began for it's eventual unveiling in 82. I think I have seen either a wooden mock up or artist's rendering of the Vortex cover dating early as 1979!

So you know that my main love and passion are the mowers from the 70's with the smaller cowlings, now I still love the 70's Mustangs, but the different colours, shapes and designs of those 70's mowers were some real out there designs, obviously, from a fresh way of thinking. I'm speculating here that the designs department had a shake up of some sort to change the very similar looking 60's models to the very very different looking 70's series, that I considered more like art then the 60's models. I consider the vortex art but to me the money to design new engines, redesign entire mowers and to make mowers that look like art has been heavily out weighed by the extra money that victa company can make with a reliable 4-stroke (Generally non mower people prefer 4-stroke because they have no clue) that goes for function over looks, cheap easy to produce pressed decks and as little changes to their design as much as possible. Where as look at the 70's models, money had little to do with being the best! Pride!!

Can anyone tell me if the model mustang In the picture, from the parts reference manual, is a power torque engine or is it the last mustang before power torque? If it's not power torque then I have all of the models of mustang up to 85-86. It also means I can finish off my little essay about the Victa MUSTANG history.

If it's not the power torque I'm guessing it's the super start side mounted pull starter Mustang. But im not sure about this one model!!! I've put up a picture of the model I hope it is but I need some help putting the rubber stamp on what model and engine the 82-83 Mustang is and has!!!

Cheers and I look forward to hearing from anyone who can help me out with this.....

I painted the grill with so called satin black (I don't know White Knights idea of satin paint, but much nearer to gloss doesn't qualify to me). I would recommend going matt or don't paint it at all.
Just as well it will get dusty soon enough. I prefer how it was. Live and learn.

While we're on yellow as a theme, I thought I'd include a pic of a hubbo on my car's wheel. I filmed it with an action camera. Fun times.

Hi Seanoss, thats a side pull full crank.
Cheers, Ted

So I managed to come across the one catcher I didn't think I would find for a very long time. I'm very very lucky that it just happened to appear.

It's the first power torque Mustang catcher. Green Vortex style and no magic eye.

I haven't got the mower yet but I think the harder piece to find is this catcher. I'm pretty chuffed, especially after winning a grand final.......

Should find the mower to go with it soon enough. Securing the catcher is a good start.
You want to find it's mower as that green catcher doesn't match well with other Powertorque models.

It may work on this refurbished mower ok. Not an original colour but looks great.

Luckily I have the 83-84 workshop spare parts manual. It's not a %100 match, but the 83-84 silverstreak base looks to fit the catcher I have and I've got a choice of 2 silverstreak's to choose from that have been put aside for me as a trade for a 4-stroke rover, that I don't collect.

But thanks for the heads up MF, I'll be bringing the catcher with me now when I go to pick it up and make sure it fits correctly. I wasn't aware that the Mustangs base was different to the other 83-84 decks until you replied to my post. Cheers mate, thanks for looking out for me!!!!

The silverstreak is just a backup in case I can't find the original Mustang. I couldn't believe I found that catcher in great condition. MF I agree with you mate that I'm just bloody lucky! I do a lot of kilometres travelling for things like this tho.... but to me it's worth it!!!!