OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping Rare Finds & Donations Scored a Vortex

I landed this Vortex today and it seems all original with the original vortex blade and covered in mid-80s plastic. Has ok compression so I hope after a clean up she'll be a runner.

Looks like a nice one you have, and very complete.

The Vortex was a good looker in Victas range
when announced in late 1983, and introduced
the Powertorq motor. It was Victas upmarket
model though its performance was quite ordinary.

I have 3 Vortex's in various colors with many
running changes made over the years.
There was a date stamped u/neath, and later models
of the Mustang also adopted the Vortex shape
and continued well into the 90s.

Looks like a nice find!

I picked one up a while back, with a spare dress cowl, both are not so great (best one is on)

Yous looks pretty much fine!

Heres my one, you can see some damage around the fuel filler.

What am I doing wrong? I can't seem to find any.I must be doing something wrong.Don't know what,but there must be something.

I found the one sitting out of the front of my house in the driveway by accident, was out the front of the scrap metal yard, had driven past it all week until a mate told me it was there.

Yeh they may not be the best performing mower but I like the true 80s styling and the concept that was developed by the CSIRO and Victa to get the 'vortex' action and the unique blade. Supposedly to be a bit quieter too. Also pretty neat that it was launched at the Randwick races by Bob Hawke in 1983!!!!

Is that Mervyn's son he is with?

Hmm, that would be one of the two ugliest mowers I've ever seen - and the other one was a one-off made up by a nutter (pictured below).

IMO i think your right Grumpy, I'm more for the classic look of the 60's & 70's low arcs, and the early High arcs (although not all early high arch)

But it does hold true to 80's styling...Very True! (Style, fashion and Music died in the 80's)

And it is important for a good collection of Victa, as it covers a few things:
-The CSIRO Design Link
-The Introduction of The Powertorque
-The Quietest design

It was one of there turning point mowers, and also one of their most unique in appearance (Thank God)

As for the mower you have added above... Well, at least it's a one off!

Heres a little something inoticed the other day, I have no idea if i think this looks good or bad yet... I'm still confused!

Farm Fitters Rapier: HERE!

And VictorVicta, Please keep us posted on the progress of this one, it is important from a historic point, and also part of my personal 'Unusual Designs' mower collection, so i am looking forward to seeing the finished product.

Also, as a tip, they made the victa "White Wall" wheels in the good solid tire form to, in the late 70's, i put these on mine and they look just the same, but it gets you around the all to common problem with the wheels you have, where the inside piece comes out of the wheel!

Yeh they aint beautiful but they sure fit in with big hair, disco, tape walkmans and other great 80s icons!!! Must admit they are pretty unique.

Yeh the inside wheel plastics are toast so I'll be looking for other wheel ideas in the future.

Not sure who the other dude is in the photo..might be the son.

I have a feeling it is, i think his name was Gary Richardson

Ive got a Vortex. A white one. Cover has a few cracks but its in pretty good order.
Im going to put a rebuilt V40 on it.

Yeah i should keep it original, its a series II with the turbo disc.



I picked up another from the scrap yard the other week. Red cover. Cover was all smashed, its a series I. Got it going. Put yellow wheel covers on it and a yellow cover i picked up from hard rubbish. Still missing the cover that goes over the carb and the one that goes under the pull start knob. Put a green catcher on it that i had here. Will probably just sell it.

Grabbed another today from the crap yard. Yellow cover. Got a few cracks but its all there. Its a series II Turbo disc. Thinking i might swap the cover with the other one and possilby keep it.

Got another victa with the next gen alloy base and 5hp quantum today from the scrap yard as well. Painted poo brown house paint.
They had a power plus there that looked pretty good apart from the handles being cut off with a grinder and a hole in the top cover the size of a 10c bit. Might go grab it tomorrow. Take some tools, there were some badly busted mustangs and a silver streak there to donate some parts, handles and stuff.

Wow grumpy do you have any more pictures of that mower.I think that's fantastic that one.

[Censored] that is just awesome.Is that your mower?

Nah just pictures I had saved fron around the place

Hi Joe, I saw that one on the net as well, geez, did you see the posts that followed; everyone wanted him to sell it, after his resto.

Just scored a mint vortex with all decals pics later

Its a shame about the front decal, the rest is spotless apart from a little dirt, I spotted this from over 50 meters away!

Nice score there Joe...I have a yellow one too but its pretty beat up...am still to tidy up my red one as well!