OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Collectors Corner Identification of Particular Machines VC-Mustang Identifying.

OK I have put my latest VC-Mustang together so I thought I would take some pictures and show you all the different models.


One of the first models.
1973-1974 V135 VC-Mustang (Mark IR)- Red.This one and the green one both had remote fuel taps.Of which I have to fix them up and get them both working with that.


This model is:
1973-1974 V135 VC-Mustang (Mark IG)- Green.This one and the red one were released at the same time.Both had the same Victacode.


This is the one I just finihed putting together today.This model is:
1974-1978 V206 VC-Mustang (Mark II)- G4 No Prime.Unfortunately I didn't get time to put fuel in it and see if it would run.I will soon.


This is the last model of the VC-Mustang.After this model they were then just called a Mustang.This model is:
1974-1978 V207 VC-Mustang (Mark III)- Remote Primer.I'll get this one off the shelf soon and take some better photos and that way you can see the remote primer better.
So I hope this helps in identifying the VC-Mustangs for those who want to know.

Can I ask what does the V numbers after the year mean? For example 1974-1978 'V207'?

What's the difference between the mark II and the mark III? Just he remote primer?

Those numbers with the V is the victacode numbers. The only differance between the mark II & mark III is the remote primer both were released at the same time.

wow thanks mate. i now know mine is mark 2. cheers

Sure gizmo any-time.The mark II is the more popular one then followed by the Mark III.The mark I's are starting to get harder to find.So if you want one now is the time to get it as in a few years time they will be very hard to find.A bit like the red one.I have only seen 3 of them in the past 3 to 4 years.One of those 3 went to scrap,as it was on eBay and didn't sell by the time I got hold of the seller he told me that he took it to scrap.I nearly cried,and the other one has now been painted green.I just hope he changes it back as they are disappearing.

Put them all together today for a photo shoot.
Hopefully tomorrow I will get the chance to start them all up and have them running at the same time.That would be awesome.If and when I'll video it and put it up on youtube.
Here they are.

awesome stuff blumbly.sure like the red one.

Yes it does stand out.I'm just glad that it has such a great cowl on it.I would have to say that out of the four I do like that one a little more.

Yeah i must admit its a nice lineup. The red one does stand out, not coz its any better, just different i suppose. It's like having a black sheep in the family, everyone's gonna like it.

Yes we'll it is starting to show it is the black sheep. Got the greens ones going and tried to get the red one going. Just so I could have them all running together,but nope it didn't want to run. Checked for signs of life dead no spark. So I thought quickest way to fix just put a known working ignition in. Did that had spark ok gave it fuel no go. By this time sun had gone down. Hopefully can get it going this afternoon.

Just thought I'd add some pictures to show you all what the remote fuel tap looks like.
This is on the green mark I



This is on the red mark I


...and this is what they look like off the mower,minus fuel tap,nut and washer for fuel tap.

I have managed to get the red VC-Mustang going.I have uploaded a video of it running as well as the the Mark II.Here are the links,by all means take a look.

Nice one Blumby, i see the remote fuel tap found it's home. I watched a few of your vidz, you have a nice line up of mowers there mate, well done!

Hey Bumbly,

Have you ever tried a Heat gun for cleaning up faded plastics? I've used it heaps and it works wonders.


Kori

Thanks bigted. There are some others that run that I haven't put up there yet. Will get round to it one day. Yes kori I have tried it with little success. As you really have to clean the plastic right up to get all the junk of it. By that point I've found it's just easier (and maybe better) just to put a coat of clear over it. I tried on a black air cleaner now it just rubbish.

Just a gentle nod guys, this post is sliding off topic, time to wind it up.

OK today I did what I called a world first I got all four models of the VC-Mustangs and ran them all at once.Here is the you-tube link if you want to have a look.

Just a sad part that just after I videoed those running my mark II started blowing a lot of smoke (so much that the backyard was full of smoke)then stopped running.After it stopped running it then looked like it was on fire (it wasn't) there was just that much smoke bellowing out of it.Now it just won't start,I believe that it may have burnt the rings out.When it did run it did blow a lot of smoke.So now after just getting it running I will have to build another engine for it.

VC-Mustang Identifying.
Now after having a look at this post I realized I showed you all the different models,but didn't explain how to tell them apart.So I will show you now.
First we will go with the 1973-1974 V135 VC-Mustang (Mark IR)- Red.Made from 1973 to 1974.Engine numbers start with 11173 or 11174 depending on year of manufacture.

All run a G3 carby with alloy fuel bowl and originally they would have had a remote fuel tap as pictured here.Also would have had the funny looking spark plug cover.Had the orange hub caps.


1973-1974 V135 VC-Mustang (Mark IG)- Green.Made from 1973 to 1974.Engine numbers start with 11073 or 11074 depending on year of manufacture.

All run a G3 carby with alloy fuel bowl and originally they would have had a remote fuel tap as pictured here.Also would have had the funny looking spark plug cover.Had the black hub caps.This one has a plastic fuel bowl which I will have to change back to an alloy.

Victacode is V135 as pictured here.

1974-1978 V206 VC-Mustang (Mark II)- G4 No Primer.Made from 1974 to 1978.Engine numbers start with 11074,11075,11076,11077 or 11078 depending on year of manufacture.

All ran a G4 carby with no primer on the carby and no remote primer.Now I believe that they used the same types of spark plug cover as the last two models,but unfortunately I haven't seen any reproduction of them so I guess when they are no good just have to use this type.Had the orange hub caps.

Came out originally with the pointy air filter cap.Also I haven't seen that these are being made any more,and they are getting hard to find second hand ones.Would have had a sticker in the circle with Victacode V206.

1974-1978 V207 VC-Mustang (Mark III)- Remote Primer.Made from 1974 to 1978.Engine numbers start with 11074,11075,11076,11077 or 11078 depending on year of manufacture.

All ran a G4 carby with no primer on the carby but had a remote primer.Now I believe that they used the same type of spark plug cover as mentioned with other models,and same as I said before no repos of these parts.Had the orange hub caps.

Came out originally with the pointy air filter cap.Also as I said before no new ones and getting hard to find second hand ones.Would have had a sticker in the circle with Victacode V207.

Now there is one more VC-Mustang.Which I'm not sure was very widely available here in Australia.Although I think one of our members here has one.I think it is vccomm (please if it is you just add some photos.If it's not you then please let me know).Now I don't know a lot about it except that it was made the same time as the Mark III and was called. VC-Mustang S. Made somewhere from 1974 to 1978.I don't have one but I'd love to be able to find one.Now I just want to add that some of this is documented and some from my own observation.If anybody have or knows of anything different then please just reply to this post.
I hope this comes in handy for those who are trying to identifying what model they have have.
Thanks for taking a look.

What features did this mustang s have ?

Well basically it looked like a VC-sports,but with the VC-Mustang S on the cowl.You can see a thread here on that vccomm had called, the odd vc !
Here are some pictures he put up on it.




Not many around so I'm hoping that I will be able to locate one as I'm trying to end up with the entire VC range.

OK just thought I would add some more photos up here now I have a VC-Mustang-S.To add to the ID process if needed by a member down the line.

All five in this picture as well as the next two pictures.
From right to left. VC-Mustang Mark I Red & Green.Mark II then Mark III and then on the left the VC-Mustang S.


VC-Mustang Mark I Green and Red.

VC-Mustang Mark II on right Mark III on left.

VC-Mustang Mark III on right and VC-Mustang S on the left.

VC-Mustang S all alone.

That new mustang you found, the series 80, could also be added to this family.

It is a part of the story, showing the shift of the air hose, and corresponding cowl modification.

Yeah maybe but there is one model before that one.I do have it I just haven't put it back together after moving here.It also has the air hose on the other side,but it is the green cowl version.I'm not sure but I still think it could be a series 80 as well.

I'll pull out my papers again, I can't recall fully off the top of my head, but I think the S80 labled did indeed come in white and green, however, I also think there was a right hand throttle Mustang marked S70, i dont know if it carried the VC Mustang sticker or just Mustang though.

I think there was 2 first the green cowled one.Marked as a Mustang and then the whited cowled one which came with the 80 series markings.
The 80 series engine number is 359 006036.So really nothing to do with year there.

OK here is the model I believe was the first model after the VC was dropped from the range.
These possibly could have also been made in the 1980's.One thing that might be true is the engine number which is 139616.As the engine numbers in the 1980's really didn't make any sense at all.
Here it is.I quickly put it together tonight.
So it doesn't run yet (that I know of)


As you can see it has a different base to the earlier VC-Mustangs.It appears to have been the same cast as the auto-drives (self propelled),just without the gearbox section not cut out.

Just a little curious to see it has the remote primer face on the carby but no remote primer.I know that could have been changed,but was it? It is a LM carby.
It certainly opens this side up without the air hose.Much easier to work with.

That engine isn't in the 80's, it's 1979.

So I picked up a VC-SPORT collectors (ME) unicorn this morning in amazing condition:

The 73-74 VC125

How do you get such luck Seanoss, how do you do it?
I wanted that but it had to be in Victoria.
The mark III 125 engine alone is apparently like hens teeth.
Let is know if you get it going and how it sounds. So jealous. Life's unfair.

I have a consolatIon prize that I'm doing up. Two separate neighbours in a row during the 1980s had this 125 mark IV engined model with the G4 carby and used to admire also.

https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...mertone-paint-drama-early-80s-model.html

Seanoss, I'm glad it's gone to someone dedicated like you who'll fully appreciate it.

P & and a big fat S: look at that decal.

I'm not going to lie! I'm very lucky!!! But I am very dedicated to searching and researching! When I say that I mean when I'm not out working on my mowers or reading the manuals, %90 of my time is dedicated to looking though heaps of different market sites. I don't sit and watch TV any more, I put it on and turn the sound almost all of the way down and just research and look for mower stuff. I have also been very thankful to anyone I buy anything off and I guess my enthusiasm and knowledge, especially on 1970's model victas (now), has infected the people I meet and they then pass my information on to other leads.

I'm very serious about restoring and keeping as many 1968-1975 victa utilities and all of the 1970's VC models weather they are Mustangs, Sports or 160's. This is a very big part of why, I think, people who have given me or passed on to me mowers that were their grandfathers and they didn't know what to do with them because they don't want to throw them away but are of no use to them.
As my knowledge of other models (PowerPlus for example) grows I find more and more models that look a bit different or abstract and I just love things that are a bit different. A lot of these retro late 60's to early 80's mowers are pieces of art to me, the older one's are too, I just prefer these other models.....

So I'm lucky but I also spend a lot of time researching meeting people and putting in the hard yards to get the rare stuff I have.

I appreciate your disappointment MF, it happened to me about a month ago. A purple VC-SPORT with catcher $25 but in Tasmania and I contacted the guy just to find out if he could hold it until the next day so my mate could get it and he said no. I offered him $150, but still no.

Thanks MF!!!!!! I had the adrenalin shakes after I finally spoke to the guy I got it off.... It's been a very good day!!!

I also got a mark 4 mustang but couldn't be bothered putting the cowling back on for a photo. I take all of the rare plastic parts on a safer spot when I'm buying these older mowers.

Then the group of manuals from England arrived shortly after I got home.

I also picked up a bitsa 80's series power torque for $10 when I got the white mustang on Wednesday. That night I removed all of the plastic cowling, guards and fuel tank. I covered the fuel inlet to the carby and went to town on it with degreasers and carby cleaner and then washed everything with car was.

I woke up at 6AM and was all anxious waiting to get the VC125, so I put the bitza back together, I replaced the fuel line from the tank to the carby, cleaned the original spark plug that was in it at the wreckers, put some carby cleaner in the spark plug hole with a very very small amount of fresh 2-stroke and turned the engine over a few times and then the same but whilst the mower was on its side to drain the extra fuel and cleaner. I left it for 5 minutes without a spark plug in and then pop the plug back in, put fuel in the tank and 3 goes and it started to cough and splutter and kicked off! Blew some smoke but quickly started running fine. When I got home from picking up the 2 mowers today I decided to mowed my nature strip with this power torque bitsa. Ran like new......

Nice goIng getting the Powertorque back into service. It usually don't take much. Nice Mad Max look to it, not that you will be doing many lawns in post apocalyptic Australia. Maybe a toecutter would be better haha.

I don't think I'll ever fully recover seeing a newby get his hands on my dream mower since 1988 and made in my birth year of 1973. Even the plastic cover looks in the same shape I remember back then.

It was this mower that lead to my username. One of the boys in the family that had the first one I encountered noticed how much attention I gave to their machine and he asked "are you a mower freak?"
That is, madly into mowers. Certainly with the high arch models yes!

So I thought it take a picture of my VC cowlings. I take them off the mowers and keep them inside out of any conditions that could cause any deterioration of their condition.

I have the bases, engines, airfilter assembly's with part codes. Everything for when they are ready for restoration. 2 have damaged but hopefully I'll be able to restore them by the time it comes to it!!!

Gee you've got a tonne of those white ones. VC 125 Zip Start decal is in remarkable near perfect condition.
You should send a picture to ebay seller silensmessor who makes the reproductions. I have sent him one already which he has made some from. I have bought one myself!

All you need is the blue one from the purple base VC Sports and black powerplus one from the 78 self propelled to have all the colour variants.

There's another white one for the very short lived Impala that actually precedes the VC 125 mkIII with a darker green base and there's the blue one from the Victa 125 'powered outboard with it's own decal incorporating a diagram of water waves.

Yep, I need the impala, the blue/purple and I no longer need the black power plus. I won it last night on ebay. The deck has been spray painted green but that's no issue.... I already have a powerplus one but the one I bought is in mint condition.
Im already in contact with the guy who does decals.

Cheers MF I'm glad I have someone on here that is as in love with these retro looking pieces of art!!!

What I haven't posted yet, what i call the jigsaw puzzle, because I wanted to have them all swapped over before I posted it. But here is the jist of it!

I bought 2 mowers from one person and 1 mower from another. The first 2 had a red VC-SPORT engine put on a store brand high arch contessa base. An 80's series corvette engine put on the red VC-SPORT base. I then bought an original contessa engine and cowling put on a 70's series mustang base. In the large collection of mowers I bought 3 weeks ago I have a mint corvette base. So I'm putting these back to their original set up!

Jigsaw puzzle continued. I have all of the parts to complete a really good, contessa, red VC-SPORT, 82-83 corvette and now my powerplus!!! There is more but they aren't ready for posting yet!!!

I didn't think the VC Sports dress cowl fuel tank could fit on the Contessa/Corvette base casting as my measurements suggested the VC Sports tank wouldn't clear the high arch shute. I wanted to use a black 78 Powerplus top and tank on a good 80's Corvette/Corsair base of mine. Your pics say I can.
I needlessly cut the rear of my only black 78 PowerPlus top to fit on my VC 160 bitsa which is worn out in parts. I wanted to move that engine onto the green Corvette base with the proper tank bit thought I couldn't. I no longer have the original tank that comes with the cover!

Love the pic of the brand new series two SPFC Corvette!

Hi Seanoss

Your VC collection looks like it's going well lately, well done ,any chance you can put the engine number
up on this forum here for the newly acquired VC 125 for the records.

I've a couple VC 125 mowers and I just wanted to check the engine codes to see if my 125 motors
are original.


Cheers
Max.

Thanks guys, Max I'll get you those numbers tomorrow mate.

I'll post heaps more jigsaw puzzles that I'm working on but I'm going to wait until I have enough finished to post them on the correct forum as a new thread. I have over 40 mowers, I've lost count. I have so Many good spare engines, cowlings, catchers and carbys and so on and so on... once I finish off some of these I will put it all up!!!

Hi Max, Number: 107731 813

So 3 more arrived this morning!

The consul 2 is sitting on an 83 utility deck. I believe the motor is off a 63-64 Consul 2 model 511 V18 or 64-65 Consul 2 model 521 V23. Serial number is 25 63 80 97. So I'm guessing 1963 build or 66. Unless it's a completely different engine with a consul 2 parts put on it as a bit's and pieces mower. Which the deck definitely show that its had changes made. But it runs, and I love puzzles.....

The powerplus motor sitting on a 70's series deck that's been spray painted at some stage but it looks like they were trying to match an original green. So for the condition of the deck, it's excellent for a VC sport range resto. The serial number on the engine is 369 005567. So I believe this is the 1980 engine.

The other I don't know much about ("YET") but that just leaves me more researching to do, which I really enjoy. But here it is. Serial number 44 77 02 885

G'day Sean

Thanks for the VC 125 number Sean ,I've checked one that I have and it's the same 10 code at the start ,both our VC 125
mowers are 1977.

The Consul 2 motor looks right for 1963 ,just bolted to a later base.

Going by the Powerplus number I would say 1979.

The Waltons mower is made in the 44th week 1977.

I think the Waltons mower may be a little difficult finding a catcher for , a catcher from a 1969 Corvette or Cortina
should fit the Waltons mower.

The 3 mowers you bought Sean look good for the price they were.

Cheers
Max.

But but but but but...how can that be when the G4 carby took over in 1976 as well as the VC 125 being known as a model that only lasted in production for about a year -with two base castings 1973 -74?

The only explanation is the crankcases were replaced sometime in their lives.



That is plausable as well as the dating of the PP for 79.
I managed to get a catcher for that base for $10.00 with a tiny 1cm crack on the lower lip.

Hi Maxee. I'm putting together a strong argument that the formula on this forum isn't right. It makes all of my 1973-74 range mowers engines made in 77 but so far, of the 3 I've checked (with the g3 carbys) 2 of them have 4th digit 7 fith digit 3 and one 7 and 5. I don't think it's just the 4th, I think it's the 4th and 5th!

I've got 3 more to check tomorrow!

Which makes yours 74! Maxee.

Oh, the powerplus is 1980, the engine that is. The consul 2 is an original 63 consul 2 engine. It's sitting on either an 80's model utility or an earlier similar one. But the bump all around the deck is exactly the same model that I put in the picture above.

Must be a pre 81 base as the engine is facing north south, IE: head facing rear. The 81 -on full crank ute base had the engine east west like all side pull full crank engine mowers, to prevent the operator having to start it from the right hand side.

One advantage of the cup start engines was the motor could face the rear or the side and have the pull start facing the rear either way. Not so with the side pull.

G'day Sean and Mf

Yes I had overlooked that the VC 125 mowers have the G3 carby making your mower 1973 and my mower 1974.

The VC 125 code is 107 and VC Sports 160 is 108

With the Powerplus mower I would look for numbers on the head .The Powerplus looks September 1979 to me.



Cheers
Max.

Hey guys, I was hesitant to post the serial numbers because of the confusion around the 1970's codes. I was almost %100 sure I (A "NEWBEE") was going to have to prove that my 73-74 mowers, were in fact, 73-74 mowers.

I am new to collecting these amazing pieces of art, history and an amazing amount of engineering! But I'm not new to researching, working on mowers and determination to get answers!

Im really really happy that you Maxee, expected the reasoning that MF and I put forward about the G3 carbys! I hope you can sit back pretty happy today knowing your VC125 is all original!!! Now, get that mower out of the garden and clean it up! Or at least keep it out of the weather! They are rare!!! To the right collector they are extremely valuable, just ask MF!

Cheers guys, I hope I have helped out a bit!!

Expected was supposed to say accepted! I got heaps of goodies today but I've just sat down after being on the road since 7 this morning. Driving all over the place to pick up some rare mowers and parts.

I am dedicated to this new passion and it's given me more than I could ever give back!!! I love that there is a community of people who are dedicated to saving this piece of history. No matter what era, brand, or type of mower is your own personal passion, there are many many other people out there that love it just as much as you!!!

The people I have met, when I'm off on a long day of driving from one side of the state to the other for just a cowling ( not literally ) have been great to talk to! I have found my passion and enthusiasm for these mowers rubs off on, so far, everyone I talk to about them and what I'm doing with the mowers and when I show people pictures of my collection of mowers, memorabilia and the manuals they just end up remembering seeing their dad mowing the lawns when they were a kid or something similar and it would be hard to find someone over the age of 35 who doesn't have some pleasant memories of being a kid and seeing someone mowing a lawn in the neighbourhood.

Im getting a second wind, so I might go and take 1 or 2 pictures from today's excursions!!!

G'day all seventies Victa enthusiasts

Sounds like your seventies VC Victa Sports mower collection will be complete soon Sean. I think I've
acquired most of the set .

Yeah the VC 125 of mine is under tin ,hasn't deteriorated any more than when I bought it ,no
idea where my other 125 VC is .

Pics of a few Victa mowers I sold .

Cheers
Max

They're all nice mowers maxwestern, but the VC 125 mk 3 is the dream machine for me, especially a 73 build with near mint decal on an undamaged cover!!

Absolutely beautiful machines mate!!! The powerplus is very very nice!!! I love them all actually..... I have the powerplus set-up ready to go, I have the red VC-SPORT set-up ready to go. I see some absolute gold in.those pictures! I don't know if you're keeping them as preservation jobs (I'm doing that with as many of mine that deserve it like the VC125) or restore to new but no matter what, they are awesome..... I'm going to have to hit you up for some colours at some stage Maxee! I'm probably not going to find everything to do my restorations so knowing someone else has the entire machine in original condition will really help if your open to me picking your brain so my restos are at original as possible!!!!

G'day Mf and Sean

Unfortunately I sold all those mowers above years ago , I probably have collected most of them again except
the red VC Mustang and I don't know if I have a Powerplus .

With the paint the only way to get it right is to take a sample to a paint shop that can mix the colour so you get an exact
copy or as close as possible ,unless you can find an off the shelf paint that looks the same colour.

I can put up some pics of the colours if your mowers don't have any good original paint left on them Sean.

I've found my other VC 125 cowl cover ,it's not too bad .

Cheers
Max.

I have no idea why I'm only seeing this now Max but, those are 2 pretty nice cowlings there mate!!!

So this little thread has some rather large holes in it that I have information that will fill at least 1 gap in the Mustang history that I'm trying to put together correctly. But if I can't get my hands on a franchise 78-79 Dial A Code.

Quickly before I present my theory I will also make the call that the mowers official name is Mustang and never VC-Mustang the VC is just the decal.

Here is my theory: there is another model that is considered a store brand and it only appears in a dial a code I have from 75-76 and it clearly shows the V173 Mustang and I have 2 mowers with that decal and 1 V174 VC-SPORT in Green. On this dial a code it shows quite clearly that all of the other mowers bar 1 show the G4 carby quite clearly with a primer showing. So I was wondering if they didn't have an answer at that stage so they used the sneaky "store brand" to see if they could get It to work. One of my 75 Mustangs has the remote primer.

NOW the story about the:
"MYTHICAL PRIMER-LESS CAP"
Now I've heard a bunch of stories about the failed primerless cap on the first G4 carbys. Now I really don't think a company as big as victa in the mid 70's would put into production a carby cap that was a failure. I think they would have tested everything going into production to the enth degree. Now yes the G4 and LM carburettors needed tweeking but they never had failures. So they had to quickly get remote primers for the next release of the mustang (probably the flagship mower at the time) so they released it in a very shifty way.

Now I believe they did this again in 78-79 but I have no proof. Because there is one other Mustang that doesn't fit into the part reference guides i have but it exists! It's the first time the the throttle cable and air hose came out over the arch through a tear drop shaped hole in the cowling and the cowling was green like the previous Mustangs but a different decal and the deck was still the same as the previous Mustangs. So the next group of pictures are of the mystery Mustang and the one that officially comes out on the parts list.