The Corvette Series:
In 1963 Victa introduced a new line up, while the early 60�s had seen a move toward having a consistent annual line up, this was the first time we were to see an entire line up released in a single hit, designed to create one range to cover the needs of any domestic user.
The Flagship model of the 1963 line up was the corvette, available either with the 125cc Victa 17E 2-stroke engine, or a 4-stroke Kirby Lauson. The Corvette brought with it something new to Victa, the rear catcher. Whilst the rear catcher was also made available to another of the 1963 lawnmowers, the Commander Super 4, the Corvette was indeed the machine Victa used to introduce this new concept in Victa Mowers.
The 1963 range consisted of the 2 & 4 stroke options of the Corvette, as well as the 2 & 4 stroke options of the Consul, the 2 Stroke Utility, and the Commander Super 4. In this thread, I will detail specifically the Corvette 2, from it�s debut with the model 513 in 1963, through to the final Corvette 2 of the 60�s, the model 563 in 1969.
The corvette was sold as a premium option, with dual folding, quick release handles, for easy access under obstacles, and for quick storage and transport, the top of the line Victa 2-Stroke engine of the day, new sleek looks, easy height adjustment, a decoratively shrouded, easy to use impulse starter, and of course, a rear catcher, something not available on your Victa prior to 1963.
With this model, and the move to the rear catcher, Victa was setting the stage for a change in the way mowers were to look, and over the following decade, the side catcher was phased out into obsolescence. So, let�s take a look at the Corvette�s of the 60�s, I�ll start with the advertising and storyline, then get down to detail on what each model was, what it introduced with it, and all you need to know to have yours restored back to it�s true state in history.