OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Finding and Swapping For Sale 1970s Impala Hi-Arch: Most Unusual Model on Ebay.

Does anybody know this model? It seems to be on the mid level, sometimes known as store brand base.
That engine cowl is normally on the VC sports/ Mustang type base.

I guess whatever fits, bolt it on, good machine,last for years with a bit of TLC, fit a Rover catcher on it and you can mow till the sun sets

Any of the thumb latch catchers from the power torque series (eg Vortex/ Mustang) will fit on but your Rover solution is a handy option if you can't find any of those without some sort of damage.
The Rover catchers seem much more crack resistant which is a plus for going that way.

Have you seen this model before?

G'day Mowerfreak,

It's not a storebrand - that Impala model is in the 1973 season Victa brochure here: https://www.outdoorking-forum.com.au/forum/u...ALOGUE_-_Victa_1973_Range.html#Post62024

The 1974 and 1975 range brochures show only the Briggs engined 4-stroke version.

At that time, Victa did not yet offer a high arch storebrand model. For example the 'MSAA Craftsman' storebrand catcher model of the time still used the long-lived 'Mayfair' mid-arch base.

Hello GM Gadge and Mowerfreak.

Totally agree with Gadge's comments.
I can't help but think the Impala 2 is more rare than the rare VC125,
(the newer version) introduced in 1974.

The thing is, apart from colour, the Impala 2 seems identical to the
VC125. for the 1974 Range, the VC 125 was upgraded to the Series 70 MK3, and the
Impala 2 was dropped. The Impala 4 remained.

That's for the local market anyway. It should be said that a major market
for Victa was South Africa. I can't help but think the naming of the 'Impala'
was a recognition of that region of the African continent. I'm sure the Impala 2
would have lasted more than a season there.

I think this is one for astute collectors who know their Victas.

-----------------------
Jack

I have learnt something new today. That is yet another alloy thumb latch catcher hi arch base mould I didn't know about.
I assumed the VC125 mark III just used the Mustang/Sports base with the visible step and holes on the arch for the Mustang cowl, fitted with nylon bearing wheels.
The Ebay one shown has had a 160 with G4/LM carburettor set up in place of it's original 125 with G3 carb.
Ball bearing wheels have been added too.
CyberJack, are you saying that the VC125 mark III model effectively took over from the Impala 2 or did a VC 125 with this exact same base and engine cover sell concurrently with the I2?
The intrigue thickens!

I think Victa may have realised their blunder (or maybe ... strategy).
For some time Victa had a single flagship model... but they always
shadowed it with a 125cc model - I guess as an up-sell strategy.

When the VCs were released in 1970, the flagship was the VC160;
the shadow was the VC125.

This strategy seems to have changed with two flagship models in 1974:
The VC Mustang, and VC Sports of 1974 - both 160cc.
It seems obvious that the new VC125 would be the shadow -
given the successful advertising campaigns for the VC mowers.

Because the Impala 2 and the new VC125 were almost identical, it
appears to me that one had to go. The animal was sacrificed.

I might add - out of interest - that the Impala 2 was the first
outing of Victa's new 'race bred' styling - that would be used next
season for the VC Sports and new-styled VC125.
[when you look at the dress cowl in profile, it looks like an automobile].

This is why I think the Impala 2 is a rare beast - it sold for just one
range year, alongside the older-styled VC125.

------------------------
Jack

What I like about this model is it is very distinctive over others and is year specific. No rivet counting required here!!
Another thing I like is it is the first with that cool looking engine cowl that was to be exploited heavily on quite a few models, not the least of which was their flagship domestic model, the self propelled models from 1978.
This represented the debut of their very successful thumb latch catcher era that continued in the professional series, after the domestic mowers changed over to the simple rear flap mounted design.
This was also a time of enormous hype and optimism surrounding the Victa brand. Very ahead of its time really.

I have noticed that that particular Impala 2 is so far from the original shape.
It appears that the only original parts of the mower is the base and dress cowl.That one now has a 160cc engine on it (It should be a 125cc),(also as pointed out) now has a G4 or LM carby not the original G3. Also the handles are from a series 80's mower and I'm assuming must have had holes drilled into it to put the bolts through for them.
As for the other things mentioned the Impala 2 did in-fact have a short release time,from 1972 to 1973.Where as its cousin the VC-125 Mark III was from 1973 to 1974.The bases between the two models were also very different.So much so I can't work out why they would go to the trouble of making a different cast base for a model that wasn't used for very long.The Impala 4 used the same base as the Impala 2 but had a larger hole for the engine.As far as rareness goes they are both very very hard to find it has taken me a very long time to find both models,but yes I would agree with Jack the Impala 2 is a little harder to find.It's just a shame that the one on eBay is so far from it's original state other wise I would have been all over it like fly's.....well you know the rest of it.
Here is a picture of mine Impala 2 before I pulled it down to start restoring it,and the bottom 3 are of one of my VC-125 mark III's.If you look at the bases you should be able to see some differences in the casting of the bases.

So jealous!!
I like the Impala 2 base slightly better as it doesn't have the little step on the hi arch bit to accommodate the fancy green cowl of the Mustang model.
Have you got the original catcher for the Imp 2 or at least a description of what it should look like?
The only two examples of a VC125 mk III I have heard running (and both in 1988 only about a week apart and in the same suburb north of Sydney!!!) had this deep moan to it that set it apart from other Victa 2 strokes ( partly why I am fascinated with them). Has yours got that sound? Does it sputter and pop when it first starts like one did back in early 1988?
EDIT: OMG OMG OMG it even has the white fuel tap!

They both take the same catcher which is the same as the VC-Mustangs had.If you look in the sales brochure you can see that they didn't have the thumb release button for the catcher,but I have never ever seen one that didn't have them.Even in the green-book it has the thumb release button.So I'm not sure as to whether the catchers in the sales brochure were just for show or not,strange how they did that.As it made me think at one time they were different to others,but there not different.
As far as the sound goes I haven't noticed anything different to any other 125 series 70's full crank engine.They all do pop and fart (So to speak) but nothing really different.I guess if one was to listen close they are different sounding than a 160cc.
Oh yes they both have white taps and no I didn't put them on.They both had them.Although both them when they arrived the taps were so dirty I thought they had black ones on.Then when I started cleaning I was surprised. BONUS!!! I thought.

Look, it wouldn't deminish it's desirability one iota if it had the common black bodied fuel tap assembly with orange or yellow tap handle, but I was taken aback by the sight of a white one all the same.
An easy base restoration for that badly worn edge would be to simply replace it with an identical base off the much more ubiquitous green Mustang model and simply swap all the bits from your VC125 across to it.
Have you considered doing that?

I have an orange VC-Sports that I got a few months back and it is exactly the same base.So I'm going to use that base for the VC-125 mark III.It is in much better condition and seeing as I already have that model and this is the second one.That was why I got that one for the base.

I wish you all the best in obtaining matching emerald green hammer tone paint. It might be easier to get a green VC Sports or put up with the mounting holes on the Mustang base.
Back on the Impala 2, it looks like it came with the same hammer tone as the first VCs.
As for the absence of a thumb latch button in illustrations, the only explanation is they hadn't finalised the final points when they took the pictures. Only the shape of the catcher.

Interesting all the small differences in the plastic fuel taps,they all look black when covered in grime.

Not sure if Jack has the patent for the plastic tap,the inventor is George from Noble Park Victoria.

Assignee, Illinois Tool Works Inc. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_Tool_Works

The Patent is in Australia and America.

Bloody Yanks own that too. Any time we come up with something successful, some mob from the Northern hemisphere grabs it. I wonder if ITW sells it in the U.S?
A friend of mine recently decided to pull apart a busted one and was surprised at how complex precise the innwr workings are.

I have seen a lot of this design on American Briggs and Stratton motors used in ride on mowers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Fuel-Cut-Off-Shut-Off-Valve-In-Line-Pet-[Censored]-Lawn-Mower-Riding-Mower-1-4-line-/272284947192?hash=item3f657292f8:g:0gkAAOSw-4BXbWAN

I thought the design was simple it's not like a Desmodromic Valve.

It's not that hard at all to get the paint right.I just take something up to my local paint shop and get them to match it up.It's not hard at all.

Hello Max

That's brilliant research there!
No, I hadn't found that one.

George Austin seems to have been a professional inventor,
with a number of disparate patents to his credit.

Cheers
---------------
Jack

Hello Jack,

I find your research all very educational ,I don't mind sharing some information if it's available.

Yes George had two pages of patents,another one I looked at was a Torque Wrench in 1976.

Regards Max.