I still have the Snapper 30" RER that my dad bought around 1968. Am on about the 8th or so engine on it. Currently have a Briggs & Stratton 12.5 OHV replacement engine on it that I got from Smallenginewarehouse.com. Has plenty of power and starts very easily with the electric starter. Will keep rebuilding Snappers so when my great grandchildren need a mower, they stop by and pick one up from me.
I just found this thread,so forgive this late reply. It may help some mower people on the fence,as it were. With the tremendous number of the RER Snappers made and a LOT of then still out there, there is aftermarket parts support from a ton of places. Buying one used or fixing your own broken one is just a matter of a few mouse clicks. They are durable and also easy to repair and overall, an outstanding design,way better than anything on the market today. My Snapper is a 33" Extra Tough Hi-Vac from 1984. While I like my ZTR, I wouldn't trade the Snapper for any equal sized mower made today. Most of the time ,I mulch mow, but when I put the rear bagger on, it's unmatched for getting the fallen leaves up. Most parts have been replaced over the years,so you have to point to a part and I may be able to tell the year of that part! :-D