My bike has a singleport head and low level pipe, a model of Red Hunter
which I think never was sold here in Sweden. It was delivered to Jordan
& Co in Hull the 19 of march 1935. see story under how I found my bike.
Top left and right: First owner on his bike.
Bottom left: Wife in saddle.
Bottom right: A friend of the family beside his 1936 Ariel
If anyone who read this has any more information about these pictures. Please
contact me. Mats Berglind
ARIEL History
Ariel started with bicycles for men first adverted in 1871 and in 1874 for
ladies. In 1898 Cycle Components bought Ariel bicycle company and put the
Ariel name on their De Dion powered trike. The engine was placed in front
of the rear axle instead of hanging behind as on most other trikes. The first
two wheeler came in 1901 with a Minerva engine.
In 1905 the first competition success came on Isle of Man this time using
a JAP v-twin. From 1911 they used White & Poppe engines and into the mid twenties.
( see picture of my two engines ).
They also used Blackburne and MAG engines during this years. In 1925 Valentine
Page came to the factory and designed two new engines one 500 ohv and one
557 sv engine and they was used to 1959 with modifications. In early thirties
they changed bore from 81.8 to 86.4 on 500 cc engines but changed back in
1935.
From 1958 Ariel used two strokers in the Leader model up to
the end in 1965. In 1965 BSA took ower and 1970 they used the Ariel name again
on a 50 cc trike to their collapse in 1972.
How I found my bikes
My interest for Ariel Motorcycles started in 1976 when my father i law during
road building in a swamp found what was left of a 1935 Ariel Red Hunter 500
cc very rusty but interesting. It was thrown into the swamp in 1961 by the
third owner, he bought a Volkswagen and was offered 3 pounds for the bike
in exchange. I have been in contact with the third owner and the first owners
wife so I have the whole story of my bike.
The first owner was a student from Finland who graduated in 1935 as a diploma
engineer. He got money to travel and money to buy a bike as a present so the
bike is bought at Jordan & Co Hull England and brought back to Finland,
in 1946 he moved to Stockholm in Sweden and later to Gävle and he used
it to 1953. The second owner lived in Sandviken and used it for a year and
a third owner took over and used it to 1961.
The first owner and his wife used the bike on many long trips. I have got
three photos from his wife from one of these. If anyone recocnize the places
please contact me.
1953
My 1953 VHA 500 cc have served me very well during the
years no problems at all so far. It's painted in wedgewood blue and looks
very nice. It's restored 20 years ago and it's time for a new ovarhaul.
This bike was delivered to AB Allmotor in Örebro Sweden third of
april 1953 and it got a certificate of registration 15 of july 1953
