Advice wanted please; Ariel not BSA

[orabanda]

Hi all,

I am being tempted (again!).

I have the opportunity to buy an Ariel 500 single, as follows:

All alloy engine
1941
Plunger frame
Supposed to be one of three to come into Australia

It has been ridden in competition from first purchase; currently sports knobbly tyres, no headlight or front guard, has magdyno (without dyno), and is not running because of "slipped timing".

My questions are:

Is this a rare beast?

What do you think it is worth?

I have a '56 Red Hunter frame (swing arm, with full width hubs), with a '47 350 engine in it, and am considering fitting the 500; would it fit?

Regards,
Richard

[Brian]

A couple of pages that may help (or may not!), the first one being engine numbers from 1926 t0 1965, might help identify the engine.

http://www.australian-ariel-register.com/documents/Ariel_engine_and_frame_prefix_numbers.pdf

The second one the web site of the Australian Ariel register, someone on there may have some more info.

http://www.australian-ariel-register.com/

It would be worth trying to find out some history Richard just in case is it something rare, you never know.

Whats it worth, if its cheap then buy it anyway !

I dont know for sure but if your frame has a 350cc in it already I would say there is a very good chance the 500 would go straight in.

[orabanda]

More info:

Frame:                                S1156
Engine:                                MN228
Gearbox:                            G107AF50
Carby:                                 10119

From the engine no, this is a 1950 machine.





Richard

[tombeau]

That looks great!
Buy it quick before someone else snaps it up!
This is what you really want to hear isn't it?
Cheers,
Iain

[jfligg]

Hi Richard
  I have a friend who is a Ariel Guru.  I will forward your info and see if he knows anything.  Jeff

[chaterlea25]

Hi Richard,
It looks to me like someone has grafted the ultra rare round base barrel onto a standard crankcase
the head may belong with the barrel ??
The VHA's had a forward angled plug like this one , but I believe this top end preeceeds the VHA model
HTH
John O R

[wilko]

They certainly have done some grafting.A round base onto a square case! And not using all base studs.Good find though. Better start looking for the correct cases. Or part exchange money your way for an iron top end.

[*nick*]

beauty!

Richard if you have any more pictures could you please PM me some, i'm building a B33 special is a similar style.

-Nick

[Rocket Racer]

The alloy top end is very pretty, very ZB goldie ish. as previously mentioned otherwise a bitsa motor so not immensely valuable and by the hi/lo footpegs has spent some time as a flat tracker ingesting dust so most likely a tired wee beastie.
But it is pretty and makes a nice special.