Massimo collects Italian classic bikes of the 50's & 60's. Last year, visiting Terni in central Italy (Umbria region) to see two old Gilera motorcycles he bought this 350 cc Ariel single. Massimo wanted to
sell it to purchase a Parilla 175, and consequently his friend Nicola IlGordo was enlisted to help sell it on Car & Classic.
It was for sale at a good price, and after many, many emails and exchanges of pictures between myself & Nicola, I decided to buy my first Ariel single.
It was for sale at a good price, and after many, many emails and exchanges of pictures between myself & Nicola, I decided to buy my first Ariel single.
Thanks to Massimo & Nicola I was able to see the Italian registration papers for the Ariel and this picture, from 1953, shows the previous owner (the only one before Massimo) with his son on the Ariel. The previous owner died two years ago (in 2014) and his son decided
to sell it.
So what have we bought?
The previous owner was clearly not the first owner of the bike because, as keen Arielisti will have spotted, this is a fine, civilianised example of Ariel's war horse, the W/NG. A few key features: It has the field stand lug, the kickstart clip, the two tool boxes and the downward bend in the frame tubes that distinguish the military bike from the civilian NG; moreover the engine, frame and gearbox numbers all point to W/NG - we will have to wait and see what gear ratios it has. Other details include the unplated exhaust and the military gear lever.Here it is emerging from the garage. Nicola's father is attempting to get it running again:
Out in the Tuscan sunshine, looking like a straight, well cared for and rather original W/NG, dressed up to look like an Italian bike from the 1950's.
So is there much wrong?
That's an Indian reproduction headlamp. It's very shiny, and the switch doesn't have the 'tail only' position that a military bike should have, and it may be the 7" version rather than the flat glass DU42 6 1/2" version in use during the war (it is actually an Indian copy of the MU42 domed glass 6 1/2" version, and quite a good copy too); the S443M military speedo is also missing - hardly surprising as it's miles would have been rather useless measuring Italian kilometres; or maybe it was broken:
Here's a view of the engine. A few observations:
- Float bowl is on the wrong side of the correct Amal 275 carburetter
- Oil pipe appears to have a gauge connection. Correct to the parts list, but why?
- no fuel pipe - should be a solid copper pipe
- Looks very clean. Maybe there is no oil in it!
- Altette horn, angled horn bracket and the bracket spanning the engine plates are missing
Domed cap says repro as well:
This is the SQ4 tank cap, showing what they are supposed to look like:
More general views. Non-standard knee rubbers - 1940 bikes have standard Ariel knee rubber arrangements, 1944 bikes have none. What is this?
Original rear mudguard and unusual rack with pillion seat lugs:
Original seat, mudguard stays & saddle; odd looking rack & rear number plate; dummy star washer missing from forks on this side; the lower chain guard is missing (but I happen to have one in stock):
Original Ariel forks, with correct length side plates & steering damper. Later handlebar clamps, presumably still for 1" bars so should have packing pieces:
Original field stand! Original cable clips! Look at the blue pinstripe on the silver wheels. Why was it painted like this?
Original toolboxes with odd fasteners keeping them closed. Is there anything inside I wonder?
Original front mudguard; speedo drive still there:
Provenance
The numbers all add up to a late 1942 W/NG. The details are:- Frame: XG 31708
- Engine: BH 20968
- Gearbox: XICPBL96343
The registration book, with two renewals, is dated July 1960 and shows the bike sold by the ARAR, of which more later. Clearly the same bike - same registration, frame number etc., and even the tyre sizes are correct:
Secondly, I have the registration from the Automobile Club d'Italia licensing the bike to Sr. Gatti, from August 1950.
So why is it painted like that?
There are a few features which make me curious about this bike:- the red paint on the frame has been professionally done
- the wheels have silver paint with blue lining; both match
- the silencer has an odd, restrictive cap
- the carrier looks like it was professionally fitted, but is not the carrier normally found on a W/NG
Now, this is either an enthusiastic owner from the past with a tired W/NG and a picture of a Red Hunter, or there is more to it. I will ask the Italian AOMCC and see where we go from there.
But how do I leave it? If it something special I will leave it; I rather like the idea of a demilitarized military bike, but it would look the part for '40's weekend in green...
But how do I leave it? If it something special I will leave it; I rather like the idea of a demilitarized military bike, but it would look the part for '40's weekend in green...
So what's next?
First thing is to get it checked out by the Machine Registrar and AOMCC Archivist, and then we can start the registration process; then we need to sort out some parts & do some work:- A kick start from AOMCC Singles Spares
- A petrol pipe, flexible from stock initially, then a copper one
- Buy a horn bracket and fit the spare horn
- Fit the chain guard I have in stock
- Fit the spare VRLA battery I have in stock
- Have a look at the footrests and see what needs doing
- Find a bicycle speedo until a chronometric turns up, then buy a cable from Johnson Cables
- Have a look at the tyres and see what I want to replace them with
- Get a dummy star washers for the LHS damper
- Sort out the tool box knobs
- Sort out the regulator shield, and get one for the SQ4
- Think about the handlebars and levers
- Think about a pillion seat
Of course, some of these things are essential, and some will not get done for years. The main thing is to get it going, and spend some time blatting about Norfolk. The fun will begin when it arrives next week!
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