c1956 Ariel HS 500cc Motorcycle

Description

The Ariel story began with two men, James Starley and William Hillman, who began manufacturing bicycles and associated parts in the late 19th Century before moving on to contrusct a simple quadricycle, with a De Dion engine mounted in the rear. A similar tricycle, albeit with the engine relocated to the front, followed in 1899 and just three years later, Ariel began building two-wheeled machines, powered by Kerry engines. In 1905 the company changed hands, with Charles Sangster taking a controlling interest, and a new model, the lightweight two-stroke Areilette, was introduced. Between the wars the talented Edward Turner joined Ariel and proposed a radical new design, the Square Four, which Sangster's son Jack, by then running the motorcycle arm of the company, approved for production in 1931. The air-cooled, overhead-camshaft Square Four was joined by a more conventional ohv 500cc model in 1932, the Red Hunter series, and together these formed the mainstay of Ariel production well into the 1950s. The Depression saw Ariel sales plummet and the company underwent a dramatic reorganisation, with a rationalised model range lasting until the outbreak of World War Two. Post-war, Ariel began building Red Hunter singles, ohv twins and the Square Four but gradually expanded and modernised the model range as the 1950s unfolded. Ariel also enjoyed success in trials with the 350cc and 500cc HT models with riders like the legendary Sammy Miller and in scrambling with the 500cc HS. Introduced in 1954, the HS had a special duplex frame using Reynolds tubing with a swing-arm rear, pared down for off-road work. The alloy engine was a highly tuned affair with raised compression of 9.1:1, hotter cams and heavy duty valve springs, developing a solid 34 horsepower. Period advertising boldly proclaimed the HS as "built to go" and go it did...