THE EARLY YEARS (1901-1925)

1901-1902:

The first motorized Ariel two-wheeled Ariel was built in 1901 but not available until 1902.  The first Ariel featured a 211cc Minerva engine producing 1.5hp.  Charles Sangster took control of Ariel in 1902 as well, and would lead Ariel to greatness.  The first Ariel factory was in Bournbrook, Birmingham.

 

Components Ltd had two Ariel divisions in 1902: Ariel Cycle Company & Ariel Motor Company.  The cycle division concentrated on motorcycles, tricycles, & quadricycles while the motor company concentrated on cars.  The first Ariel car was also built in 1902 and featured a two-cylinder 10hp engine.  Ariel Motor Company built 700 cars from 1902-1916 and discontinued cars when they could no longer compete with Morris.  The 1904 Ariel car did have one memorable success as it became the first automobile to ascend Mount Snowdon in Wales.

 

The 1902 Ariel Motorcycle featured a single cylinder 239cc Minerva engine producing 2hp.  Their 1903 engine was a 2.25hp 249cc side-valve single with a worm-gear-driven camshaft mounted behind the vertical cylinder.  In 1910 a new 498cc White & Pope side-valve engine was launched which provided the basis for the Ariel line until 1926.  V-twins with AKD and MAG engines were also available during this period.  The Arielette, a three-speed, two-stroke motorcycle with clutch and kick start, was built during the 1910’s but it was soon shelved due to the onset of the First World War.

 

 

    

The 1903 Ariel (from Jerry Mortimore collection)

 

 

           

The 1904 Ariel (from Jerry Mortimore collection)

 

 

       

From left-to-right:  The 1907, 1908 & 1910 Ariels

 

1914-1918:

During the years of World War I Ariel contributed motorcycles to the war effort but was not a major supplier to the War Department.  Most Ariels were used for dispatch duties and home-front service work.  Photos of Ariel's during WWI are scarce, but we've found two so far: one original photo of a woman in the Woman's Land Army and one showing WWI scouts on patrol.

 

           

From left-to-right:   Woman’s Land Army in WWI;   Scouts on Patrol in WWI;   Post WWI Ariel with Sidecar circa 1914-1915);   A 1914 TT model featuring a White & Poppe 499cc single cylinder side valve engine.

1923-1925:

After WWI, most Ariel's were the like these: 1923 Ariel Sports (above center) and 1925 Ariel Sports 500 (above right), with a 3.5hp side valve engine and 3-speed gearbox. It featured an enclosed-chain primary drive and belt drive to the rear wheel. The valves were widely spaced but were claimed to be 45lbs lighter than it predecessor at 235 lbs. The later 8hp models enjoyed expanding drum brakes, but the earlier Sports featured bicycle front & belt-rim rear brakes. The 3.5hp remained in production until 1925, when the new Val Page-designed singles emerged. In 1924 the Blackburne engine (249cc) was introduced.

 

 

 

From left-to-right:  The 1923 Ariel Sports & 1925 Ariel Sports 500