THE LAST YEARS (1946-1970)

 

After World War II, the Red Hunter became Ariel's best-selling bike.  It won more competitive events in trials as well as scrambles and road-racing. The most famous Ariel racer was Sammy Miller who rode a 500 Trials Mount Red Hunter to countless wins through the 1960's.

 

 

     1946 Red Hunter Ad                                                                      1946 Ariel Red Hunter

 

 

The first Ariel Twin was publicized in late-1946 but was not available until late-1947 with the KG500 Deluxe and the KH Red Hunter models.  The Ariel Mk I 4G Square Four was built from 1949-53 and featured twin exhaust pipes rather than the four pipe configuration that was fitted to later models.

 

  

                         1946 Red Hunter                                                                             1948 Mk I 4G Square Four

 

 

The Ariel Fieldmaster & Huntmaster were introduced in 1954, based on a new duplex frame. The 650 Huntmaster featured a BSA A10-derived engine. The final FH Huntmaster was built from 1957-59.

 

   

                                 1955 Fieldmaster                                                                   1957 Huntmaster

 

In 1953 Ariel introduced the Mk II 4G Square Four.  This 1000cc motorcycle included such features as an aluminum alloy cylinder head and four exhaust pipes, one for each cylinder.  The Square Four ceased production in 1959.

 

 

 

 

 

  

                                1955 Square Four Mk II 4G 1000cc                                                       1957 Square Four Mk II 4G

 

The Ariel LH Colt model was built from 1954-59 and was essentially a copy of the BSA C11G model.

  

                         1958 Colt 200                                                                               1959 FH

 

In 1958 the Ariel Leader twin-cylinder two-stroke was launched, effectively ending production of the four-stroke motorcycle production at Selly Oak.  The Leader featured a pressed-steel beam-type frame clothed in attractive bodywork and a windshield & leg shields.  The Ariel Arrow was introduced in 1960 but discontinued in 1964.  The 20hp Ariel Super Sports models were known as the Golden Arrow because of their unique color scheme.  They were released in 1961 to broaden the appeal of the two-stroke twin.

 

           

                                        1959 Leader                                                                               1960 Arrow 250

 

           

                                     1961 Arrow                                                                                1964 Sports Arrow 250

The last production Ariel was a three-wheeled moped built in 1970.