Ariel Red Hunter

[NickHunter]

Hi there,
I wonder if someone could help with this.

I have recently found this picture of my late father on his Ariel in the early to mid 1950's.

I wonder if someone could tell me the exact model and year of the bike,? I guess it is too much to hope the bike still exists.

Thanks

Nick

[adrie.degraaff]

The fronthub and forks making it 1947 with 350 RH petroltank but maybe 500 engine.

[brenton.roy]

Hi Nick,
The 20" chrome front rim suggests a Red Hunter. As Adrie writes, it looks to be a 500, with odd, early knee pads. I think the 500 tanks had a balance pipe. So a 1947/8 VH. Great bike.

[NickHunter]

That's great information, thanks very much.
Does anyone recognise the actual bike, could it perhaps still exist ?

Thanks

Nick

[NickHunter]

Another pic showing a little more of the engine, does that help confirm whether a 500 or 350?

Thanks

Nick

[adrie.degraaff]

does that help confirm whether a 500 or 350?

Hi Nick, if you,re scanning the first picture than we can see if the barrelfoot is 20mm (500cc) or 13mm (350).

[NickHunter]

Unfortuntely these are only phone shots of the original photos

[Vincent.vanGinneke]

I think I can count 10 fins on the barrel, 500cc then ?

[brenton.roy]

Yes, I think so Vincent.

[david.anderson]

The rear number plate holder is not 47-48. It appears to be a 1949 or later (but it could also be a generic replacement).
The exhaust clamp is pre 1950
Yokes do not look 47- 48 to me. I tend to think 1949 but photo is not good enough to be certain.
The horn on the bike is positioned as it was from 1949. In 47-48 the horn was on the front engine plates.
The cylinder flange is 1” so 500
The bike is a red hunter as determined by the mudguards.
To me the bike is probably a 1949VH with the 47 front wheel and earlier tank/ knee pads.
With a better resolution photo it would be possible to magnify enough to see the engine no
David