Hartley Ariel in Auction

[tony.barnett]

Interesting looking Hartley Ariel for sale not far from me. Not a daft price either.

https://richardedmonds.atgportals.net/a ... 550091131d

[Roger Gwynn]

Interesting in that the register has a record of the engine in this bike being fitted to a 1954 KH PRF frame dated July 1981. Whatever this frame is it isn't a PRF one, the number may be hidden under the paint. Comparing it to photos of the bike that it purports to be in Hartley's book, taken in 1952, clearly the engine has changed as well as the petrol tank, front wheel, rear shocks and the strange front engine plates. The photos in Hartley are not large nor especially clear and of course racing machines to have a tendency to be modified over the years. Hartley writes a lot about the achievements but not so much about the machines, the BSA wheel mentioned cannot be the one currently fitted. According to Hartley the bike was built by Peter Ferbrache and the engine tuned by Laurence Hartley and was sold in 1957 to Jimmy Wilde.

[paul.jameson]

The late Mr R Saunders told me that he had scrapped the prf converted frame which came with Peter Ferbrache's 250.

[robert.clark]

Hi all, Just opened the forum today and spotted this thread.

Just to advise I bought the bike today.

I'm very pleased to see Roger's / Paul's comments as they are on very similar lines to my own.
After years of reading the bike's history and gazing at the photos for well over 40 odd years I'm very honoured to have it. From the frame detail in the photos it looks to be the real thing.

On a cautionary note to self - Seeing what is inside the motor will be very interesting. If it has steel flywheels and a decent cam and followers that will be a bonus. Through barrel and head fasteners makes it feel like a good omen. The gearbox ive looked at through a magnifying glass and not sure, it appears to have the Ariel clutch so we will see.

What's next well my initial plan is to get it back to the 1950 spec. in almost every respect, but use petrol. The Hartley story photos are all I can work from. If I can locate the Vic Willoughby article that would help enormously.

Again It feels like an important part of our Ariel history so any input so anything that's available please let me know.

Any comments welcome and I'll keep you posted on the progress.