Huntmaster NDB746

[IanH]

Hi all. I'm new around here and new to Ariel ownership. I've just bought this huntmaster 650 here in Australia. The previous owner had it for 10yrs without riding it and it still had the english number plates fitted when he got it. He bought it also in Australia but I think never been registered here. The UK registration disc is also on it from '93 and an Ariel club badge bolted to the forks. So I'm hoping someone might remember this bike and some history. Engine number prefix is LM so '55 (which is what I've regoed it as). The frame number is weird though. Its a stamped piece of ally pop rivetted below the steering neck on the right downtube. Prefix N1MPS which doesn't seem to mean anything. I can't imagine its original but its whats there so I had to use it as frame number. The bike itself appears to be mainly '57 - '58 parts so whether it was a complete bike without a motor or totally a bitsa I don't know but I guess to still have english plates fitted it most likely came here as it is. Anyway, it starts easy and rides well enough and puts a smile on my face. What more can I ask.

[Roger Gwynn]

Engine LF 1791 (1955 FH), frame CAPR 11169 (1958 FH), UK reg NDB 746 is listed in the club's machine register in the hands of Brian Shone of Sandbach, Cheshire in January 1978 and George Wakefield of Great Sankey, Lancashire in February 1991. LM is not a valid engine or frame prefix.
The registration is still listed on our authority's database, The DVLA, as not taxed or listed as off the road, which basically means inactive, probably someone has not bothered to tell them that it has been exported. The last document was issued in April 1991, this is usually change of keeper but can be change of address.
George Wakefield was a member from 1991 to 1998.
Ariel did not use VIN plates until the two strokes, the number should be stamped on the left side down tube under the front of the tank. N1MPS doesn't mean anything to me either, DVLA will issue a frame number where the original is missing but the ones I have seen are massive long numbers.
It would be worth contacting Col Hill of the AAR to see if he has any info, although I doubt it as he passes all he knows to me and I do not have any history of this bike in Australia.

[IanH]

Thankyou for the quick reply and great to know some history. How did I get that engine prefix wrong I don't know but yes LF1791 is the number. The frame number is long on this rivetted on piece and I was guessing it must have come from uk with it as without being registered here before now there wouldn't have been a need for a number. The last time I came to england I spent a few days in Cheshire so that brings back memories. On my mothers side my grandmother came from Durham and grand father from Cornwall 100yrs ago but on my Dads side we were convicts. That distant relative went awol from the english army so when they caught up with him he was done for stealing his uniform. Onto the ship you go.