GZ 4987

[StevieMac]

Hi folks. I found this photo whilst clearing out my late father's possessions. I remember growing up dad telling me he owned a 350 Ariel red hunter so presume this is it.

The registration number GZ 4987 shown was issued in Belfast circa 1942 which would fit as dad said he owned it before he was married (1955) and I'm from Northern Ireland.

Just for sentimental reasons if anyone can add anything regarding details of the bike (does it still exist /what modifications you can see etc) I'd be very grateful.

Thank you
Stevie

[Roger Gwynn]

GZ is a Belfast number 1942-47. Cannot tell a great deal about the bike except the mudguards are not the original and the tank doesn't have an instrumnet panel making it probably a W/NG military machine and an early one at that as it has tank badges that were dropped fairly early on.
I suspect a 1941-42 W/NG, sold of just after the war, possible missing mudguards etc

[Simon.Gardiner]

I thought it might have been a 1939/40 civilian bike that had hung around a while before being road registered but one of those would have had an instrument panel on the tank - which would also have had a lot of chrome-plate showing and I can't see any of that, although there does look to be a very nice but of lining to make a panel around the badge! So I think I generally agree with Roger.

No chain guards, no rear stand and what look to be aftermarket alloy mudguards (with the rear number plate attached at an angle). But when did alloy mudguards become generally available, I didn't think that happened until the 1960s??

SG

[adrie.degraaff]

It could be a mix, the crankcase is looking like 1952-3 and the sidestand could be Ariel.

[adrie.degraaff]

This Ariel was at Kempton park and close to the photo,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW3Lpy5F3mI

[Roger Gwynn]

@ 9 mins

[Simon.Gardiner]

This Ariel was at Kempton park and close to the photo,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW3Lpy5F3mI

Close...but it's a 500!

SG

[StevieMac]

Thank you all for your contributions. Dad was of the generation who didn't pay someone to do anything he could do himself. And there wasn't much he couldn't do. He was a carpenter by trade but had always wanted to be a mechanic. He had a real talent for fabrication and could make almost anything from what he had lying about. I wouldn't be surprised if he made the mudguards. Or if the bike was a bitsa. He was born in 1934 and had the bike before he was married (1955) placing the photo in the early 50's.

Thank you again folks.
S

Watching the video reinforces what I've found. Bikers are almost all old men now (myself included) . No interest from the younger generations.

[adrie.degraaff]

Strangely young man are interested in building a "boardtracker" from scratsch with some stationary or new Hongarian engine in it.