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JLA855 Square 4

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2026 11:42 pm
by PeterP
My father had about 20 Motor Bikes but his last few were all Ariels and I know the last couple were Square 4’s.
I know he had a 600 Sq4 at the end of WW2 which he drove to the Alps with a friend who then had to operate the throttle by hand from the
pillion half of the way home because the linkage broke. A story he told me several times and I have wondered about the contortions that may have entailed.
He then bought a 1000 in 1947 and built an open top sidecar for it and he took my Mum on a tour of Italy for their honeymoon in it. I was told I was carried in the sidecar with my Mum as a baby but that my arrival provoked its sale so they could buy a car.
I inherited a drawing of it with the sidecar showing its registration JLA855 and I recently decided to check outthe Government registration site and it
showed a new log book had been issued in 2023.
So I am assuming someone still has it. It would be nice to know if it does still exist.
All the Best
Peter Powell
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Re: JLA855 Square 4

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 9:53 am
by Roger Gwynn
There is only one record of JLA 855 on the club's machine register but it is pretty warm. The bike was listed at HJ Pugh's Auction 2/7/2023 but was withdraw. It looks rather good, although without it's chair. I am sure that Pughs won't give you the owner's details but they pass on a message.
https://www.hjpugh.com/catalogue/lot/87 ... s-lot-801/
Good drawing

Re: JLA855 Square 4

Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2026 1:04 pm
by PeterP
Thanks Roger, I have emailed Pugh's and will update thread if I get anything interesting from that.
The drawing is by Richard Bell who was a WW2 Spitfire Pilot close friend and work collegue of my father. He was also an Amateur artist of some reputation specifically for RAF aerial images (sort of appropriate he drew the Ariel) and he had many commissions from RAF squadrons for squadron specific mess room paintings etc.
Many Thanks for your help,
Peter