VCH.

[Leslie.Ore]

Guy called Mark Lawson on Ariel Motorcycle Group on facebook.

My father in law has this factory race bike our friend had it since the 1960 got running for one flattrack event has magnesium cases aluminum cylinder with extra bolts have heard it's one of 20

[adrie.degraaff]

have heard it's one of 20

They started at 100 so that is making it number 128 but most important is a picture of the rear frame and that number.

[nevhunter]

The fitting around the rear axle is quite different to the standard frame. I'm not sure if there's one to view on file. The number should be COM XXX. That oil tank is from a colt. They fit straight on but are more bulged out .Nev

[john.mitchell]

I used to have a VCH and in Feb 2003 I was able to help a bit with the very comprehensive series of articles produced for Cheval by Club member and Ariel off road fanatic, Ralf Arvidsson. Unfortunately it was before moved to transfer files by .pdf so they are not available on the Club Cheval online repositary. However, I attach a relevant page

[will_curry]

John,

There are eight articles by Ralf in the Knowledgebase on the VCH which may be enlightening.

Will.

[tony.barnett]

Mark Lawson is (was) a member of the Selly Oak Branch.

[nevhunter]

The earlier one (probably straight from the OH although it may be slightly beefed up,) achieves the shortening of the wheelbase where the rear wheel is noticeably up close to the gearbox, so the adjuster then protrudes through the original rear alloy mudguard.
The later fitting perhaps is less forward by a smidgen, but raises the frame giving a bit more ground clearance as the diagram shows. Some advertising references claim shorter and higher but I know of no actual figures given in brochures. . The rear wheel rim is a WM3 originally which with the corresponding 400 Trials universal tyre gives a bit more ground clearance but the revised frame is more effective. Another extra difference is having a lug to mount the muffler at an angle.
Thanks for the diagrams and illustrations I've never see them before
While we are at it, I'm told the rear stand is fabricated from steel tube. Does anyone have details of this part? and are there any pictures of one with a CP box . The advertising distinctly says it's suitable for trials and scrambles and is an. order option, as is a GP carb and higher compression ratio pistons.
Also due to a large offset in the pushrod alignment in the earlier magnesium (lelectron)"roundbase" engines the Later wide cam and followers will NOT fit in the earlier motor. They will fit in the later VHA based motor of course. The head will not swap either. The pushrod tubes are too misaligned. unless you indulged in some horrible "monstering" of the parts. Nev,

[ralfarvid]

Single lobe camshaft with followers can be fitted to the magnesium crankcase with some grinding in one of the pushrod holes in the crankcase.

[Roger Gwynn]

1949 VCH production stared at CO101 and ended at 159, which makes 159-101+1=59 as the numbers are inclusive. However there are 4 blank entries although one of those appears in the 1950 listing and there is an 'engine only' entry. To confuse things this engine only entry is listed as a complete bike in 1950! Total bikes for 1949 is 56, 18 of which had CP gearboxes.

1950 production numbers continue and overlap with 1949 and run from 160 to 215 with 1 blank entry and i engine only = 54, 6 with CP 'boxes.

1951 continues the numbers as before and runs from 205 to 292, there are 3 blank entries plus CO 300 as engine only = 85 bikes, 3 with CP 'boxes

Total VCH production therefore was 198.

[nevhunter]

When was the square based engine introduced? Do you have the numbers for those? Also the "status" of the sprung frame. Was it any different from the standard road frame.. Nev