Post-Listing Update: This Square Four hack did not get any action at the BIN of $39,900.
The Ariel Square Four design goes all the way back to 1931, soon after Edward Turner designed an interesting new four-cylinder motorcycle engine formed from two OHC parallel twins. The design became known as the square four engine, and lent its name to this Ariel motorcycle. This example stands out thanks to the Garrard sidecar – marketed as “The Aristocrat of Sidecars.”
By 1953, the Ariel Square Four had already gone through a few revisions, and was formally known as the Mark II. The Mark II featured a 997 cc engine. Upgrades to the powerplant included separate barrels, a new cylinder head, and four exhaust pipes, which bumped up horsepower to 40. This enabled the Square Four to ‘do the ton’, even with a curb weight of 425 pounds.
This example (VIN: GM650) is probably well known in the sidecar community as it’s been seen at events like the Griffith Park Sidecar Rally, Palos Verdes Concours, and Pebble Beach. The bike was restored with the help of Chuck Walton (who has apprently restored 107 Ariel engines) and it’s claimed to run perfectly. The Garrard sidecar seats two and it matches the Claret Red of the Ariel. CHeck out this listing for more photos that reveal the fold out rear seat and even a drawer in the wooden dashboard of the sidecar.
Find this Ariel/Garrard combination for sale in Santa Monica, California with a BIN of $39,900 or best offer