Hello everyone,

I am restoring an original Ariel W/NG and I am hoping someone may be able to help with its history.

Frame number: XG48500
I am trying to restore the motorcycle as accurately as possible and would love to identify its original War Department census number, contract details, dispatch date, or any other factory or military records that may still exist.

I understand that some Ariel dispatch ledgers and contract records have survived, so I was wondering if anyone has access to information for frame XG48500, or knows where I could look.

Even information about nearby frame numbers or motorcycles from the same contract would be extremely helpful.

Many thanks in advance for any assistance.

Kind regards,

Marcel
The Netherlands

email (option): Brievenbusmarcel@gmail.com

The Ariel W/NG with frame number XG48500 and engine number BH36245 left the Ariel factory on March 30th 1944. Its census number was C5491650. It was built under contract S/4554, which was a contract for 4.000 motorcycles.

Here are two WW2 colour (!) photographs (stills actually) showing a sister bike with a close census number:




And another sister bike, during the liberation of The Netherlands (I think...):

email (option): wd.register@gmail.com

Hello Marcel
Frame 48500 was the 1250th bike from 4000 under contract S4554 which were delivered from Jan-July 1944. Tank census number is C5491650.

Ron

Ha Ha Typing with Jan

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Thank you both for this information! I'm very surprised and happy this information is all still known and available.

Thanks again,
Marcel

Not much in the factory despatch book -
Engine BH36245, tab ( works number)1226, tyres A.S. (Avon Supreme), despatch date 30th March 1944. that's it.
Cheers, Mick.

email (option): 1963mickholmes@gmail.com

Does anyone have a picture of an Avon tyre in wartime use on a WD motorcycle ? I don't think I've even seen an advert for them.

Rob has a couple of cropped images on the Norton site of surviving tyres but it's not clear if they're wartime.

Ariel contract plates are available, also stencils for the C numbers.




Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com

Thank you all for the information. I made the stencils myself. You can see the end result in the picture.

But what about these contract plates? I haven’t seen them before. Where were they mounted?

Were there any other numbers, markings, or plates on the Ariels when they left the factory that I might not be aware of?

Best regards,
Marcel

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email (option): Brievenbusmarcel@gmail.com

Marcel I'm unable to post a picture or even the link now, So I've emailed you. Ron

email (option): ronpier@talk21.com

Here's a picture, for the later ones, they were on the rear mudguard.

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Cheers,

Lex

email (option): welbike@outlook.com