Ariel VH500 Red Hunter

Click Here for Full Screen Image - Click Here to Download Image

Val Page’s arrival at Ariel's Selly Oak headquarters triggered an upturn in the factory’s fortunes.

By 1930 Page had re-designed the company’s products which now featured a rear mounted magneto and the soon-to-become familiar timing cover that was to characterise Ariel singles for the next 30 years.

The 1932 sports versions were the first to bear the famous Red Hunter name and under Page's successor, Edward Turner, they were developed into the easily recognised fast and stylish machines which were offered in touring trim, sporting Red Hunter trim, and in competition form with options of twin port heads, single port heads and low or hi-level exhausts.

While the engine remained much the same, throughout the 30s small modifications were made, the most notable being after 1936 when the engines had enclosed valve gear with a separate oil feed to keep them lubricated.

The model offered here is a VH Red Hunter 499cc which comes with a large history file and shows that it was supplied new in January 1937 by P Pike & Co of Exeter. A letter of authenticity and a dating certificate from the Ariel Owner’s Club confirms that it was made in 1936 and was originally a 350cc machine.

Between 1991 and 2006 it was treated to a protracted and very thorough restoration by Ariel specialist Ray Moses of Phocle Workshops with many bills and photographs on file documenting the process. Since the restoration was completed the bike has only covered some 270 miles and is said to be in good running order with a current MOT.

Various improvements have been made to this machine to aid the riding experience and some later components have been added, including a later type gearbox and aluminium rims. With catalogue correct pre-war Red Hunter models now selling in the region of £10,000 - £12,000, this thoroughly sorted machine looks good value at the guide price suggested.