Ariel 350 WNG Military

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 Ariel's first connection with the War Office post-WW1 was in 1935 when one of the VA side valve models was sent for evaluation.

In September the VA was tested for suitability against the Norton 16H as well as Ariel’s prototype 350cc OHV WNG, the latter model winning most favour in tests both by our own military and the French. In the early stages Ariel supplied a quantity of VA models to the War Office and a quantity of WNG 350cc machines to the French government in 1940. As the war rumbled on, our government also took delivery of many WNG models as well as old stock NH and VH models hastily converted to military specification.

Following the end of the war Ariel, along with other manufacturers, saw the bulk of their machines disposed of by the war office as surplus to peace time requirements, many of them going to civilian dealerships for reconditioning and conversion to civilian duties, while others were supplied to overseas governments, notably the Norwegians for use by that country’s post-war forces.

The machine offered here dates from 1940 but was civilianised after the war and now has black paintwork and has been retro-fitted with superior telescopic front forks, although unusually it still retains its military field stand and military rear racking.

Frame number XG29030 was part of a contract supplied to the Royal Navy and the RAF, being dispatched to the Chilwell Depot where the Royal Army Ordnance Corps were based, although the engine has the prefix R in front of the normal BH which suggests it was destined for RAF rather than army usage.

Currently road taxed and stated to be in good running order, it was acquired by the last owner 15 years ago in a part exchange deal for a Ford Cortina. Supplied with a current V5C and older V5 as well as various old MOTs, its build date now exempts it from further MOT and taxation expense.