The Barry Winter Collection , 1948 Ariel 1,000cc Square Four Mark 4G

• Comprehensively restored 2008-2011
• Third place in Classic Bike magazine's 'Rebuild of the Year' competition 2011
• Used for overseas touring
• Dry stored since 2018
• Requires recommissioning

The four-cylinder motor cycle was the height of most riders' ambition in the pre-war years and many makers failed to produce a satisfactory example. Arguably, the most successful was the very prominent Ariel concern of Birmingham whose 'Square Four', named, of course from the engine design, was a genuine tour de force in the 'thirties. The original, rather fragile, ohc engine was re-designed as a 'thousand' pushrod unit for 1936 and continued in this form in the post-war austerity period when such a machine was a luxury purchase for the very fortunate few, making the fast and smooth 'Squariel' a rare machine today.

The vendor's brother bought this Square Four in the early 1960s and stripped it down. The vendor acquired it in a collection of boxes, which sat in his garage until April 2008. A full restoration was completed in May 2011 (odometer reading post-restoration: 16,436, now 21,326). The engine was overhauled by F J Payne Engineering, with a Morgo oil pump upgrade, the carburettor rebuilt by David Jones, and the magneto by Dave Fisher. A detailed logbook documenting the rebuild, including work and costs, is available in the extensive history file (inspection recommended).

Since completion the Ariel has undertaken numerous overseas trips, including one in August 2011 to the Loire Valley in France to attend a rally at Le Puy Nôtre Dame. The Square Four ran well with no problems. A new wide-type kickstart spring was fitted on return from the holiday and the gearbox topped up with oil/grease mix. In 2011 the Ariel was entered into Classic Bike magazine's 'Rebuild of the Year' competition and was placed third. It was then exhibited at the MCN London Show (Excel Centre), see January 2012 edition of Classic Bike on file for the full report.

In the summer of 2013 the Square Four was used in advertising by the Indian Company 'Metro Shoes', photographs being taken at a session in a London mews. This was reported in the Ariel Club's magazine's December 2013 edition. In September 2017, 'KKO 979' was road tested by Steve Wilson for The Classic MotorCycle magazine and a full report appears in the January 2018 issue with a photograph of the bike on the front cover. In April 2018 the oil was changed, the tank cleaned and new oil filer cartridge fitted. Since then the Ariel has been garage stored, seeing little use. Little should be required by way of recommissioning before it returns to the road. Starting instructions are available. A current V5C document, an old-style continuation logbook, and a substantial quantity of supporting paperwork may be found in the aforementioned file.
Key not required