1940 Ariel 350cc W/NG

Ariel was one of the several British makers that supplied 400,000 motorcycles to the armed forces during World War Two. Two-wheelers had many military roles, from escorting convoys and carrying despatches to performing reconnaissance and police duties. One of the lighter and livelier WW2 machines , the 350cc overhead valve Ariel was basically the company's pre-war NG model but fitted with a competition frame to provide added ground clearance for the rough going that military machines were likely to encounter. Twin toolboxes were fitted to the frame, as were a long prop stand and canvas pannier luggage bags. Chrome plating is minimal, the handgrips are made from cheap webbing and a coat of matt Khaki paint is applied all over. It even covers the tank badges that Ariel fitted to military machines early in the war.The number stencilled on each side of the fuel tank identifies the machine and its depot. The agile W/NG perfomed well in arduous front-line duties and more than 47,500 were issued between 1940 and 1944, some to the Royal Air Force. A number remained is use in parts of Europe and Scandanavia until the late fifties. Some 250cc versions were made for training riders.

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