As with all English motorcycles the next years models would have been on display at the previous years Olympia Motorcycle Show in October, so for 1939 Ariel would have had their latest creations on display at the 1938 show. Sadly with the outbreak of WW2 in August 1939 the manufacturers would have been very busy tooling up for war production so if there was an Olympia show for that year there would have been very little on offer. Maybe hope was the positive as everybody believed that the war would be over by Christmas.
But seizing the moment Ariel had 11 different models available for this year, 3 more than in 1936. The Square Four models were now 1000cc with the Standard 4H and the De Luxe 4G, and the 600cc Model 4F was now a OHV model, and not OHC as in 1936. Another new model was the Standard Side Valve 500cc Model VA.
Perhaps the most interesting of designs would have been the Ariel Patented Spring Frame, a plunger rear suspension system offered as an option for most of the new models, obtained by special order from the factory. Did conventionality for the more standard type of frame stand in the way of progress with this new innovation?
Included in the sales catalogue is a nice sectional drawing of the Square Four engine and listings of Ariels 1938 successes. In addition on each page there are etchings of various places of importance to the British Empire or maybe just to Ariel? Places like NZ are reflected with our Parliament Buildings in Wellington, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Canada, and Tower Bridge, London.
Click on the front cover below to see the complete 32 page catalogue.
It is a 7.8M PDF.
Have a look at Ariels evolving over 13 years and compare the differences by clicking on the 2 catalogues below.
1936 Sales Catalogue
1949 Sales Catalogue