1951 Ariel 4G Square Four 1000cc Classic Motorcycle and NO PAYPAL

1952 Ariel 4G Square 4 Mk 1 1000cc.
Here we have a seventy five year old (younger than me) Ariel 4G Square four built in 1951 and exported from the factory to Japan as a consignment of three machines, this I know by the dating certificate. It then went on to America at some point but returned to the UK in early 2021, the person I bought it off imports American pickups and this machine was apparently in the back of one of the pickups, he obtained a V5c and put it on eBay for auction and the advert stated "believed engine seized" but I did bid and won it.
Collected the bike from edge of Dartmoor and the back wheel was locked, clutch stuck and jammed in gear but managed to get the bike into the van, when I got it home and removed the rear chain, got the gearbox into neutral and engine turned over with ease and compression, big sigh of relief from me and my wallet.
So as we do bike was totally stripped, bagged and labelled along with taking lots of photos the engine and box were stripped down for inspection, gearbox was in good condition just changed bearings and seals and a good clean, engine was also in really good condition inside and out, no broken fins no sign of the head being skimmed bores were on +.020 using Mk 2 pistons, re bore was done in the States I imagine, big ends were good, recut the valve seats and reground the valves, the white metal on the brass main shaft bushes on the timing side was beginning to lift so they were replaced and inline reamed. The engine was rebuilt using the Otto head gaskets and stainless steel studs and nuts as recommended by the Owners Club and following the torque setting procedure to the letter and it paid off big time.
The petrol tank that came with the bike was a Mk 2 and rusted out and beyond repair, so after a fruitless search in the UK I bought an Ariel Mk 1 pattern tank from India (beggars can't be choosers), it had the oil pressure gauge hole and filler, the fixings weren't quite correct but soon fixed but the tank was a little too high so the handle bars could hit the tank so a couple of buttons were added to the stops and worked out fine, the steering lock is reduced but only noticeable when moving the bike around the shed on the road it's fine.
New quality chrome rims and stainless spokes from CWC, distributor rebuilt by the Doctor, Armours supplied exhaust pipes and silencers, chrome was done by Quality Chrome, Speedo rebuilt by Phil Woods, Owners Club Spares were very good source and Drags supplied most of everything else if it was in stock!!!. The paint is done to Leon's usual high standard, this bike was sprayed aix years ago and there is no sign of any rust reappearing that is down to his preparation before paint.
It has the original Solex carb which works fine, you will notice a large air filter on the near side this is a factory fitted filter known as a Colonial Filter, all Ariel machines exported to Far East had one fitted and the export bikes were painted black so I was told. Starting procedure is, when cold switch petrol on and apply full choke, kick engine over three times switch ignition on and set throttle to quarter open and kick it, it will start, when starting from hot/warm, throttle just open and kick it as in the video.
The bike has a rear stand plus a side stand, although the side stand is Ariel I never liked to use it bike didn't sit right, bike is 6 volt +earth and coil ignition with key switch under the seat, not easy to get at so I fitted what looks like a dip switch on the right of the handle bar but it is an ignition cut out switch, both have to on for engine to run. Battery charging is controlled by DVR hidden in the Lucas CVC box. I have fitted a remote oil filter in the return line as advised, it sits behind the gearbox and is easy to get at for changing, filter available from Drags plus other suppliers 1521B-92.
When complete the bike was well used by me over two Summers covering over six hundred miles trouble free miles, it has bags of torque, easy to start hot or cold if you stick to the procedure, oil pressure reads 40psi when you are doing 40mph and on tick over it's 60psi on cold start and 15psi when hot, the oil pump is the standard Ariel pump not SRM high capacity pump and the engine does not wet sump. As an imported bike it has age related number, V5c in my name I also have dating certificate from Owners Club and it is all matching numbers as it left factory. Please be aware the Lucas horn does not work and is only for show, there is a cheap working horn hidden in the toolbox.
It did win Best in Show at Mid Wales Classic bike Show in 2023, purchase and rebuild cost me just over £8500, I have the receipts, the starting price is £6,500 and if doesn't sell I won't be disappointed as it's very pleasant to look at even if it is getting too heavy for me to move around, starting it and riding it isn't a problem.
If you want to view/inspect the bike, sit on it, see if you can start it, just message me you would be welcome anytime, I am near Swansea ten miles from junction 43 M4.
Please look carefully at the video and photos as these form part of the description and as the bike is seventy five years old there is no warranty or guarantee given or implied.
I am not interested in swaps, deals or part ex.
Payment by bank transfer on or before pick preferred but will except cash and I can store the bike for up to two weeks but payment must have been made in full.
Any questions please message me and thank you for looking.