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August 28, 2013
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Having had the Airfix Ariel Arrow sat on a shelf on and off for 45 years. I finally got round to buying one. As usual, it looks far better than it really is....one day I'll buy one that is dirty and oily but cleans up perfect, hey ho. Also as usual this will be a nice slow restoration, but at least most bits are available, at a price.
Cheers Col
Thats mine top left. The white and blue has been blown over. The gearlever and barrels give an indication of the real condition.
Middle one here.
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
August 24, 2013
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Where is this elephant's graveyard of Ariels?
I've counted twenty of he ones I could plainly see, but those on the right must be same also?
I thought I was a tad odd having 9 or 12 Bantam frames stashed!
Are you saying you bought the wrong one Colin? But there's no 'correct' speed or time allotted for any build, take your time and enjoy it, I always say.
Four now on the road and at least several in bits.
June 15, 2012
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crikey a jess steel of the Ariel world 
D? - D10- D14 Bantams 350 AJS -500 Triumph http://bsanotru.....lfire.com/
July 1, 2018
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Is that an Ariel dealers lost in time or some eccentrics garage?Good luck with the restoration 😁
What's 7/16 in mm again?
August 28, 2013
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Mags - I had 2 to choose from and I think i got the best one but it was 6 of one. Theres going to be a bit of brazing, welding, grp and filler to sort the frame and mudguards as they have a reasonable paint job straight over rust and holes. But it'll all fix. No just saying I live in the hope that one of the bikes I buy to restore will actually look worse than it really is, but then it's be no fun! Theres 35 Arrows, and Leaders in that shed in Leicester. The guy just kept buying them and shoving them in the shed. Now he wants to restore a Kettenkrad as you do, so has sold off his Ariels to allow it. I bought one of 5No 200s that had gone through H&H Auctions as a lot. This photo is looking the other way.
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
August 28, 2013
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Slow progress as usual. But thats two wheels cleaned up and rebuilt with new spokes and rims. Seat needs more work, and the other exhaust pipe needs fitting....
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
June 23, 2013
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Looks more like an Ariel Barrow at the moment! 
1956 D3 running, lights to sort. 7 other bikes in the Barn. 1950 D1 engine now running.
August 28, 2013
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Slight problem with the petrol tank. I was going to use it as it was but spotted a small hole in the filler neck, so had it stripped so I could braze up the 1 tiny hole.....a few more appeared under the paint!
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
October 1, 2011
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Hi Col,
you probably have plenty of parts but I have a lot of Arrow engine parts that I would like to get rid of including crancase and shaft gearbox and clutch etc. Regards Basil.
August 28, 2013
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Hi Basil,
I have most bits now (I hope). But I suspect this won't be the first Arrow/Leader i do! So depending how much you want and what you've got I might be interested - there seems to be two levels of spares with the Arrows, those that the owners have and pass around at decent prices, and those that shops have at a lot higher level.
The good news is I've got hold of a 3 gallon (late model, early were 2.5 gallon), petrol tank at sensible money so the build will start again!
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
October 1, 2011
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Hi Col,
I will take some photo's of what I have and if you pm me your email address I will send the photo's and maybe you make me an offer.
Regards Basil.
August 28, 2013
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Slow progress tracking down missing or bust bits.....which don't cost a fortune. A lot of two steps forward and one back as well. But still enjoying it.
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
April 19, 2018
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That's gonna look great , Col 
Have you joined the Ariel club. They're excellent. Tons of spares as well. ** Please log in to view **
Really looking forward to seeing your progress.
All the best
Stewart
'52 D1 direct lighting plunger; '58 Square Four (project); '55 D3 Battery; '59 D1 direct lighting plunger; '59 Tiger Cub; '60 5TA; '76 FS1-E '97 Honda Sky SGX50.
June 23, 2013
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Yes, I remember seeing them when they were new - British forerunner of the Yamaha RD. Another 'if only' example, I suppose.
1956 D3 running, lights to sort. 7 other bikes in the Barn. 1950 D1 engine now running.
August 28, 2013
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Hi Stewart,
The owners club have been great. They bailed me out with a fork damper and the petrol tank when I was struggling to find serviceable ones. The Facebook group have also been good - 1 guy gifted me a set of 200cc pistons and little ends to replace my knackered ones! All very useful and helpful.
Hi Cocorico,
As you say 'if only'. They had a tube frame version in prototype form when BSA closed them, also a 500cc twin 4 stroke motor that fits the Arrow/Leader frame, and a 700cc flat 4 Leader prototype that looked a bit like a Pan European! The 250cc motor is easy to tune to a safe 100mph bike. Bang on an 2 stroke pump, indicators (wiring is there in the Leader harness), and a functional front brake (TLS conversion is a doddle) and they could have got another 10 years out of it. But then BSA could have done the same to a Bantam.
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
August 28, 2013
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And a little bit further. Knackered threads, duff cranks, and parts off the wrong models has hampered things no end. Bits from 1950s Leader that shouldn't be on a 1965 bike that don't quite work, like the brake arm that locks the forks and the wheel! Painting in the garden has been slow as well waiting for dry weather....
Can't see too many more problems ahead but then theres a bit of welding and a lot more painting to get done.
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
August 28, 2013
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A bit further along. The back mudguard turned out to be a mess of splits and holes which have all been cut out and patched. The front mudguard is some kind of torture device! Two halves held apart by a rubber seal to the forks that also means the holes don't line up. Needs a ratchet strap to force the two bits together....nearly. Getting ever closer to the point where I start with the dating officer and try for an age related plate and V5.
Cheers Col
BSA Bantam D10 so so near, and moved up the list again. FB Falcon 87 reg number applied for. Ariel Arrow now on the go! MZ125 running, Royal Enfield Classic love it, campervan done to tow some of the above! 1.5 Velo LE in bits!
April 19, 2018
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That is looking tremendous, Col! You'll be going back to that crazy shed to get another soon 🙂 Can't wait to see it finished.
'52 D1 direct lighting plunger; '58 Square Four (project); '55 D3 Battery; '59 D1 direct lighting plunger; '59 Tiger Cub; '60 5TA; '76 FS1-E '97 Honda Sky SGX50.
June 23, 2013
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And perhaps hear it? Ah, nostalgia - it's not what it used to be.
1956 D3 running, lights to sort. 7 other bikes in the Barn. 1950 D1 engine now running.
January 2, 2014
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Hi There.
Well done so far, a fantastic restoration. A previous nieghbour of mine had an Ariel Leader ( is that the 250c version ) Looked pretty nippy too. He once told me you could completely strip down the engine of all major components, without removing the engine from the frame. True or false.
look forward seeing the finished item.....
Nick
1950 BSA D1 Plunger 242 UYW
1966 BSA D7 LBF 62 D
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