[D]

The first Ariel motor car was a two-cylinder 10 hp model in 1902. The company had been making motor tricycles and quadricycles since 1896. The first tricycle had a 2.25 hp De Dion engine behind the rear axle making it very unstable in certain conditions.

In 1905 the company started producing cars with much larger engines, one series being known as the Ariel-Simplex based on the then current Mercedes.

Post war two models were produced but were not successful and Ariel ceased car production to build motorcycles, which had proved popular since 1918.

Some 700 cars were built.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk