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- Oct 7, 2005
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In the September issue of Motor Sport (UK Magazine) there was mention of a 1964 1.5L V-12 air-cooled engine used in a Lotus 23 race car. According to the report it was made from "six Ariel V-twin motorcycle engines nailed together".
I was in the industry at the time, and I sure don't remember an Ariel 250cc V-twin. Does anyone else? The only Ariel 250 I remember was the Leader/Arrow 2-stroke parallel twin. At that time, Ariel was on its last legs as a company, having failed to capitalize on the Arrow/Leader concept and not having anything else competitive.
The last hurrah was an in-line 600 cc 4-cylinder engine that was to be laid on its side in an extended-wheelbase Leader-style frame. Unfortunately, the first test engine could only produce 25 horsepower and the project had burned up all the development capital. It may have been the cause of Ariel's demise.
I was in the industry at the time, and I sure don't remember an Ariel 250cc V-twin. Does anyone else? The only Ariel 250 I remember was the Leader/Arrow 2-stroke parallel twin. At that time, Ariel was on its last legs as a company, having failed to capitalize on the Arrow/Leader concept and not having anything else competitive.
The last hurrah was an in-line 600 cc 4-cylinder engine that was to be laid on its side in an extended-wheelbase Leader-style frame. Unfortunately, the first test engine could only produce 25 horsepower and the project had burned up all the development capital. It may have been the cause of Ariel's demise.