Petrol Tanks

For rocker and oil pressure gauge pipes click here.

Ariels did not usually change parts without a good reason but they did when it came to petrol tanks. After all, we all thought that when we saw a new paint design the whole bike must be totally different from last year’s model and rushed out to buy one, didn’t we?

There is not enough room here to go into all the styles of petrol tank in detail, but briefly: –

1932-50 with triangular instrument panel and enamel badges. The W/NG omitted the panel and most were without the badges. Up to 1946 the speedometer cable entered the tank from the rear (PA type of speedometer); 1947-50 the cable entered the tank directly below the speedometer (Chronometric speedometer). For a further discussion of speedometer types etc., see section 28.
1951-53 plain tank with enamel badges and some with oil pressure gauge. Chrome plating dropped from February 1951 due to nickel shortage caused by the war in Korea as stipulated by The Nickel Prohibited Uses (Ministry of Supply) Order No 1048.
1954-55 (and up to 1958 Square Four) with 2 chrome flutes and round plastic badges except for the VB plunger and rigid versions which have flutes and enamel badges a tank that has confused many people over the years! The SQ4 gained the small filler cap in 1956.
1956 (not SQ 4) has detachable flutes, a small filler cap and chrome badge surrounds
1957-58 (not SQ 4) centre bolt fixing, large chrome centre strip and chrome badge surrounds.

In general, on pre-swinging arm bikes the 250 and 350 models have a small tank without a recess for the nose of the saddle, the larger singles use the same shape but with a recess for the nose of the saddle and the Square Four has a much larger tank altogether, whilst the 500 twin uses a tank that falls between the last two.

Petrol Tanks

We have a few new tanks available as well as handful of secondhand tanks, see our Autojumble section for available items.