Anyone have an idea of how many HT3`s were built?

Don Morley's book suggests that it was "suspected" that not more than 40 were built and just under 460 HT5's.

Don Morley's book suggests that it was "suspected" that not more than 40 were built and just under 460 HT5's.

Thanks, yes, I`ve got Morley`s book but wasn`t sure if numbers were accurate?

I guess the Ariel owners club may hold the records or copies of them.Whatever HT3's must be pretty rare now,probably more replicas than real ones ?

Edited September 29, 201015 yr by jon v8

probably more replicas than real ones ?

Isn't that the case with most "British Trials bikes"

Isn't that the case with most "British Trials bikes"

Think you are right,the petrol tank and timing cover are probably the only real HT5 bits on my HT.......

Hi all, there were 66 HT3's made 2 of which were works bikes according to the Ariel Owners Club. There are 29 still on their register. I own one (photos in the TC garage). The reason there were so few made is because they were exactly the same price as the HT5 so why would you but the 350 when you could have the 500?

Interesting comment about getting a 350 or 500 for the same price.Reason for saying this is that most people seem to go to alot of effort calming the 500 down - maybe they would have been better off with the 350 ?

Hi Guy's

66 is the right number.

When I did my apprenticeship a long time ago, One of the guy's at work had a brand new HT3. In-fact all the guy's bar one had four stroke trials bikes and this is how I got into the game originally. If you started work at Youngs Garage in Banbury on the agricultural side, you ended up riding a trials bike. There was more work done on these bikes, than there was working on tractors. Happy Days.

Anyway back to the plot, Roy Steel's Ariel HT3 was used on most practise sesions, So I got to ride it quite a lot. He got criticized for not buying a HT5 for as has been said there was not that much difference in the price. Roy always said he had made the right choice, and it is not until now owning a few HT5's that I think he was right, because the power was always that bit softer, and I think found more grip.

If Sam had have rode one,there would have been a lot more sold. Incidentally the HT 3 had the single sided 7inch front BSA type brake fitted as standard.

Regards Charlie.