1960 Norton Ariel 1000 'Arton'
MkI Square Four in a featherbed frame

Registration No: 5276 CR
Frame No: R14 89328
MOT: Exempt

• 'Arton' special built by Bert Bliss in the 1980s
• c.1960 featherbed chassis / c.1949 Square Four engine
• Improved 'Dragonfly' head gasket, supplied with a V5C

There has always been a fine tradition of enthusiasts building bespoke motorcycles with imaginative combinations of engines and frames. The basis for most specials is normally the legendary Norton featherbed frame, with the Triton being the most obvious example of this very British trend. A more unusual combination is to squeeze an Ariel Square Four motor into a Featherbed to build a rare and unusual bike, combining the two names of the donor bikes to create an Arton.

This 'Bliss Arton' was built to a very professional standard in the 1980s by Bert Bliss using a slimline featherbed frame from a Dominator 99 and a c.1949 MkI Square Four 1000cc engine. The frame tubes had to be extended to allow the longer engine and gearbox to be fitted together with alloy rims, TLS front brake and a broad but attractive mix of cycle parts. The primary drive gearing has been raised by 10% to provide a more comfortable cruising speed, a new clutch basket fitted and the notoriously weak head gasket has been replaced with an improved version from Dragonfly Motorcycles. Owned and ridden by the vendor for the last 10 years, he reports it has been a 'fun ride, more for touring'. It is offered with a current V5C.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Cunningham
ian.cunningham@handh.co.uk
07415871189