Everywhere on this fantastic motorcycle, there are details that stand out and command a second look! From the deep luster of the polished alloy engine covers, to the chromed brightwork and custom exhaust pipes, the bike oozes an unmatched build quality.
Story & photos by Royce Rumsey, Moto/ology Contributor.
In late 50’s “Beat Generation” parlance, “hip” and “square” were mutually exclusive terms. An entity could be hip or square, but it couldn’t be both. That is, except for the Wirth family’s magnificent 1957 Ariel Square Four motorcycle – a Square that is decidedly very, very hip.
The 1957 Wirth “Square” is a prime example of the 4th and final generation of Square Fours, one of the 3828 produced Mark II’s sporting “four pipe” SU-carbed 997cc 40 hp engine with its separate barrels, re-designed cylinder head and signature four individual exhaust pipes sprouting from two cast-aluminum manifolds. Owing to all this, it was an honest 100mph bike… and this one is even faster now.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Officer Jon Wirth witnessed this particular ’57 Square Four fire up at the legendary Ascot Speedway in 1962 and after a six-month pursuit, he purchased the bike in 1963.
“That was the beginning of a 50-year love affair. Dad rode this bike to work as a daily driver when he was an Orange County Sheriff. On weekends, he cruised the bike as part of the “Peacemakers” –the law enforcement motorcycle club back in the turbulent 1960s.” son Scott Wirth informs. And Jon Wirth’s ’57 Ariel Square Four has faithfully remained with the Wirth family ever since.
Before Jon’s passing, Scott undertook a concours award-winning re-creation/restoration of the family patron’s prized bike in 2019. Scott felt that the Square Four “needed to be lightened up with some bobbing and trimming to cut the visual weight and give it some elegance–to enhance the lines of its potential hot rod silhouette. We wanted to shape it using the fashion and quality of build that they would have done back in that era. Completed exclusively with Ariel parts or authentic parts from the period, this is the bike that Ariel should have built as a ‘sport bike’ option in 1957.”
Working with Bakersfield boys Eddie Reynolds and “Squeek” Bell along with Thomas Harper of Harper’s Garage, the multiple show award-winning 1957 Wirth Ariel Square Four is very much a period-correct ‘bobber’ reflecting its late 50s heritage.
The results of this elegant and sporting build were immediate as the Wirth Family’s ’57 Ariel Square Four won the Best of Show at the El Camino Vintage Motorcycle Show, 2019 in Torrance, CA as well as the People’s Choice Award in the Bobbers and Choppers Class at the El Camino Vintage Motorcycle Show, 2019 in Torrance, California.
The Lyon Air Museum decided to create a world-class motorcycle show of historic bikes for its annual summer exhibit, simply titled “The Motorcycles”. After informing the Museum of the possible availability of the Wirth Ariel Square Four for the show, it was immediately and enthusiastically included in what now is considered one of the most notable motorcycle groupings ever displayed.
Presented here is a documentation of the Wirth Ariel Square Four when it arrived at the Museum along with all three of the Wirth siblings (Scott, Troy and Casey)—honoring their father’s memory with his world-class motorcycle. And deservedly so.
The Wirth’s magnificent Ariel is replete with iconic modifications popular of the time and type–executed by the most renowned of resources. Here’s some of the items and a shout-out to those responsible for this iconic build:
- 1953 Ariel Front Forks.
- 1953 Ariel Headlight with underslung pilot light.
- 1948 Ariel Panel Tank with rubber pads removed.
- 4-into-4 Exhaust reworked and made from original
Ariel factory exhaust pipes by Thomas Harper.
- Single Seat Conversion by Thomas Harper.
- Vintage Borrani Shouldered Rims.
- Paint: Sir Boris Landoff/Cal Cycle, Costa Mesa
- Pinstriping: Phil Whetstone, Costa Mesa
- Polishing: Dean’s Polishing, Stanton
- Chrome: Supreme Plating, Inglewood
- CAD Plating: Fine Quality Metal Finishing, Long Beach
- Powder Coating: Embee, Santa Ana
- Wheel Lacing & Spokes: Buchanan’s, Azusa
- Tyre Mounting: Wheel Works, Garden Grove
- Engine Machining: Engine Supply, Santa Ana