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Healey 1000/4 yes 1000/4!!

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Rob Glasgow

Rob Glasgow

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I was talking to a friend about the old British motorcycles he used to own as a kid and he mentioned his favorite was an Ariel Square 4. He said it sounded like a Jimmy Diesel when it accelerated and had an unusual crankshaft configuration.
I looked it up and came across a reference to another British bike with the same engine design. A Healey 1000/4 built by the Healey brothers. Different family I assume, but still in keeping with DMH in using an unusual approach to engineering. Anyone seen one? I think they only made about 28 or so.
 

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The Square 4's were known as "Squarials"
 
I first saw a picture of a Squarial (I LIKE THAT!) back in the mid-60s in a Cycle World magazine, but it wasn't until sometime early this Century that I saw one, I think at the Meadowbrook Concours outside of Detroit.

In my very short list of motorcycles I'd like to have/restore, the Ariel Sq-4 would be second only to a Vincent (been hearing that name since about 1958, when my older brother wanted one__they were rare and hard to come by, at least around Detroit, even back then).

Of course, I'd settle for a Norton, but then I'd want to ride it. In today's world, I'd be run-over in no time, so it's best to just keep wanting one, but never actually finding it :cheers:
 
I've never heard of the Healey 1000/4 and I wonder if the engine design is the same as the Ariel square four which had contra-rotating cranks and one cam driven off one crank. I've been told the big problem for the Ariel was rear cylinders overheating, looks like that could have been a problem for the Healey too. Allways wanted a square four.
 
There were a few Ariels around in SoCal when I was growing up. IIRC they had a rep for overheating the rear two cyls and spinning bearings. Maybe that was overcome at some point.

When I was going to Long Beach State, the guy next door to my apartment had a Vincent Black Lightning which was also pretty amazing.
 
From reading about the Healey 1000/4, the Healey brothers bought a bunch of Airel engines after the company folded and modified them to use in their bikes.
 
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