Ardie Motorcycle History
Nurnberg, Germany 1919-1958
The first 305cc two-stroke
motorcycles had round and red gas tanks, so they were nicknamed "Minimaxes"
after a fire extinguisher brand. Later they built 348cc two-strokers. 1922
the man who founded the Ardie factory, Arno Dietrich, died during a test
ride. In the middle of the twenties they switched to 347cc-990cc JAP engines
(see ardie347 jpg), among them 347, 498 and 990 V-2-ohv racing models.
Drivers like Georg Thumshirn, Darl Dobberkau and Gerd in der Elst were
very successful with Ardie racers. Many models with own and Sachs, Sturmey-Archer,
Bark and Kuchen 123, 173, 198 and 500cc engines were built in the following
years.
After World War II the factory built motorcycles with their own cross-flow
two-stroke engines designed by Dr. Noack with displacements of 124, 172,
194, 246 and 344 cc. The larger engines were twn cylinder parallel two-strokes.
Some of these engines were supplied to other manufacturers, including the
Swedish Monark factory. In the final years Ardie
belonged to the Durkopp factory.
Much of the information above courtesy Hartmut Schouwer
Sources
Extract from
FIAT FINAL REPORT NO. 654
29 March 1946
THE GERMAN MOTORCYCLE INDUSTRY SINCE 1938 BY S. du PONT
Joint Intelligence Objectives Agency
5. 'Ardie Werke A.G. Nurnberg'.
'In 1938 the Ardie Company listed 12 models in their line. These
included three l00 c.c. models, four 125 c.c. models, four 200 c.c. models.
The Ardie plant has been practically bombed out and catalogues and drawings
of old models were not available. There was particular difficulty
in obtaining the information wanted at this factory due to the disorganised
condition here.'
'Each year after 1938 the number of models was decreased until the
line in 1942 included only two items, a 125 c.c. motorcycle and a 125 c.c.
stationary motor.'
'Model VF 125 has displacement of 123 c.c. two stroke with flat top
piston in an aluminium cylinder, unit power plant. The clutch is
placed on the engine drive shaft. A D.C. Noris generator is placed on the
other end of the crankshaft and a battery is supplied.'
Found in the archives of the British
Twostroke Club
Ardie Logos
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