French Motorcycles

Today in Motorcycle History

Aquila Motorcycles, Saint Etienne

Aquilette logo

Founded in 1900 by Claude Meunier at 38 Rue Balay in Saint Etienne. From c.1927 to 1930 they built 175cc two-stroke motorcycles.

In the 1950s their address was 34 Bis Jules Janin, Saint-Etienne where the firm built bicycles and a variety of mopeds using Mistral, ABG VAP, Lavalette, Comet and Himo engines, some of 98 and 110cc but the great majority of 48cc. In 1955/56 they offered six cyclomoteurs under the name Aquilette.

Aquila was bought by Ballis in 1953 and the address became that of the Ballis offices at 3 Rue Palissy. Ballis continued to market the Aquila motorcycles until 1962, the last model being the 48cc Alpino SS.

Sources: encycloduvelo.fr, Motos dans la Loire

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