Sterva & Sterling Motorcycles

Sterling 1952 125cc Scooter by Sterva

Sterva 175cc Scooter by Sterling, c.1952

Sterva Scooter c.1954

Sterva at the Salon, 1954

A Brief History of the Marque

Sterling was founded in 1920 by Nicolas Etienne Cycles
36 Rue voltaire à St Etienne

In the 1920s and 30s the firm built front suspension, and frames suitable for Aubier-Dunne, Chaise and Stainless engines, until 1936. It is suggested that they built complete 100cc BMA machines in this period.

In the post-war years the company was headed by Louis Vallat

Sterva

They built the Sterva scooter in the years 1952-1954 - it had a wraparound body and was powered by SABB engines of 98 and 123cc, and 125 and 175cc Ydral engines.

The Sterva scooter was built under licence in Belgium where it was fitted with a JLO engine and marketed by Van Hauwaert as the Motoretta. The Sterva was also added to the catalogue of Stella of Nantes.

Around ten Sterva scooters are known to have survived.

Junior

In 1954 they introduced the Sterva Junior powered by a 98cc Le Poulain Comet engine. Fitted with 19" wheels, the machine was also marketed by Arliguie as the Silver Star.

Sterling and Sterva Models

1932 Bma 100cc Aubier Dunne
1932 Bma 100cc Chaise
1932 Bma 100cc Stainless
1933 Bma 100cc
1934 Bma 100cc
1935 Bma 100cc
1936 Bma 100cc
Sterling type AKS 1950 98cc Sachs
1952 Cyclomoteur 49cc La Poulain 3 Speed
1952 Cyclomoteur 49cc Vlt Single Speed
1952 Cyclomoteur 49cc Vlt 2 Speed
1952 Sterva 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1952 Sterva 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1953 Vs 70 70cc Lavalette 3 Speed
1953 Sterva 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1953 Sterva 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1953 Sterva Sport Luxe 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1954 Vs standard 70cc Lavalette 3 Speed
1954 Vs Sport 70cc Lavalette 3 Speed
1954 Sterva 70cc
1954 Standard 98cc Comet 2 Speed
1954 Sport 98cc Comet 2 Speed
1954 Sterva 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1954 Sterva 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1954 Sterva Sport Luxe 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1954 Sterva Sport Luxe 175cc
1955 Sd 11 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1955 Sd 11 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1955 Sd 11 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed Abg
1955 Lt 12 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1955 Lt 12 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1955 Lt 12 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed Abg
1955 Gl 13 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1955 Gl 13 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1955 Gl 13 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed Abg
1955 Vt 10 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1955 G 420 48cc Vap g 2 Speed Abg
1955 G 430 48cc Mistral 2 Speed
1955 Standard 98cc Comet 2 Speed
1955 Sport 98cc Comet 2 Speed
1955 Spécial Sport 98cc Comet 2 Speed
1955 Jv 98cc Sachs 3 Speed Sachs
1955 Vs 110cc 100cc Mistral 2 Speed
1955 Jv 4 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1955 Sterva 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1955 Sterva 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1955 Jv 5 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1956 Ut 10 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1956 So 11 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1956 So 11 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1956 So 11 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1956 Lt 12 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1956 Lt 12 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1956 Lt 12 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1956 Gl 13 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1956 Gl 13 48cc Mistral Single Speed
1956 Gl 13 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1956 Gl 330 48cc Mistral 2 Speed
1956 Gl 420 48cc Vap g 2 Speed
1956 Sport 100cc Vap
1956 Vsm 100cc Mistral 2 Speed
1956 Vs Sport 110cc Mistral 2 Speed
1956 Jv7 110cc Vap 3 Speed
1956 Jv 4 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1956 Jv 5 175cc Ydral 4 Speed
1957 So 11 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1957 So 11 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1957 So 11 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1957 Lt 12 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1957 Lt 12 ft 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1957 Lt 12 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1957 Lt 12 ft 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1957 Pog 48cc Itom Single Speed
1957 Tp 24 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1957 Tp 24 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1956 Sp 26 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1957 Sp 26 48cc Vap 55 Single Speed
1957 Gl 330 48cc Mistral 2 Speed
1957 Gl 420 48cc Vap g 2 Speed
1957 Régent 49cc Lavalette
1957 Sport 100cc Vap
1957 100cc Sachs 3 Speed Sachs
1957 Vs Sport 110cc Mistral 2 Speed
1957 Mc 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1958 So 11 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1958 So 11 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1958 Lt 12 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1958 Lt 12 ft 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1958 Lt 12 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1958 Lt 12 ft 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1958 Pog 48cc Itom Single Speed
1958 Tp 24 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1958 Tp 24 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1958 Sp 26 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1958 Sp 26 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1958 Mc 125cc Ydral 4 Speed
1959 So 11 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1959 So 11 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1959 Lt 12 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1959 Lt 12 ft 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1959 Lt 12 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1959 Lt 12 ft 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1959 Pog 48cc Itom Single Speed
1959 Tp 24 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1959 Tp 24 49cc Lavalette Single Speed
1959 Sp 26 48cc Vap 57 Single Speed
1959 Sp 26 49cc Lavalette Single Speed

All engines are two-stroke.

The Sterling firm merged with Cocymo in 1955. The Sterva name was dropped from the range but the Sterling name remained in use until 1959.

Sources: Club Ydral, Motos dans la Loire, moto-collection.org, et al.

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