Astoria Motorcycles, Milano

Astoria existed both pre-war and post-war.

1. Made in Italy, 1934-1936 fitted with Ajax 250 and 500 cc engines, and in 1935 with engines of their own manufacture.
2. Made in Italy 1947-58, some models were fitted with a 498 cc OHV engine and others with Villiers two-strokes.

There was also an Astoria made in Germany 1923-25 - see Disambiguation

A Brief History of the Italian Marque

Astoria was founded by Virginio Fieschi, a well-known rider who in the twenties raced Ardea, Borgo, Fongri, Douglas, Motosacoche, BSA, Sunbeam, Miller, Garelli, Moto Guzzi, and Rudge motorcycles.

Fieschi built his first motorcycle in 1925 on which he competed and won races in Galliate and Milan.

Production of the Milanese brand, based at via Coni Zugna, developed in two distinct time periods, initially from 1934 to 1936 when motorcycles were built using AJS engines with Burman boxes and sold in Italy under the Ajax brand in displacements of 250cc and 500cc. Alfredo Bianchi was involved, and it is believed he was associated with Arturo Rognoni in this venture.

With the arrival of the autarkic laws (import restrictions) Virginio Fieschi, owner of Astoria, in 1935 built his own 500cc engine, the first to adopt coil valve springs, offering machines in Turismo and Sport versions.

A year later the company ceased production, but reappeared in 1947 ¹ in Via Pellegrino Rossi in Milan, with Fieschi still at the helm.

The first post-war motorcycles were 500cc singles, joined in 1950 by a 125cc Villiers-powered machine. Subsequently light motorcycles of 125, 150, 160, 175 and 200 cc were produced with engines manufactured in-house and designed by Alfredo Bianchi. These engines were also sold to various manufacturers including Aldbert, Baroni, Frisoni, Nettunia, and Taurus.

Most of the engines were two-strokes, an interesting exception being a SOHC 175 produced in two versions. There are reports of other four-strokes; a 175cc OHV in 1954, a 169cc in both ohv and ohc versions in 1955, and a new 175cc fourstroke in 1957.

They also built a small motocarro (three-wheeler) of 50 cc.

Production ended in 1957.

Sources: Moto di Lombardia, Giorgio Pozzi, et al.

Notes
1. Another source says post-war production resumed in 1950 and ended in 1958.

(Thanks to Giorgio Pozzi, owner of an Astoria 160cc two-stroke, for some of the information above )

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My name is Giorgio Pozzi and lived in Milano. I have much become fond of story above all Italian motorcycle. Compliments for the beautiful site for the Italian bikes. I write you to give you some useful news. You excuse me for my bad English. Astoria (1947-1958) were designed and produced in Milan by ex-racer Virginio Fieschi with the collaboration of Alfredo Bianchi, planner of engines for Parilla and Aermacchi, built nice two stroke 160 cc and ohv singles from 124 to 246 cc. Produced also an ohc 174 cc and a twin cylinder 500. The Astoria used also Villiers engines for a model produced in 1950 only.
-- Giorgio Pozzi -- giorgio.c.pozzi at libero.it

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