Description
H&H Classic Auction @ National Motorcycle Museum | Solihull, West Midlands
3rd July, 2024 13:00
1967 Bridgestone 350 GTR
Early GTR serial plate number 21Q00115
Estimate
£6, 500 - £7, 500
Registration No: OHN 972E
Frame No: NA1-00128
MOT: Exempt
Extremely rare in the UK 350 Disc Valve Twin
Featured in Classic Bike magazine in June 2017
Supplied with above magazine and a current V5C
Bridgestone is a Japanese company more famous for producing tyres but between 1952 and 1970 they made a range of two stroke powered motorcycles. Like many manufacturers they initially made power assisted bicycles but soon moved on to quite technically advanced products that in some ways were ahead of their time. The high technical specification and quality materials used resulted in the machines being more expensive compared to other contemporary manufacturers with most of the output going to the USA. Production was stopped in 1970 when it was rumored that the other Japanese manufacturers threatened to stop buying tyres from Bridgestone if they continued to be seen as opposition. Very few bikes came to the UK so they are a rare sight at vintage events and rarely come on the market. The 350 GTR was an incredible model in its day, out performing far larger capacity bikes and oozing with quality touches such as grease nipples on the cables, stainless mudguards and reversible foot controls.
This 350 GTR is a well known machine in VJMCC circles having been featured in various magazine articles including one of Classic Bike magazine's first test of a Japanese bike in 1988 and more recently in the June 2017 issue. Unusually Bridgestones had a third identification number as well as the normal frame and engine numbers, this ones 'Serial Plate No.' being 21Q00115 making it one of the earliest known examples. It has survived in essentially original and un-restored trim showing a credible speedo reading of just 3971 miles and still fitted with its original rear shocks and DID stamped wheel rims. Only about 33 models were officially imported into the UK so this is a unique opportunity to acquire a rare collectible example. The bike has been stood in a private collection for a while so will need a new battery and some recommissioning before use but it turns over freely on the kickstart and the gears select. It comes supplied with a paperwork folder including copies of the magazine articles it has been featured in, a few old MOTs and a current V5C.
