Hi Coxy,
Very pleased to hear you propose to restore 6800, if not the very first production GTO, it is certainly the earliest known model on the planet and it's 'Pole Position' could only be challenged by 18 other GTOs. The BS world cannot afford to lose this machine
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Engine numbers seem to vary in either direction from the limited serial numbers we have, so it is entirely possible it could have been built with an engine in the 6600 range. Could be a reworked one left over from earlier GTR production, BS hadn't built a 350 (red) since July 68, 15 months previous. Seems quite possible they would have first used up any surplus motors they still had in stock but only speculating.
Graham Weeks only listed machines he had good knowledge of, so there are some gaps in his list.
From the monthly production figures in Moonpups post here:-
http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?topic=4487.40 and combining with grahams list.
Gold chrome GTOs should be W & Z. Total 1000 built Nov-Dec 69
Solid white GTOs should be J, K, L and likely some Ns. 1000 + exact figure not yet known. Oct-Dec 1970 & Feb 71?
Solid gold GTRs likely to be some Ns & final batch March 71, O. ( None built Jan 71 so shouldn't be any Ms). Total built less than 1000. Feb & March 71. I do have a note of an 'M' lettered white GTRO(yes, really) that I saw at a dealers but was standing on my head trying to read it in a closely packed line of bikes, so am treating it as unreliable. Was a 'bitsa'.
As previously established there was some crossover in the GTO/GTR production in 1970/71. In my opinion it is unlikely they built GTOs and GTRs on the line at the same time, possibly small batches of either model toward the end of production.
Trust this makes sense and covers your questions. I haven't checked the above serial letters against known machines but hope many come forward to say NO, I have a GTO/GTR with this serial letter, it will help to fill the gaps in our understanding of late 350 production.
I have an engine numbered 06868 but it's in my July 68 GTR, 21G06738, and I believe it's as originally built, hadn't previously appreciated the engine was in the GTO serial number range.
I'm still looking for crankcases in the low 8000s for the white GTO.
Good luck, Brian.
