In Nov 67, Rockfords issued a service letter advising dealers a shift conversion kit was available for the GTR (BSG-0064, 11-1-67), detailing the separate parts included and how to fit. The cost - $45.56 !! Sorry, unable to scan and post at the moment.
Sometimes claimed as a BS first, to promote sales in the US market, I've read recently Yamaha also offered the crossover option on their 350 YR-1 in 1967. Who copied who ? Did any other make offer this option ?
If you didn't live through that time, it's difficult to convey just how competetive the Japanese manufacturers were in fighting for a share of the US market. New models every 12 months, not just updates or minor revisions. The crossover kit couldn't simply be offered as an aftermarket option, it had to be included at the design stage, building in the shaft extensions and frame fittings. Industrial espionage? - almost certainly !!
So how many kits would BS have produced? It's not easy to assess - we don't see many, if any, fitted to GTR/GTO's that come on the market, so not many kits were originally sold, the idea didn't take off. Younger buyers would have no problem adapting to reversed pedals or hadn't developed a preference. I still believe BS were already questioning the future of bike production when the first GTRs came off the line so wouldn't have made a big commitment to these extras. My best guess would be 100 -500 kits with a leaning toward a lower figure, the number known to be still in existence doesn't support a higher number. BS may never have recovered their tooling costs on these parts. How many of you have a kit or parts ?
Rarer than hens teeth? What do you think, Brian.