Whitehouse, Jungle Scooter create Bridgestone 350GTR replica

The current centerpiece at Le Garage in Tokyo, Whitehouse and Jungle Scooters have created a near-accurate replica of the 1967 Bridgestone 350GTR for sale in 2008. We say near-accurate because the bikes include period-correct modifications like smaller headlights, NGK wires and a cleaned-up look in addition to modern upgrades like the tiny LED supplementary headlight.

Bridgestone, better known as a tire maker today, used to be a manufacturer of all sorts of transport-related products, including some of the most desirable bicycle frames; which are still in production today. The company produced motorcycles from 1958 through 1971. The two-stroke 350GTR was the company’s range topping model, combining a number of, for the time, advanced features like direct oil injection and adjustable suspension. It’s rumored that the company ceased motorcycle production, in part, due to pressure from other Japanese motorcycle makers who threatened to stop using the firm’s tires unless Bridgestone stopped making such competitive models.

A kick-start, dry clutch 40bhp 350cc two-stroke on skinny bias plys sounds like pretty much our ideal city bike. Won’t someone please offer something this cool for sale stateside?

Whitehouse

Wes Siler. May 28, 2008 — Permalink — Deli.icio.us — Digg