For personal research fun, I was wondering what the first car (Japanese or otherwise) to wear "GTR" was. Nowadays those 3 letters are synonomous with the Nissan Skyline - but I believe Isuzu beat them to the punch with their Isuzu Bellett GTR.

Does anybody know of any car ealier than this (1967) that wore the GTR badge?

That's pretty cool. Any more pictures? What were its performance stats?

- but I believe Isuzu beat them to the punch with their Isuzu Bellett GTR.

Lachlan,

The Isuzu Bellett GTR ( with the G161W engine ) didn't debut until September 1969, a full six months after the PGC10 Skyline GT-R.

I think you are possibly getting your GTs mixed up with your GT-Rs?

There was an "R" version of the shelby GT350 in 1965. Dont think it was ever badges as a GTR or officially called GTR, but may have been colloquially called GTR to distunguish the Racing version from the GT350 street car version.

Ealiest aussie GTR that i'm aware of is the Torana GTR (no, no. not the XU-1)released in october 1969.

There was also a Bridgestone GTR motorbike in the mid to late 60's.

Aaaahhhh... the Bridgestone 350's. Don't pay any attention to me, I just got a little nostalgic when you mentioned the 350 GTR.

I had the 350 GTO version with it's upswept pipes and gold vs. red paint scheme. Man that was one quick bike. I beat every other 350 & some 500's that were out at that time. Here's a pic of one.

There is reference to the 1963 Isuzu Bellet/Bellett GTR in these websites. I believe that the "correct" spelling of the car's name is "Bellett" (with two Ts).

http://www.globalcar.com/datasheet/Isuzu/1963IsuzuBellet1600GTRCoupe.htm

http://www.ebbro.com/catalogue2002/Isuzu/Oldies/Bellett-GTR/Orange/index.htm

The first photo below is from the Ebbro website and is identified as a 1963 Bellett GTR. The other three are from a Yahoo Japan auction for a 1970 Bellett GTR. Did these cars only come in orange or is this just some strange coincidence?

Thanks for the input guys,

I must be mistaken Alan - thanks for the correction - when all your information comes from the INTERNET the facts can get a little murky as you would be aware! ...

Chris, if you want to see more Belletts check out this website - it's very good ( http://www.users.bigpond.com/glennpp/index.htm ). This one is in Japanese but has loads of pictures ( http://sapporo.cool.ne.jp/bellett/ ). If you could read Japanese I'm sure this one ( http://www.tochigi-isuzu.co.jp/tokusyu/beret/beret.htm ) would have a lot of interesting information!

As for specs, it had a DOHC 1.6 4-cyl producing 120 BHP in a 970kg shell - good for a 16 second quarter mile - this is what I'm lead to believe anyway...

In Australia we got the 2-door and 4-door but no GTR (it also had a slightly different bodyshell). The car was later replaced by the Gemini.

Miles - think it's just a coincidence I think I have seen red, orange, white and yellow...? Maybe silver too. Orange definitely seems to be the "hero" colour though.

I think my previous post contains incorrect information. The following website clearly states that the Bellett was introduced in 1963, the Bellett GT in 1964, and the Bellett GTR in 1969. Sadly, like other great cars of the era, this one suffered its demise due to increasingly stricter emmissions laws and ended production in 1973.

http://www.car-mag.jp/contents/historic/bellett.html

Aaaahhhh... the Bridgestone 350's. Don't pay any attention to me, I just got a little nostalgic when you mentioned the 350 GTR.

I had the 350 GTO version with it's upswept pipes and gold vs. red paint scheme. Man that was one quick bike. I beat every other 350 & some 500's that were out at that time. Here's a pic of one.

Good post MoonPup! I briefly owned a Bridgestone 350 GTR ~1974-5? Awesome bike for the time, and yeah..showed the RD 350's the way:devious:

Previous ride was a Bridgestone ....90cc! and I thought that was quickLOL . The 350 made way for a panel van/sin bin/ shaggin' wagon. Ya just had to have one back then:love: :devious:

As a (younger) kid I got to ride in a 2door Bellett belonging to a friend of Dads'. It had a half cage fitted as he club raced it, I can remember thinking"WoW! I'm in a racing car"LOL

Jim.

Hey Guys,

I know this thread is waaaay dead, but I thought I jump in and mention a new forum at www.bellett.net that would answer any Isuzu Bellett related questions

The guys on there are quite knowledgeable about all things Bellett although the site is very new at the moment.

Cheers,

DOHC.