Earliest use of GTR / GTS on performance cars

[mk1coopers]

With so many of modern car manufacturers using GTR and GTS in various forms for their performance models I was wondering what was the earliest use of the designation, the earliest I know of is the Minisprint which was sold in GTS and GTR form from 1966/7

[a8hex]

The other weird one is "RS" why oh why are manufactures proud to label their cars as "Really Slow!"

[LotusOmega375D]

1964 Ferrari 275 GTS?

[LotusOmega375D]

Also Piper built both GTS and GTR models in around 1968.

[Strudul]

a8hex said:

The other weird one is "RS" why oh why are manufactures proud to label their cars as "Really Slow!"

Better than the BMW PMS

[mk1coopers]

Down to 64 then for GTS, be good to work out who used them first

[Strudul]

'69 for the Isuzu Bellett GT-R

and '63 for the Lotus Elan GTS

Edited by Strudul on Wednesday 7th March 19:08

[mk1coopers]

More good information Lotus and 1963 winning for GTS at the moment, it seem such a 'modern' model derivative that I suspect people wouldn't think it was used back in the 60's

[Doofus]

When Ferrari did it with the 275, G, T and S stood for very different things.

These days, GTS on modern cars is meaningless.

[mk1coopers]

The same with GTO

[Dapster]

1963 for the Porsche 904 which was officially called the Carrera GTS whilst Porsche fought out the naming rights with Peugeot.

[PZR]

LotusOmega375D said:

Also Piper built both GTS and GTR models in around 1968.

Piper GTR was mid 1969.

[PZR]

mk1coopers said:

...the earliest I know of is the Minisprint which was sold in GTS and GTR form from 1966/7

Have you got any evidence of a MiniSprint GTR from the 66/67 period? I thought MiniSprint 'GTR' was a later - not necessarily official - addition?

The MiniSprint GT and MiniSprint Rob Walker GTS are well documented from the 66/67 period, but I don't recall seeing anything from that period with the 'GTR' moniker.

[PZR]

Bridgestone 350 GTR motorcycle built and sold from 1967:

[PZR]

Nissan's PGC10 code (4-door) 'Skyline 2000 GT-R' hit the market in February 1969:

[PZR]

Strudul said:

'69 for the Isuzu Bellett GT-R

Isuzu Bellett GTR (with 1600cc G161W twin cam four) was launched in September 1969, so a good six months after Nissan's Skyline 2000GT-R.

[mk1coopers]

PZR said:

Have you got any evidence of a MiniSprint GTR from the 66/67 period? I thought MiniSprint 'GTR' was a later - not necessarily official - addition?

The MiniSprint GT and MiniSprint Rob Walker GTS are well documented from the 66/67 period, but I don't recall seeing anything from that period with the 'GTR' moniker.

Here's one of the early price and spec lists and a link to official minisprint site. Right at the bottom it makes reference to the GTR being the road going version of the Race style body shell without the roof gutter

http://minisprint.eu/

Edited by mk1coopers on Thursday 8th March 13:47

[PZR]

mk1coopers said:

Here's one of the early price and spec lists and a link to official minisprint site. Right at the bottom it makes reference to the GTR being the road going version of the Race style body shell without the roof gutter

http://minisprint.eu/

Edited by mk1coopers on Thursday 8th March 13:47

Interesting! First time I've seen that. I had always thought that spec was officially called the 'MiniSprint R'.

Thanks.

[mk1coopers]

I think the only car that ever got referred to as a MSR (later in it's life) was Neville Trickett's original race car, perhaps that's where Mini Sprint R(ace) has come from, that car now has Walker badges on it which has always seemed a little strange to me. it shouldn't have anything on it really