Description
8th Dec, 2024 10:00
The December 2024 Auction
1974 Suzuki GT550
Stunning example
Estimate
£5, 000 - £5, 500
Buyer's premium: 15. 00%
Lot details
Registration: ANW937M
Frame: GT55046272
Odometer: 29, 227
MOT: Exempt
Three-cylinder, two-stroke
Part of a private collection
Starts, runs & rides
Stunning example
V5
Few receipts
The Suzuki GT550 is a three cylinder, two-stroke, air-cooled 1970s-era motorcycle in Suzuki's "Grand Touring" GT series. Three Grand Touring models including the GT380 and GT750 and were originally offered for sale with the beginning of the 1972 model year (MY) with the 550 called "Indy" for the North American market. In Suzuki's numbering scheme, automobile race tracks identify each of its 3-cylinder GT bikes for the North America market: Sebring for the 380, Indy for the 550 and Le Mans for the 750.
The 550 (and the 380) have a ram-air cooling system for the one-piece cylinder head. Two-stroke engines lose power after the engine reaches its critical temperature, so Suzuki used a system from its 500cc two-stroke twin-cylinder racer, the T500. This system consisted of a two piece aluminium shroud bolted to the cylinder head to duct ambient air over the cylinder head finning. The centre part of the head had an increased fin area and a larger shroud entry area in an effort to keep the centre cylinder running at the same temperature as the naturally more exposed outboard cylinders.
There are a few receipts in the pack for this lovely machine and also a note stating that 50mm pistons have been fitted at 27, 669 miles.
