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FS: 60's Cal Leathers cafe racer leather jacket, sz. 44

Messages
16,404
Very rare, 60's cafe racer leather jacket by Cal Leather in a size 44 (ish).

So...

Man, I don't think I had this jacket on five times altogether in the 2 years I've had it and each time I take it out of the closet to sell it, I fall back in love with it. Just the kind of cafe racer I know I won't find ever again...

But, I have too many jackets and enough is enough.

I also have another Cal that's exactly the same, only one size smaller, shorter and without hand-warmers. It fits me better and that's the jacket I won't ever be selling.

Anyway...

Missing tag but the jacket has been verified as Cal Leathers by, well, Cal Leathers or more specifically, the current owner of Cal Leathers, Gwen. Few other members can ID it as Cal, no doubt.

In my not so humble opinion, of all the true vintage cafe racers, these are by far the finest ever made. And rarest.
Much more practical than any Buco, heavier than Brooks and nicer than, well, mostly anything else. Perfectly cut, slim fitting, all the right details... Just the perfect example of why this style reigns over all.

Back to my jacket.

Custom made. Longer style with hand-warmers. Rare thing on this classic CR. Horsehide or cowhide. Mid-weight, relatively stiff and substantial leather with a very solid, old school, heavy, weatherproof top coat. Crazy beautiful leather. Kind they don't make anymore.

Apart from that, this is an entirely functional motorcycle jacket - Long sleeves with great reach thanks to very deep shoulder gussets. Two chest pockets, two hand-warmers.
No inside pockets.

Most comfortable and least restrictive CR I ever wore.

The jacket I'm selling is in a perfectly wearable and usable state. All zippers functional, no rips, tears or any damage whatsoever. Lining intact. Pocket bags have no holes. Leather is super healthy and the entire jacket is wonderfully preserved and wearable for another 50 years. Absolutely no odor of any kind.

However! It has received a few repairs during its long life. Namely, the front zipper has been replaced and the sleeves have been restitched. See photos. All this has been done a long time ago since the Talon zipper replacement dates back to the early 70's.

But yeah, please understand that there's absolutely zero damage to the leather, just that at some point the jacket received an overhaul which still stands strong.

The jacket is as good as anything on the market. Left sleeve zip gets a bit stuck but it works.

It is a 60 years old jacket after all...

But yeah, extremely cool, tough and super functional, purest cafe racer. The real deal. Style and leather that none of the repro makers can copy. Real freaking deal. Ready to hit the road once again.

Size is approx. 44 but please be guided by the measurements below...

• Pit to pit: 23.2" / 59 cm
• Sleeve length: 27" / 70 cm
• Waist: 24.5" / 54 cm
• Bottom hem: 22" / 56 cm
• Back length: 31" / 78 cm
• Shoulder width: 19.5" / 50 cm (or so...)

So yeah, bottom line is, there's no tag, it's been repaired, and while it is a true vintage jacket, I understand I can't ask hundreds for it but seriously guys, if a J-100 is worth a grand, this one ought to be at least three.

They're super rare. Again, super quality and a true collectors piece.

As it stands, it's yours for $200.

Paypal accepted and payment thru F&F only please.

Any questions at all, please message me right away.

Best!

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ksozay

One Too Many
Messages
1,071
Location
Seattle
I’m hurt you didn’t offer it to me first... crushed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Messages
16,404
Now I feel sad that it's going away. Again... ;_;

Just check out that clean, single piece back. When you think that the back is 30 something inches long, that's mighty impressive. I don't think ANYONE does that anymore today.
 
Messages
16,404
Man that's a beauty. I have never seen one that long - is that for a particular reason?

Cal, as far as I know, only worked custom so it must've been how the original owner spec'd it. The side pockets are also super rare on these. Bates did a lot of CR's with side pockets but Cal rarely. The single piece back was also custom, I guess? Their standard CR was that six piece back one which was nice but for me personally nothing tops one panel back.

It is an absolute beauty, yeah. I seriously mean it that these are the finest out there. Right up there with Bates.

If you can track one of these down, get it.
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,235
Location
San Francisco
Jeez...sure was a steal at that price! These Cal Leather cafe jackets rarely come up...and even rarer in that amazing condition! If I didn't own 3 already, I'd be all over that...
You're going to miss that beauty when it's gone!
 
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ProteinNerd

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,889
Location
Sydney
I’m so glad this was too big for me or I’d be REALLY bummed I missed out even though I’ve promised myself no more black CRers [emoji12]

Really nice description too! That’s how you sell a jacket.....unless there was missing stitching you didn’t mention [emoji23]
 
Messages
16,404
I’m so glad this was too big for me or I’d be REALLY bummed I missed out even though I’ve promised myself no more black CRers [emoji12]

Really nice description too! That’s how you sell a jacket.....unless there was missing stitching you didn’t mention [emoji23]

Well good thing I have one more in your size, then, eh. ;)

Thanks, by the way. And absolutely no missing stitches. Heck, even the elastic in the back that's holding the shoulder gussets together is still working tho I can't say if it's been replaced or not. It's an ace jacket.
 

technovox

One Too Many
Messages
1,235
Location
San Francisco
Still don't understand why these don't command the same sky-high prices as a Buco. Each Cal Leather jacket was hand made, custom fit, with the earlier ones made out of Horsehide. In a perfect world, they really should be pricier than a Buco...
 
Messages
16,404
Still don't understand why these don't command the same sky-high prices as a Buco. Each Cal Leather jacket was hand made, custom fit, with the earlier ones made out of Horsehide. In a perfect world, they really should be pricier than a Buco...

Yep, I know exactly what you mean. And they're actually better made, much more functional and really much tougher jackets. Buco is half a weight of any of these - this jacket is 6 lbs which for a vintage CR is very heavy - not to mention Cal still makes them for nearly two grands, but... That's just how it goes. Rin Tanaka, I guess. But yeah, they're insanely good jackets and not to mention that while you have at least four J-100's on eBay at any given time, these single piece back Cal's appear literally once a year, if as much. And I got both. :)

That other one I have must've been used a lot, it's really full of creases but the jacket doesn't have a single thread out of place. Insanely tough jackets. I mean, 60 years old jacket in such a condition has to be worth a grand just for that reason alone.

I'm almost sure both jackets I have (had) were horse. And the other one has a small white leather tag that's got hand written size on it. Just super cool stuff.
 

ProteinNerd

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,889
Location
Sydney
I think because “Buco” is no longer in business, the jackets are rarer now and command a higher price.

Both Cal and Brooks still make and sell new jackets and don’t have the same scarcity value I guess.
 
Messages
16,404
I think because “Buco” is no longer in business, the jackets are rarer now and command a higher price.

Both Cal and Brooks still make and sell new jackets and don’t have the same scarcity value I guess.

Right, that's true. I mean, you do have plenty of the good old fake Buco's, RMC and the gang but... Yeah, the real deal is done for.
 

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