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Schott 60's Cafe Racer Review - The Unsung Hero

Messages
16,845
Alongside the Perfecto, this jacket has always been my favorite number by Schott - Or at least I thought it would be, having only seen photos of it. Well, I had a repro of a sort, which is said to have been based on this model but the original has possibly been the only racer that has eluded me until now.

Well, thanks to @Marc mndt who made this Christmas one of the best ones ever, I am happy to report that I can confirm my theory that this is possibly the best vintage cafe racer jacket that I have thus far handled.

Truth be told, there isn't really much for me to review. Racers are very simple jackets & if you've seen one, you pretty much know all there is to so I'll just stick to some of the things that I found particularly impressive.

First thing that surprised me is how crazy comfortable the jacket is. The gussets are so good, the jacket enters Langlitz comfort territory. Much, much better reach & range of motion than the Perfecto, let alone most other jackets.

Secondly, I was shocked by how heavy the leather is! We're talking Vanson Comp. Weight grade hide here. It's very different in texture and pliability of course but as far as weight goes, it's right there. I've NEVER seen something like this on a Perfecto but honestly, the entire jacket feels like an entirely different level from what Schott usually does.
I don't think this goes for all of these jackets. Some indeed look flimsy and plasticy but this isn't the case with the jacket that I got.

Which brings me to stitching. You may know how stitching isn't my primary concern, not by a long shot, but that's another thing that just jumped right at me when I first examined the jacket - It's made well. Like really, really well.
Stitching is robot-like in precision & very dense. It simply stands out & that's something we don't often see on vtg jackets.
Leather panels are superbly matched as well & cut perfectly well. Outstanding looking jacket.

Other than that, can't think of anything else noteworthy of pointing out, except for the fact that the entire jacket just works. To me personally, it's miles ahead of any other CR, except for Bates and Cal but it even kind of towers over those in workmanship and material. With the thick, quilted liner, it's the purest day to day leather jacket I have handled thus far.

Aaand on to the pics. Click for full size view.

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Messages
11,167
Location
SoCal
Looks like it might be a Perfecto. They labeled them as “selected” hides...a great jacket! I would’ve kept mine if it was a size smaller.
 

TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,286
it's gorgeous. I bought the brown version yesterday from a TFL member after a long search. I'll post some pics in a handful of days when it shows up. Hoping they used the same stuff on the brown versions than what they used here because that is gorgeous. And hoping a size 42 is the right size because the measurements are really weird on these (i.e. 44 has same ptp but different shoulder and bottom).

There's a 44 brown selling on Ebay as well for about $350. The price that Marc got was just crazy for something like that.
 

FlatCap99

One of the Regulars
Messages
203
This thing is an amazing shape for it's age. I love the 60s cafe racers, this one is definitely a keeper
 

Herresbach

Familiar Face
Messages
58
Location
Germany
Great jacket!

imho, nothing beats the classic and minimalistic style of a two pocket CR jacket with an one piece back! They just look so clean.

I‘m just wondering, since you said the jacket is somewhere in Vanson Competition leather range and you call it your best day to day jacket, doesn‘t the weight bother you?
I‘ve got a pretty similar CR jacket from Aero in brown FQHH and I couldn‘t imagine wearing it on daily base, just too heavy and stiff when it‘s cold outside.


However, overall a very lovely jacket, looking forward to some fit pictures!


edit: maybe I missed that point but did you mention what kind of leather the jacket is made of?
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,731
Location
Iowa
Nice review Monitor. Looks like a very sweet jacket. Sure hope we see some nice fit photos on it soon too.

Glad about the way this all occured.
 
Messages
16,845
@TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead, well, thing is, this one didn't have a Schott label so... It's not an easy sell if one is looking to make a profit on it. Even people who know what it is would whine about the missing label.

@Carlos840, @torfjord & all the others who asked; This jacket is a size 44 so obviously, not an optimal fit. As I mentioned in another thread, the measurements mintvintage provided couldn't have been more divorced from reality - but - I have been looking for a warmly lined cafe racer ever since I sold that Sears so it works just fine on layers. I'm definitely on a lookout for a smaller one.

@Herresbach, although as thick, it's a very different cowhide than what Aero and Vanson have ever used. It's maybe a bit lighter in physical weight & a lot more pliable which, combined with a very well pattern, definitely makes this jacket much easier to wear compared to Aero's cafe racer, for example. Tough jacket for sure but not an overkill by any definition.
 
Messages
17,509
Location
Chicago
I’ve had four of these in a 44” and they were TIGHT. What’s it actually measure? The above look like my 44” (s) but the sleeves were closer to 24”.
 

Claybertrand

One Too Many
Messages
1,548
it's gorgeous. I bought the brown version yesterday from a TFL member after a long search. I'll post some pics in a handful of days when it shows up. Hoping they used the same stuff on the brown versions than what they used here because that is gorgeous. And hoping a size 42 is the right size because the measurements are really weird on these (i.e. 44 has same ptp but different shoulder and bottom).

There's a 44 brown selling on Ebay as well for about $350. The price that Marc got was just crazy for something like that.

Dude, depending on the age of what you bought---might be a bit of a sizing adventure. Not quite Aero crazy---but odd...

I have a vintage brown one of these jackets---with the old Schott Crest Label in it. Mint condition. Its a size 48 and I can barely zip it up. I'm 6'0" 175-180 at the moment and I was thinner when I last wore it and zipped it up so these days I don't know if I could zip it at all.

I also have a black Perfecto Re-issue of this same CR jacket that fits even better than the vintage 48 and its a tagged size 42!!!!!!!! I've had the same identical Schott CRs (60s era) and had one in size 44 and one in 42L. The 42L fit way better than the 44 all the way around not just in length. I also have another Schott CR --- a 541 in Soft Steerhide that dates to 1982. Its a tagged size 44 and I swear I cannot even fit in the thing.

So these can be all over the place depending on model and era. Best of luck. Hope this one incoming hits the sweet spot for you.
 

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