Vanson Trucker leather jacket

[Monitor]

So, here's one style I had no idea Vanson ever did! Terry mentioned it in his Lost Worlds Trucker jacket video review, but I've never actually seen one turn up.

So I was quite surprised when this one popped up on eBay not long ago. I immediately made a low-ball offer which got accepted and the jacket was on the way (special thanks to Ton312 for helping me out with the shipping).
I always loved this trucker (or Type III (or denim (or jean))) style leather jacket but just couldn't find a good version - They were all either too 80's (gigantic, droopy shoulders), too long and baggy or just somehow too corny. Even the Levi wasn't exactly it. . .

This Vanson is. Well, for me, at least.

Of course, I learned right after that they're still making 'em for the Japanese market and that it's quite popular there but... Theirs ain't never gonna be this cool!

I'll skip the part about the quality of the jacket. It's Vanson. Leather is quite soft and pliable but it's as solid as it gets and twice as heavy. Naked cowhide, I'd say. Heavier than the new stuff, that's for sure. Really thick!

Heavy-ass, clunky Talon main and snaps that are a choir to unsnap. The chest pockets are deeper than the decorative stitching would suggest. Standard lining pocket.

The jacket itself is a full-on custom. This one's got two hand warmers which never happens on their take on the style as far as I know, plus the measurements are weird all around. I mean, 22" back with 26" sleeves. Doubt they'd make one so short by default. But what's important is that it works.

Other than that, the jacket arrived in a good condition. Nothing to report except for maybe some fading along the edges and one pocket bag is torn. Easily fixable. Other than that, perfect.

All in all, I'm really, really happy with it. It's beyond anything I'd ever hoped from this style in both quality and fit. Like I said, I've been after one for a long while and Terry adding fuel to the fire each time that he posted a photo of that damn LW wasn't helping at all so now I finally have one that I believe can compare. It's a 100% percent rocker jacket that I know will see some days when I am going to have to convince myself to walk out of the house wearing it but that's what makes a good leather jacket. As long as it won't keep me bored, I'm happy. Definite keeper.

Any questions, ask and in the mean time, some photos of the thing. . .

 

[Bjorn240]

Wow, this is fantastic! Jealous. Not sure how I missed it on the bay!

 

[handymike]

Very cool!

 

[TREEMAN]

Nice !!!

 

[jacketjunkie]

Meh, pictures too big for my mobile, will have to look at it tomorrow at the laptop. I'm fairly sure it doesn't fit you though and that you should put it in the yellow garbage can, right after stuffing it in a box and writing my address onto it.

 

[ProteinNerd]

It's either so ugly and ill fitting my iPad refuses to show me the pictures for fear of offending me .... or Siri is worried I rush out and spend the money on one that I've been saving for an iPhone upgrade lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Monitor]

Okay, lol... If you click on the broken thumbnail, it'll take you to a Photobucket where you can see the rest of the photos. Why, I don't know. All I know that I need a different image uploading service.

 

[ton312]

I can see the pics. Looks fantastic man. Classic, thick ass Vanson leather. The handwarmers are unusual and cool from a design standpoint, tucked right into the front seams. A definite keeper and a good score!
22" back length is like a typeIII comet!

 

[BobJ]

Awesome jacket! I was surprised there was a zipper behind the snaps, that's really cool. I don't know why you'd have to convince yourself to wear it outside the house - it's a classic style, nothing outlandish about it at all.

What I'd like to see, but know I never will, is a picture of you wearing it with the collar popped up!

 

[ProteinNerd]

Ok, now I've seen the jacket it does look pretty awesome BUT where are the fit pics?

 

[AeroFan_07]

Fantastic Monitor! Not many of those around and I relaly like the design overall. Simple yet classic....

 

[Monitor]

Lol I'm not sure anyone'd want me to ruin the thread and such a beautiful jacket with my ugly mug but I'll see what I can do.

@jacketjunkie, are the yellow ones for leather jackets? I had no clue but gotta keep the planet clean, right?

 

[Mickiemac]

The original version of the jacket you have was called the 'Maverick' and they also had a 'Cheyenne' with some decorative stitching down the front placket. I have a Vanson catalog from 2000 and have provided images of those models below. I always wanted one of these but never got around to getting one. They do pop up on eBay now and then but the most recent one I saw was a size 40 - too small for me. I still browse eBay hoping to spot one but they are like hens teeth. I've also provided a pic of the catalog along with the various colors of leather available back then.

About 6 years ago I bought a Fox Creek leather 'trucker' jacket similar to your Vanson but it is of a naked pebble grain leather and has hand warmer pockets and a leather lined 'gun' pocket inside on the left. The leather is very soft and thick and very well made for what I paid ($340.00 +/-). They no longer make this style so I was lucky to get it when I did. I've attached an image for reference.

Of course Schott makes a leather trucker style jacket but the price is a bit steep for what it is and I'd rather have an Aero in that style as the leather choices are greater.

Anyway, congrats on your Vanson jacket - as you noted - it's a keeper!

 

[Monitor]

The original version of the jacket you have was called the 'Maverick' and they also had a 'Cheyenne' with some decorative stitching down the front placket. I have a Vanson catalog from 2000 and have provided images of those models below. I always wanted one of these but never got around to getting one. They do pop up on eBay now and then but the most recent one I saw was a size 40 - too small for me. I still browse eBay hoping to spot one but they are like hens teeth. I've also provided a pic of the catalog along with the various colors of leather available back then.

About 6 years ago I bought a Fox Creek leather 'trucker' jacket similar to your Vanson but it is of a naked pebble grain leather and has hand warmer pockets and a leather lined 'gun' pocket inside on the left. The leather is very soft and thick and very well made for what I paid ($340.00 +/-). They no longer make this style so I was lucky to get it when I did. I've attached an image for reference.

Of course Schott makes a leather trucker style jacket but the price is a bit steep for what it is and I'd rather have an Aero in that style as the leather choices are greater.

Anyway, congrats on your Vanson jacket - as you noted - it's a keeper!

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I've been looking at the Cheyenne in the catalog ever since I found out about 'em and it's even nicer than the standard one. It's just so cool... But for some reason, I never spotted one on the bay before! Do you by any chance still have the links for the ones that were on the Bay, that 40, at least? I'd like to see what did I miss but even looking at the completed auctions, I couldn't find one.

That Fox Creek you got is in every way as cool as my jacket! It's beautiful!! And the leather just looks so nice. Yours has five snaps but other than that, virtually no difference. I would've been just as happy with this Fox Creek but the Vanson just appeared at the right time. Such an awesome style!

 

[Mickiemac]

I've been looking at the Cheyenne in the catalog ever since I found out about 'em and it's even nicer than the standard one. It's just so cool... But for some reason, I never spotted one on the bay before! Do you by any chance still have the links for the ones that were on the Bay, that 40, at least? I'd like to see what did I miss but even looking at the completed auctions, I couldn't find one.

That Fox Creek you got is in every way as cool as my jacket! It's beautiful!! And the leather just looks so nice. Yours has five snaps but other than that, virtually no difference. I would've been just as happy with this Fox Creek but the Vanson just appeared at the right time. Such an awesome style!

Sorry I don't have the link for the Vanson trucker jacket I saw (size 40) - that was several months ago. It was listed for some time at around $500.00 or so. It appeared to be in pristine condition but it would have been too tight on me. Since this style was custom (special order) you couldn't just walk into a Cycle shop and buy one so they are quite rare. I did see one on eBay about 12 years ago nearer my size but didn't act on it. Oh well, I (and most people on this forum) have more than enough leather outerwear to last several lifetimes. Of course there's always that 'just one more' chant that is just a whisper away!

 

[Monitor]

Eeh, $500 is good money. Vanson would've probably made it for a little more, I'm sure they have the patterns and all. Pricewise, I really lucked out on mine tho with the shipping and all, it still got to a substantial amount of $ but whatever, I don't regret it as there wasn't even a remote possibility of not buying it.

Some quick and horrendous fit pix. I know it's short. I didn't really know the jacket would be this short, the listing didn't mention it but I figured it couldn't be that much considering it's a 42. But I really prefer it this way. Fits almost as good as Terry's which is what I only could've hoped for.

 

[Guppy]

So, here's one style I had no idea Vanson ever did! Terry mentioned it in his Lost Worlds Trucker jacket video review, but I've never actually seen one turn up.

So I was quite surprised when this one popped up on eBay not long ago. I immediately made a low-ball offer which got accepted and the jacket was on the way (special thanks to Ton312 for helping me out with the shipping).
I always loved this trucker (or Type III (or denim (or jean))) style leather jacket but just couldn't find a good version - They were all either too 80's (gigantic, droopy shoulders), too long and baggy or just somehow too corny. Even the Levi wasn't exactly it. . .

This Vanson is. Well, for me, at least.

Of course, I learned right after that they're still making 'em for the Japanese market and that it's quite popular there but... Theirs ain't never gonna be this cool!

I'll skip the part about the quality of the jacket. It's Vanson. Leather is quite soft and pliable but it's as solid as it gets and twice as heavy. Naked cowhide, I'd say. Heavier than the new stuff, that's for sure. Really thick!

Heavy-ass, clunky Talon main and snaps that are a choir to unsnap. The chest pockets are deeper than the decorative stitching would suggest. Standard lining pocket.

The jacket itself is a full-on custom. This one's got two hand warmers which never happens on their take on the style as far as I know, plus the measurements are weird all around. I mean, 22" back with 26" sleeves. Doubt they'd make one so short by default. But what's important is that it works.

Other than that, the jacket arrived in a good condition. Nothing to report except for maybe some fading along the edges and one pocket bag is torn. Easily fixable. Other than that, perfect.

All in all, I'm really, really happy with it. It's beyond anything I'd ever hoped from this style in both quality and fit. Like I said, I've been after one for a long while and Terry adding fuel to the fire each time that he posted a photo of that damn LW wasn't helping at all so now I finally have one that I believe can compare. It's a 100% percent rocker jacket that I know will see some days when I am going to have to convince myself to walk out of the house wearing it but that's what makes a good leather jacket. As long as it won't keep me bored, I'm happy. Definite keeper.

Any questions, ask and in the mean time, some photos of the thing. . .

It's interesting that Vanson placed the handwarmer pockets along the front seam that's already there, instead of where most Type III jackets with handwarmers usually have them.

I also like that they use snaps over a flapped zipper, for practicality without ruining the look of the classic style.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Looks perfect to me, I feel the length is just right for the style. These Levi jackets have traditionally been short, still are if you don't oversize (tried on a few Levi jackets in a mall last year). JL do a trucker style too and it is fairly short too. It covers your belt, no reason to feel uncomfortable, at least that is how it works for me.

What a find, really! Congratulations!

 

[ton312]

^ I agree, fit looks good and so does the length. It looks like it would measure longer than 22". More like 24" or so. I don't think it would play if it were any longer TBH. That is definitely a cool one man. Good pick up for sure!

 

[SpeedRcrX]

Nice one @Monitor !

A really good fit, too. Congrats !