Vintage Levi's Type III trucker jacket: 1970s vs 1980s (also dating of Levis Type 3 denim jacket)

In the video I show 1970s vintage Levis Type 3 jacket, I explain how to date it and I discuss the big change Levi's implemented in the early 1980s. Some people can't stand vintage pre-1980s Levis denim jackets (but they are so wrong). Watch the video to see why. ;)
Buy Levi’s Men’s Type 3 jacket on Amazon:
amzn.to/3Xwyr3M (affiliated link)
Buy Levi’s Woman’s Type 3 jacket on Amazon:
amzn.to/4344Cc1 (affiliated link)
Please add all questions and corrections in the comments below.
The show with some guy who talks with Ukrainian accent about vintage watches
More on Instagram: / quartzcrisis
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[@drwisdom1]

Mr. QuartzCrisis has missed the important difference between earlier 2 pocket Levi's type 3 jackets and later 4 pocket jackets. The 2 pocket jackets were styled so they end just below the waist of the jeans yielding an authentic and attractive western look. Whereas, Levi's had to lengthen the 4 pocket jackets to accommodate the lower two pockets so they go further below the waist line making them look baggy, less attractive, and it eliminated traditional western styling. But the 2 pocket jackets had a problem - if the wearer was tall the bottom of the jacket would end before the jeans waist making it look foolish. Because of that Levi's offered 2 pocket jackets in a regular and long version. All 4 pocket jackets are long versions and consequently don't look near as good as the 2 pocket version. The price of adding the lower 2 pockets was degrading the styling. Some people prefer pockets while others like Mr. QuartzCrisis and myself prefer styling. I really like 2 pocket type 3 jackets and have over a dozen that are like new, some big E.

[@QuartzCrisis]

Wow! Super informative comment. Pinned so others will see

[@franzdoreza5230]

Fit is everything… And I’m wondering since I’m in the market, looking for a jacket, hopefully vintage either the type three Levi’s or the Lee rider.. of course, I would even take a type one or two inspired jacket from RL, LuckyBrand, G star or whomever, makes a good vintage inspired jacket with good quality denim, preferably raw… But at least something that’s not thick and heavy and you can’t see the texture… Of course the really great looking vintage jackets, have a great patina and if they’ve been washed 1000 times… or just worn really hard.They start to feel soft, pliable… and beautifully faded..,Something, medium or lighter weight denim… So please let me know how they fit in vintage compared to the modern versions… If you can recommend some thing That would be great… And if I had a ton of money it wouldn’t matter, but since I’m an artist and a little bit frugal, anything between 40 or $100 in my budget… But like any style conscious dude..not a fashionista with a lot of $$$.. I love a great deal/steal, and I also love originality, not having something so common… But vintage jackets that are constructed well, because some of them look so wonky, not tailored well, things are off… So being made in the USA is not necessarily always a good thing… and some of them have such a great patina… So basically, I’m trying to find something that looks vintage, or vintage, kind of a short boxy tailored fit, since I’m 5-7, 150 pounds, 17 1/2 foot shoulders, 31 waist… And I’m over 50… Still in decent shape more on the muscular side with a couple extra pounds. Just not sure which is better for my type of build delete or Levi’s… The vintage or modern… Anyway, great video, if you have any information, please let me know. Thank you.

[@andyboa8107]

So true. In 1991 my Spanish brand Lois two pocket denim jacket was getting too small for me and I was in the market for a new denim jacket. It happened that there were only 4 pocket Levi's jackets available at the time where I lived. My parents bought me one and I really hated it. I was a lanky tall kid and I came from a cowboy look in my tight/slim fitting and short 2 pocket Lois jacket to that baggy 4 pocket Levi's jacket ending in my thighs instead of hips which made me look so emaciated. Up until now I thought that it was just a Levi's thing, but being now a lanky tall middle age dude I bought 2 pocket Levi's jacket (Made in China) and I love it, makes me look so slim and young. I also bought a vintage Lois 2 pocket one :) But having no hand warmer pockets sometimes I don't know what to do with my hands. Isn't there a slim fitting short Levi's jacket with hand warmer pockets? Mayby Levi's 71506 0216 (The first one with 4 pockets)?

[@drwisdom1]

@@andyboa8107 I don't think the hand warmer pockets add any value. Levi's type 3 jackets aren't heavy, just one layer of denim with no lining, plus they let the wind through. So I don't wear them unless it is above 60 degrees, when you don't need hand warmer pockets. I wear type 3 jackets because they feel and look good.

[@andyboa8107]

@@drwisdom1 I just don't know what to do with hands. I pair it with tight fitting Levi's 507 bootcut jeans.

[@alfatir14]

My Mom saves everything and still has my Dad's Levi's jacket that I know is from the 70's. I need to have it dated.

[@QuartzCrisis]

Very nice! I hope this video will be helpful.

[@alfatir14]

@@QuartzCrisis I'll let you know what I come up with. It's a very unique jacket. It's chambray. Levi's reissued the style a few years back, and I purchased it. THEN I came across my Dad's jacket. My Dad hasn't worn it in years, so I'll happily take it! Thanks for the upload!

[@sf2explus184]

the pocket is useful but over time becomes ugly is you have the denim in the pocket area stretch and looks saggy. i try my best to not use my side pockets on my type 3 one wash other than small stuff. It is not an LVC rather their regular line still a well made jacket but will hope to but a LVC line jacket one day.

[@joshouagamber6211]

i have a levi’s big E vest. The code on the buttons are “52” no more. What’s that mean?

[@QuartzCrisis]

two digit code is very good! Google "levi's factory code list" to find the exact factory that produced it

[@markies74]

I have two type 3 jackets and both only have 2 pockets both made in Tunesia. Bought them both at a local flea market for 10 Euro a piece. Does anyone know how i can date them from the care tag?

[@QuartzCrisis]

I'm showing the modern type 3 care tag in my latest video How To Buy vintage Levi's jeans. If you tag is not like that than your jacket is definitely vintage

[@parkourjule]

i have a Levi's big e type 3 jacket with a 525 factory code on the button is this possible? could a 1975 still be big e or could there be a 3 digit code before 1975? thanks a lot if you can help me with this question.

[@QuartzCrisis]

There are people who know this better than I do. But based on what I read yes, it's totally possible. All the rules are not exact, they do have a wiggle room. If factory 525 still had some stock of unused big e tabs than they would keep using it until all the old tabs run out.

[@parkourjule]

@@QuartzCrisis thanks a lot!

[@lacausa2000]

IF your jacket is a true Big E, then it would be manufactured before 1971.

[@montanarailroads7367]

If the care tag is still on the jacket, then the date is on the care tag.

[@jacobs9472]

Las bolsas de adentro de la chaqueta si son bolsas? O solamente son las costuras de las bolsas que están por fuera?

[@QuartzCrisis]

There are the inside pockets but only on 1980s model

[@jacobs9472]

@@QuartzCrisis thanks

[@talimavargas4719]

I am crossing my fingers that you will see my comment and that you will reply. I have found the same type 3 jacket no hand warmers from the thrift store just recently, but things start to become very interesting as the back button has only 1 digit. It has “1” or can be big letter “I” too. And I heard it can be an older piece? If levi made 3 digits since 1975, do you think my trucker is older? Thank you

[@QuartzCrisis]

Wow! Type 3 with 1 digit button code. We need a true Levi's expert to answer your question. @LootFam can you help?

[@talimavargas4719]

@@QuartzCrisis I think I finally got the answer! It was manufactured at Valencia St. the 1 code later became 555. Do you know any information about Velencia St. and 555 back code buttons?

[@adrianpang9326]

What about the length, is it same length

[@QuartzCrisis]

these two are, but see the pinned comment

[@user-en8ek4dg4s]

Very nice jackets bro. Thanks for sharing

[@Luisventuralaw]

Love the sound effects. Gotta have hand warmer pockets!

[@donk499]

I like the earlier ones better as well

[@QuartzCrisis]

my wife keeps making jokes about me not having pockets;)

[@cheems876]

I have a vintage trucker jacket too, its from 2020 😄

[@QuartzCrisis]

in just 23 years it will be there;)

[@peekaboo010]

lol hug

[@montanarailroads7367]

You have most of those dates wrong. In the ballpark, but wrong.

[@QuartzCrisis]

In the vintage Levi's world all dates are the ballpark, there is nothing exact. In the old times... it's not like all the Levi's factories got the memo on the date X and all switched from A to B.

[@montanarailroads7367]

@@QuartzCrisis Well, they didn't use that little stub tab in 1990s. That was phased out by 1985, and replaced by a longer tag, that in turn ran from about 1983 to 1988. That was replaced by the red batwing tag that began use in 1987 to and ran until 1995. So when I said "ballpark", I meant really big ballpark. Btw, the date of production are on both those tags you have on those 2 jackets.

[@poshgentleman559]

I looked around a Levi's shop the other day: and the 501s and trucker jackets, are not how l remember them back in the 60s and 70s. Today a lot of levis Jean's are raggy......the manufacturing quality is good, but for me: this is not proper heavy duty denim. Sadly though, the young don,t know any different😂. I remember a couple of years ago talking to two young female assistants in a Levi shop, and remenising: about the good old days, when Levis,s were great.......l think they thought l was insinuating their Jean's were crap, which in a way, l suppose l was😂

[@montanarailroads7367]

Levi's still makes "proper" heavy duty denim. You just have to pay for it.