Real Empi Swingster Jacket?

[type241]

My Ol' Lady went trash shopping at garage sales. She came home with this.
Never been worn Empi Swingster Jacket. Is it NOS or repop?

[hitest]

To lack a swingster-style tag is saying a lot. It looks identical to the ones sold at Bow Wow here in Boise. Still neat though- and worth wearing at garage sale prices vs. store-bought.
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[Dave]

That looks like the ones that JGE, or Java Global Enterprises, we making and selling about 10 or so years ago. They are also the first people to make the repro EMPI-style Rader wheel, with the peak in the spoke.
Without the Swingster tag, I would guess it to be a repop.
I it's the real deal, you need to send you wife out junk hunting more often
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story

"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"

[type241]

Ah! Swingster is the brand. I thought it was the "style". It surely looks of older construction. Lady at garage sale said, " Never worn". That is it for the description and/or history. Still pretty cool since I was bagging on her for buying junk.

[Dave]

IIRC, JGE was getting close to a hundred bucks for their repops. I could be wrong, but that number seems to stick in my head.
Your wife did well.
_________________
2003 Samba Chummie Winner- Best Story

"Those that matter, don't mind,
and those that mind, don't matter"

[TyeDyeBug]

Hi Dave, you heading to the classic this year?

I like the jacket and wouldn't mind adding an orig swingster to the collection.

BTW cool find for a garage sale

[Typ3nut]

Cool Find !
The EMPI Jacket is a Repop.
Dead giveaway is that the Original Jacket had a metal zipper with a ring pull, the repop has a plastic zipper, as yours.
Also, the back patch on the back of the original is much larger that the repo's.

[Dave]

[TyeDyeBug]

Nice jacket Dave! There is a local guy here that has a orig white OCIR track employee jacket and wears it to this day all the time, he worked there, looks similar to the empi jacket but diff colors cool stuff for sure!
Grafitti weekend is one I always go to, so maybe I'll see you there

John

oh... I always knew Force was beatable

[surferdudedav]

I got my Swingster jacket at a flea market too! I couldn't find any history due to it being purchased at an auction. Love these jackets.

[Typ3nut]

It's not an Original EMPI Jacket but still pretty cool.
Bought this at a VW Club Charity Auction a few years back.

[elnutty]

Here is my thrift store find empi swingster jacket its missing the patch on the sleeve

[restojohnny]

Here's my old original empi swingster jacket that I wish I NEVER sold but it's got a great new home oversea's

[img]

_________________
** HELL YEAH I'LL SELL IT TO YOU**
O.G. POMONA VULTURE
$$ SWAPMEET MAFIA $$
53 LHD, LH cargo door standard kombi
54 Pre-A Porsche
55 oval ribbed door non-semiphore
56 semiphore ragtop
63 notchback (work in progress)
67 OG black paint beetle sedan empi accessorized
67 original Empi GTV beetle convertible !!
67 euro squareback
67 deluxe walkthru (work in progress)
67 convertible ghia (work in progress)

"STAY OUTTA MY BACKYARD !!! "

[surferdudedav]

Here’s the og swingster I found at a flea market. I had 2 mini ones made for my son too🤙🏼

Here’s his new born version. Mine is a size Small so his is tiny!