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Rare authentic late 1970s to early 1980s Harley-Davidson double-sided ringer t-shirt manufactured on an original Velva Sheen knit blank in the USA.
This piece carries significant motorcycle history and collector rarity. The reverse features authentic dealership branding for Perry Harley-Davidson out of Kalamazoo, Michigan—a historic dealership founded in 1925 that closed its doors permanently after 98 years in business.
The front showcases the iconic motorcycle novelty slogan: "and on the 8th day GOD created HARLEY-DAVIDSON" set in distinctive gothic and block typography. The shirt is constructed with authentic period details, including dark brown contrast binding on the collar and cuffs, a seamless tubular knit body, and original single-needle stitching along the bottom hem. Intact surviving ringer blanks from this era with dual-sided dealer prints are exceptionally scarce.
Important Sizing & Fit Notice:
The physical tag marks this garment as an "Adult S," but due to late-1970s slim-cut styling and decades of natural poly-cotton laundering shrinkage, this shirt fits much smaller than standard modern men's clothing. It functions primarily as a unisex piece, fitting modern unisex extra-small, a fitted women's XS/S "baby tee" silhouette, or a youth size.
Because the vertical length is approximately 20 inches, this garment will sit well above the waistline on most adult men and may not provide adequate length or chest width for standard adult male sizing. All dimensions provided below are approximate measurements. Please measure a well-fitting shirt from your own wardrobe flat on a table and compare it directly to these approximate figures before purchasing to ensure proper fit.
Approximate Flat Lay Measurements:
Chest (armpit to armpit across front): Approximately 15.5 inches to 16 inches
Length (collar seam where collar meets shoulder to bottom hem): Approximately 20 inches to 20.5 inches
Sleeve Opening (flat across cuff): Approximately 5 inches
Garment Specifications:
Blank Manufacturer: Velva Sheen (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Era: Late 1970s – Early 1980s
Material: 50% Polyester / 50% Cotton
Tagged Size: Adult S
Construction: Seamless tubular body, single-stitch bottom hem, 1x1 contrast rib knit binding
Color: Off-white / Cream Heather body with Dark Brown Ringer trim
Dealership: Perry Harley-Davidson (Kalamazoo, Michigan)
Condition Report:
Pre-owned authentic vintage condition. The fabric displays an even, natural age-related cream/oatmeal discoloration and patina across the 50/50 blend knit consistent with an authentic 40+ year-old garment. The original dark brown ribbing at the neck and cuffs retains firm elasticity with no waviness or fraying. The screen-printed graphics on both front and back remain bold, sharp, and fully legible with minimal age-appropriate micro-cracking. The single-stitch bottom hem and all interior construction seams are structurally intact. No holes, rips, tears, or underarm fabric thinning detected.
