"JDM"-style four-seam shift boots

[shaundarbie]

Hey fellow Mazda owners...

I recently designed a "JDM"-style (that's what the Honda/Acura guys call them) colored-thread, four-seam shift boot for my 626 with matching e-brake boot. I had one made out of top-quality leather for my car, then thought I could make others out of high-quality vinyl to sell. I've already had several orders on mazda626.net.

Anyway, I know you guys already have a place that sells the boots with colored stitching. However, how many of you would be interested in shift boots that have the four seams in the color of your choice? The seams would be actual seams, not just four sets of colored stitching.

Check out my cardomain page below in my sig to see the boots. Page 3 has the vinyl ones, with three different vinyls to choose from. I've considered doing leather as well, but I'm still looking for a supplier (I was able to get a small piece for just my boots, however).

 

[shaundarbie]

Hmm...nothing yet... (thought)

What about if I made them out of genuine leather?

 

[lasermp5]

might be interested with blue stitching..... need to see pics. (can't view cardomain at school.... will be home in a couple hours)

 

[Katya4me]

Do you make any for short shifters? That is the only reason I would look at switching at this point, so I could get one to fit my KartBoy.

 

[shaundarbie]

I'm looking into this, especially since it seems that many of you have short shifters. However, right now I'm just gauging interest--no use developing a product if there isn't any interest!

 

[blakesmith13]

jujeracing has got you beat to the punch amigo...www.jujeracing.com

 

[enigM@]

yea but he's talking about four seam-stitches, juje only offers two.. i bought one from them and the leather cracked in some places for some reason

shaundarbie, if you can make it in leather i'd definately get one

 

[shaundarbie]

Exactly. Plus, from the pics, the colored stitching on the e-brake handle is only decorative at jujeracing (i.e., there's no actual seam there).

The sewing would be done by my mom, who is an experienced upholsterer and owns an industrial upholstry sewing machine using high strengh upholstry thread. She did the boots in my car (see my cardomain site), is currently reupholstering my bro's '85 Rx-7, has done my dad's Sierra, did our boat, and also did my other bro's '80 Chevy stepside. Here's some pics of the stepside's interior (to show the quality of her work):

BTW, I'm still looking for a leather supplier, so I can't give an accurate estimate for pricing as of yet. However, seeing as how they'd be made of leather plus the four seams (vs. two), they will cost more than the vinyl jujeracing boots...

 

[shaundarbie]

And here's the pics of the leather boots in my 626, for those who can't get to cardomain:

 

[enigM@]

do you have any pics of finished vinyl boots?

 

[shaundarbie]

Yep. Here is a vinyl boot set on my 626:

And here's a picture of the different vinyls I'm using for the 626 boots that I'm selling right now:

The top left is the shiney vinyl in the above pics, and the top right is VERY high quality flat black vinyl that is very soft and supple like leather. Right now I'm selling sets for the 626 for $32 shipped, but that's only because they require more material and the e-brake boots are actually quite complicated. Vinyl sets for the Pro would run around $30 shipped, comparable with jujeracing. Just shift boots would be around $20 or so shipped, again comparable with jujeracing...

Note--the slack you see in the boots is like that because that was how the stock boots were. The new boots are the exact dimensions of the stock ones. The Pro boots would have less slack.

 

[enigM@]

So, do u have a protege to test fit it on and take pics? i wouldn't wanna buy it then end up having it all look funny and slacky

 

[shaundarbie]

You sayin' my boot is funny lookin'? And yes, I'll be designing based on a stock protege boot (and a shorter boot for short shifters).

 

[enigM@]

kewl, cuz my boot from juje cracked in some places where it's creased.. if your boots don't do that, then i'm in

black boot with silver seams

 

[chevyii62]

I would be very interested in real leather with blue stiching for short shifters, and would probably buy the matte vinyl if that was all you could do. Email me @ chevyii62@comcast.net with details if you decide to start production. Thanks

 

[FunkyBuddha]

Hit me up!! I want the leather four seam boot w/ blue thread and a matching e-brake boot. Pm me w/ further details if production goes or just make a special set just for me!!

 

[Naveed74]

PM me if you have any progress. I am intrested in the leather brake and shifter (short) boots. I would like grey/silver stitching

Let me know!

 

[shaundarbie]

Well, the consensus is that the only interest is for leather boots. I'll get back to you guys if I find a good supplier. Keep in mind that a leather set would be more expensive...like (totally guessing) $50 or so for a set (at least).

 

[enigM@]

i'll have a vinyl

 

[cyc]

How much (approximatively) for only the shifter, in vinyl?