Early Shift Boots

[hls30.com]

I do some custom leather/vinyl upholstery. If anyone is willing to send me an intact old style boot, I will be more than happy to try to reproduce it. It shouldn't be too difficult if I have a decent pattern to go by. If I can't reproduce it satisfactorily, I'll send your boot back to you. Will (hls30) has seen a couple of items I have done. I also have covered a sunvisor for Tomohawk. Might be better than trying to get them from Australia. I'm in Bristol, VA. It would be good if someone could post a couple of close-up pics of the grommet that is needed as well. Oh, by the way, I am a hard core Z fan too I have a full blown 75 280 custom restoration in progress!

Let me know!

His work is top notch, and I will be tapping him for some niceties on my car as soon as I nail down a few more details. If no one has taken care of the grommit after Daytona, I will take care of it because I am going to need one too.

Will

[JimmyZ]

Is the grommet I posted a few posts ago "the " grommet in question??

[hls30.com]

I think you have pictured the inner shift boot(seals the transmission tunnel) and not the appearance piece. The gromet holds the top of the boot on the shifter lever.

WIll

[kats]

Hello,

I agree with Arne,the original is thin vinyl.Seems aging makes it thiner and thiner.

My 240Z has got the one from the shop in JAPAN. Do you think it is original or not.I post a picture of Z432's too.

kats

[geezer]

Hi Kats - The grommet looks to be the same on both and look to be the same as the one I had, but can't find. The boots seem to be taller than what I remember, and not quite as tight fitting to the grommet. Mine may not have been an original, but the vinyl was thin also. Are these available in Japan?

[AZ-240z]

Hi Kats,

I am looking at my NOS boot, part # on the bag is 75150-E4101, and your boot looks exactly the same right down to the stitching as far as I can tell. The boot shown on the Z432 is stitched a little differently, and the vinyl grain appears to be more of a pebble texture. The clothed backed vinyl is fairly thin. Kats, your car is a treasure of originality.

Dan

[26th-Z]

Hi Kats,

I am looking at my NOS boot, part # on the bag is 75150-E4101, and your boot looks exactly the same right down to the stitching as far as I can tell. The boot shown on the Z432 is stitched a little differently, and the vinyl grain appears to be more of a pebble texture. The clothed backed vinyl is fairly thin. Kats, your car is a treasure of originality.

Dan

I agree although I don't see why the part would be different. The difference between the two pictures is just one is an innie and one is an outie.

[AZ-240z]

I agree although I don't see why the part would be different. The difference between the two pictures is just one is an innie and one is an outie.

Slide the boot down the shift lever on the Z432 and it becomes an innie.

[7T1240]

Hi Guys

Felt it best to chime in on this thread. A few years ago I also discovered the no-laces boot as used on the early cars. I have a friend here in Australia whom had one of these, albeit deteriated. He allowed me to borrow it and also unpick it completely as it is otherwise trash.

I took it to a local auto upholestery specialist and had a replica made. I would have to say that IMO it is a very close match to the original, right down to the grain pattern of the vinyl and also the trim ring around the top which sits around the metal shift lever.

If there is interest shown I am more than willing to show some photographs of this. While it wasnt cheap I am also willing to look into having more made. I have two at this time and the first ones wernt cheap as the pattern had to be made.

Let me know, waiting to hear.

Regards

Joseph

Snipped:

You can put me down for an advance order, if you decide to do it. I feel there is a marketable demand. If you don't do it somebody else will.

I do some custom leather/vinyl upholstery. If anyone is willing to send me an intact old style boot, I will be more than happy to try to reproduce it. It shouldn't be too difficult if I have a decent pattern to go by. If I can't reproduce it satisfactorily, I'll send your boot back to you. Will (hls30) has seen a couple of items I have done. I also have covered a sunvisor for Tomohawk. Might be better than trying to get them from Australia. I'm in Bristol, VA. It would be good if someone could post a couple of close-up pics of the grommet that is needed as well. Oh, by the way, I am a hard core Z fan too I have a full blown 75 280 custom restoration in progress!

Let me know!

Lesson learned from this thread - NEVER throw any parts away! I replaced my original which had the grommet this summer (as the vinyl was brittle and cracked through in a couple of places) with the lace-up Nissan replacement, and I can see now I probably should have kept it. To both 240 in OZ and LBO730, I guess you can count me with geezer as an interested party if and when a reproduction is made.

Gary S.

[kats]

Hi geezer,Chris,Dan and friends,

Let me tell you quickly,I bought mine some 4 or 5 years ago from the Z shop in japan.I bought it from tha shop but it came from Nissan as a genuine factory replacement.So,it is different from 1970 original vinyl.It is quite thick and stiff.I say it is a factory OEM part but it is not the same from 1970's.I think the one in the picture of the Z432 is a just same replacement boot.An owner must replace within some 5 years,I can not say 100% for sure anyway.Like Chris said,they are just different in style.

I called the shop today,they said they are NLA.I regret I did not buy two or three.

kats

[LBO730]

So, Are we gonna try to reproduce this shift boot, or are we just gonna give up? Anyone who wants to send me an intact original to copy for a reproduction, will get one back for free. If I'm not successful, I'll send your boot back to you. No use in just letting this need die!

[Marty Rogan]

So, Are we gonna try to reproduce this shift boot, or are we just gonna give up? Anyone who wants to send me an intact original to copy for a reproduction, will get one back for free. If I'm not successful, I'll send your boot back to you. No use in just letting this need die!

If you want to go with the earliest version on the shift boot, that I am aware of then I will take you up on that offer. See my post #22. The picture on the left is out of a Z blt 6/70. If that is the one that people agree should be reproduced, I could probably ship it to you in a day or two. If it is the one in the middle picture (blt 1/71), I will need till the weekend to remove it from the car.

Let me know which way you want to go.

Marty