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I'm trying to locate whoever has the molds for making the runningboard mats for 1935 Chevys. I understand the previous vendor died and whoever has the molds now doesn't seem to be producing them. I own a runningboard mat mfg. co. now and we would be interested in producing them (as well as others). Any help would be appreciated. I can be contacted at broadstreetltd@msn.com or at 440-786-8141

Do you know if a mold can be made from existing mats? I have a pair of 36 Master mats that came with the car when I bought it. I'll be installing them on the car after the runningboards are restored. If there's a way to remake molds, let me know.
Randy Nudo
Overland Park, KS
nudor@aol.com

I believe that I&I Reproduction is the company that you are looking for. Go here:

http://www.iandireproduction.com/

I recently found a NOS 35 Standard mat with the metal backing plate attached. This would make a great pattern if needed. There is a small area of detail rubber that is missing. This could easily be reaired for a pattern.

Let me know if you are interested.

Try runningboardmats.com .They may be able to help.

The RB MAT that I mentioned above is no longer available.

Thanks

Northfield Ent. The Filling Station should be able to tell you where the needs are for mats...they are very helpful people and know what is going on in the hobby.

I recently talked with Richard at Precision Rubber (Runningboardmats.com). I asked him if he knew what happened to the molds that were used by the gentleman that died a couple of years ago (I don't remember his name). He said that he bid on those molds, but a shredder company offered about 10 times more money to buy the molds as scrap! Brass and other metals were part of the molds. It's a shame that these went into the shredder.

I think that either he doesn't have the facts or he is pulling your leg. According to Steve Kassis of the Filling Station, I&I Reproductions has the molds and they are going to make a run on the mats down the road. These are the same molds that were owned by Jim McConnville before he passed away.

Thanks for recalling Jim's name. Well if Richard was pulling my leg, he was very good at it. I'm glad to hear that Steve has the molds. I'm lucky enough to have found 2 reproduction mats in the trunk of my 36 when I bought it. Now I'm just trying to find out what it will cost to repair my rusted out boards.

Steve doesn't have the molds......I&I Reproduction has the molds. They apparently purchased them from the McConnville estate.

I made my own running board mats with the help of a local steel fab shop. They used my old rusted up mats as a pattern. I then rubber cemented rubber strips and cover with rubber from a bed liner company email me for a picture if you wish.
I spent just less than $ 100.00
I'll be returning home July 1st.

kolmsted@flash.net

"They used my old rusted up mats as a pattern."

Hum....since the mats are made of rubber, they can't rust. Are you talking about your metal running boards instead? :confused:

At any rate, it sounds like you have some nice running boards that you were able to get fabricated, and the bed liner idea sounds great too!

"They used my old rusted up mats as a pattern."

I think he meant the rusty mat backing (metal) that the mat is glued to before it is fastened to the running board.

Roger

Strange happenings. I wrote to Filling Station a couple of weeks ago to inquire when new 35 Master running board mats would be available. They answered that they knew of no plans in the future for anyone to make them again.

I also need to buy or make a pair for my 35 Master Coach.

Only goes to prove that you have to go direct to the horses mouth to get the straight skinny.

After viewing the chat on 6/27/05, I immediately emailed InI asking how soon 35 Master running board mats would be available. Surprisingly, Wendy answered she had one set in stock for $120 and asked if I wanted them. I emailled back yes and confirmed the order today.

They do have the molds, but not all of the plant equipment to manufacture them. It will cost them an estimated $65,000 to buy the equipment.

Thus to convince them that there is a market, everyone who is interested in buying mats should send Wendy a note to get on their mailing list for notice of availability.

Good going! You really lucked out on that one! :p

My '35 Master had a metal insert that fastened to the actual running boards. These metal inserts were rusted badly. A metal fab shop used one metal insert as a pattern. The opposite side was a mirror image of the first one.

I then used a hard durable tape with a thickness of about 3/32" and cemented to metal insert. Each stripe was spaced about 1 3/4" c-c spacing.

Next I took the metal inserts to a bed liner maker(spray-on type). He did both inserts for about $ 28.00. I have a picture of the finished car and running board metal inserts with with rubber mat if you care to see how they turned out. kolmsted@flash.net