Miata Shifter: Jinba Ittai

thingiverse

When Mazda designed the Miata, they adhered to the principle of Jinba Ittai (one body). This idea holds that the vehicle is an organic extension of the human form. Inspired by horseback archery, where riders seamlessly integrate with their horses to hit targets accurately, the design philosophy emphasizes harmony between driver and car. The kanji characters symbolizing this approach are proudly displayed on the shift knob's curved surface. The shift knob consists of four distinct components (some STL files combine these parts). To ensure precision printing of the kanji characters, the top part is separate from the rest. The bottom section can be printed in its entirety, minus the thread piece, or with the thread piece and middle insert excluded (the thread is a standard M10x1.25 size, fitting NA Miatas perfectly). Drivers seeking a customized weight for their shift knob can exclude the middle insert and substitute it with alternative materials. When all parts are printed with PLA plastic and 100% infill, the resulting shift knob weighs approximately 120 grams, making it slightly lighter than the stock NA shift knob. However, I find this difference in weight to be almost imperceptible. Furthermore, the larger and more rounded shape of this shift knob is significantly easier to handle. Happy shifting!