[Shift'n Gears]

Many thanks to Norwood, dgb100, and unuhjohnny for sharing the pics and the information.

To unruhjohnny
1. Yes I understand it was to distinguish between Early and late "raised insert" leather shifter knobs. I have seen 3 Shifter knobs on second gen T/A's. Two styles with raised inserts and 1 with the flat insert. Of the two with raised inserts, one seems to be a 70 only and the other variant 71-74 or 75. I have never seen one on a 75 but as you, I have heard other testaments to this. However, the thread also touched on the "Black Ball" and this is what I was interested in.

2. You mention EVERY original owner here stated they have a "Black Ball". Actually every owner and car I have seen had the Shifter knob. That is why when I saw the thread from Original owners that they had a "balck ball" knob I was interested as it is certainly not the majority, and is not widely known by enthusiasts (as evidence by the thread).

Since I have several references and could not find a factory picture, I was hoping for some support I could document for my records. I in no way am discrediting anyone's input that is an original owner. On the contrary, it seems that SEVERAL cars came that way and I rely heavliy on owners who know their car. For instance I am the second owner of a low mile (16K) 79 T/A with a Factory, not dealer, installed CB (only about 200 sold this way). I have the PHS and Photocopy of the original windowsticker to prove the car came with this option. With the CB came a power antenna. Yet every year I get someone who says the car was modified and the antenna is not stock. While I doublt that a shifter ball would be listed as an option, i was hoping someone had more info.

For me I am more concerned about the how and why the shifter balls were used. Was it the factory using whatever parts they could find? or was it a dealer option?


About the hood pins... Good Point, but where do you draw the line? Say someone bought a 74 Superduty and had the dealer install an Alpine Stereo with oversized speakers in the back shelf. Is that Stock? Knowing that dealers (back then anyway) would do what it took to please the customer, they would make changes to the car to please the customer. I just happen to be hesitant grouping all dealer mods as stock. In the case of the hood pins, since it was an over the counter part from the dealer, Yeah I guess it is stock.