Yes, it seems the column-shift oddity has become a "desirable rarity" of late. I am not sure how anyone could document the number of column-shift TAs built other than estimating based on option percentages.....
The first time I saw an early second-gen column-shift car was in about '77. It was a White 71 TA for sale (painted black, and rusty already) with blue interior. I saw the column shift and about fell over! I have always assumed that no one ordering a TA or Formula ever intended to get a column-shift, rather someone just screwed up and forgot to order a console too!
I should rephrase that...most never intended to get a column-shift. I met a gentleman at the TA Nats last year with an original-owner '71 TA 0-option car. He had the blank PHS proudly displayed. If I recall the story correctly he ordered the car to be a drag car, and he preferred a column-shift to floor mounted automatic.
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