[68bird400HO]

Is the 4-speed shifter handle the same in a console car as a non-console car? There is a non-console one on Ebay that looks exactly like the one in my car. Can anyone verify if that is correct? See Ebay link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...MEWA%3AIT&rd=1

I thought the one in my car was aftermarket, but now I am not sure.

[pressthatpedal]

70 and 71 (from what I've heard) non-console used a different lever than the console model. It is more straight than the console model. After that they used the console style even if you don't have the console. That I can confirm as my 72 Formula 400 4spd did not have a console and its shifter lever was identical to the console models.

[Uncle Judge]

Originally Posted by pressthatpedal

70 and 71 (from what I've heard) non-console used a different lever than the console model. It is more straight than the console model. After that they used the console style even if you don't have the console. That I can confirm as my 72 Formula 400 4spd did not have a console and its shifter lever was identical to the console models.

I have an untouched 36,000 mile 70 T/A and it was equipped with no console. The shifter handle is not any different than that of a console car. It is a Norwood car with a May build date.

[Larry Navarro]

Peter Serio is the source.
http://www.precisionpontiac.com/imag...dyshifters.jpg

[2manyT/A'S]

I think that the straighter shift lever was INTENDED for non-console 70's but didn't always get there.
I ALSO have a very unmolested (non-console) 70 Formula 400 (M21) with the console style(curved) shift lever.

That's why the first year (1970's) are such interesting cars.
I've come across lots of production variations.

(how about a 70 T/A TH400 with a WOODGRAIN shift knob?)

The assembly line workers could have installed the wrong lever in a non -console car if the bin was empty.

I think ALOT of early cars were built with "incorrect parts" due to supplier shortages (or sloppiness) & were sold that way.
Unless the original purchaser noticed & complained within the warranty period,that's the way they stayed.

Same story on 70 T/A's built with smaller Formula sway bars.(as discussed elsewhere on this board)

Has any body seen a console equipped car with the straighter lever?
I haven't.

Spoke with Pete Serio at the T/A Nats several years ago about this & he indicated that it appeared to be a "hit & miss" type of thing.(as we are finding out)

[68bird400HO]

Originally Posted by 2manyT/A'S

Has any body seen a console equipped car with the straighter lever?
I haven't.

Actually, thats why I am asking. My 1971 TA is a console car and has that shorter, straighter shifter. I thought it was off of another car or aftermarket until I saw that ebay auction. Now I wonder if my car could have come with that shifter as nothing else in the interior has been modified (except for the shifter knob) and all of the original mechanicals are intact. My TA is a Van Nuys car built around mid-December 1970.

[2manyT/A'S]

I've found that early 71's (especially Van Nuys built) tended to use a lot of "carry over" parts from the 70 model run,including 70 exhaust tips,chrome guage bezels & mixes of JW & KR wheels.

It would be interesting to find out the percentage of cars built at each plant for the 70 & 71 model years.

My guess would be about 75% Norwood & 25% Van Nuys
If you look on page 27 of the 1971 Pontiac showroom brochure,they show a picture of the dash & console of a 4-speed T/A & the shifter looks kinda different (console application).
That might be the straighter (non-console) lever.

Can you post some pics of YOUR console/shifter?

[68bird400HO]

Yes, I noticed that in that brochure too. That also makes me wonder if my car could have come with it. Mine looks just like the one in that picture, however, I am not sure if that picture is really just a drawing. My car also has the chrome dash bezels.

[racerboy]

When I bought my '70 (non-console), the owner gave me a box with what he claimed was the origianl shifter (he put another Hurst in the car with shorter throws). I sent pics to Pete for verification and he told me that the curved shifter (which was in the box) was for a console car and the straighter one was for the non-console. Now I'm wondering if the guy I bought the car from was right. Maybe they just installed whatever was available.

[toomanybirds]

The straight handle "non-console" shifter will hit the console if installed in a Firebird with a console.

Remember that the Camaros were built on the same line. They used a straight handle shifter on all cars, with or without the console. This may have contributed to "assembly line confusion."

[68bird400HO]

Here are a few pics of mine. I don't have a problem with it hitting the console.

[2manyT/A'S]

Thanks for posting the pics!
The shifter sure LOOKS original.

I realize that most of Pontiacs artwork in those years were artists renditions,but they DID very accurate artwork & DID have to have a REAL MODEL to be that accurate.

So I guess we have established that there is NO CORRECT 70-71 4-speed shift lever.
EITHER LEVER could have come with EITHER application,console or NOT!

Too bad the shift knob controversy(for 70) wasn't that CUT n DRIED.

[Jim Rotella]

One footnote on the brochure artwork. Most of the cars depicted in the brochures were pre-production or prototype cars, often built with pieces that were different from the actual production models. Because these brochures were printed well before the new model introductions, many of these cars were actually cars from the previous model year and mocked up to look like the new models. So these cars shouldn't always be considered as 100% correct.

Jim

[eaglesan13]

The non-console shifter handle just has the bend lower.