Period correct shifters?
 

Are there any that haven't changed for autos? I *think* the B&M StarShifter might be, but Dad hates them. Says he saw people run them back in the day and they never worked right.

I used a Star Shifter in a mid-11 second '69 Chevelle back in the early '80s and it performed flawlessly for me. At the time, I used a forward pattern Turbo 400. That shifter never let me down and was approved by NHRA tech as having a positive reverse lock-out. Pretty sure they are still making them today.

All different.. Best to go to Ebay por swap and find a mint correct used one.

If you want a vintage type of shifter... http://www.ebay.com/itm/HURST-AUTOST...-/201940651685

I used to like the old megashifter ratchets but they normally only work good when they're kinda new. Since those old days I have tried the newer Bandit shifters which work really great but they don't have that old school look.

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/njgAAO...WAB/s-l500.jpg

Wow...I remember those. I think I installed one in everyones car but mine. Never thought of it as a better option than my factory floor shifter.

Best auto shifter was the 2nd gen F body factory dual gate. Nobody knew about them and they worked great!

BIG

I always thought those massive automatic shifters were not sure how to say this diplomatically, for those who didn't know the difference between real and fake...

That hurst autoshift [ebay auction above] was the BOMB. B&M made a shifter called a series 60 shifter. Of course a Hurst His and Her's was always cool...But the big shifters trying to look like a four speed...ugh.

You're my hero, Jim.

I have to say I never understood the lure of an aftermarket ratchet shifter. If Nick Scavo could run in the 9s (8s?) with a column automatic....

My gut is telling me if you made two lists of racers running automatic transmissions of the type which could have been configured with a column shifter, the ratio would be way off.


Those who have won with a colum shifter vs those who have won with an aftermarket ratchet shifter.

There is value in removing chance and using a consistent system. Probably why automatic transmission tend to be faster than the equivalent manual these days.