Technical GM 3 speed, what is this thing?

And why is it red?
Photo is upside down (thanks phone) but this has a couple of us scratching...
Bell housing is pretty much round too.
Thanks!

 

Olds , Buick and Pontiac all had a single lever.

 

1951 & later Olds select shift. Olds bell housing.
Some one had extra red paint and nothing to do.

 

You chaps are the best!

 

In Australia during the 50s and through to the 70s most GM manual 'boxes were painted red like that.

 

YARD ART ?!!!
6sally6

 

Here you go....

 

I had a couple of those, you can make a plate and adapt an early Ford top shift to to them.

 

Bob, what is the tail stock cast number? That will give you an idea of what year it is. After 56, Olds went to a much stronger output shaft.