(Hypothetical) Traditional Shift Knob Question

Tommy, that's a pretty cool idea...especially for a hoodless car. Easy beer opening access!

I welded the can opener end so that it sticks out for people to read it, You can still use the bottle opener in a pinch.

Redmeat, I added the beer logo part so the younguns could figure it out.

 

Somewhat related, I figgered I'd take a beer can, flip it over, punch a hole in the bottom. Dispose of the beer however, then fill the whole can with that expanding foam insulation. Let dry, cut away excess. Epoxy a nut to the bottom and you've got a cool shift handle, albeit a bit large. I wonder what the law is on that.

 

Nailhead, is that a Pabst Blue Ribbon beer tap? if so, LOL. Pabst kicks ass!!

 

Not that I was THERE in the 50s or anything, but I think that most gearhead, racing obsessed HOT RODDERS would've prefered/used standard knobs that fit their hand well and were suited to smooth, swift, precise shifting.

For manual trannys, I would only use a palm-fitting knob or a t-handle like the Hurst units cocked slightly for comfort and accuracy.

Seems like the 'designer' knobs are cooler on automatics, or sleds with manual trannys...cars where fast shifting and comfortable handles aren't as important.

Just my thought on it!

 

On a beer related note: I built a grill for my 51 Ford when I was about 17, floating beer cans. 16 oz in center and a couple 12oz on each side, ala 54 Chev. Fuckin kids!!!!.........OLDBEET

 

I remember a few people using the beer handles but they were for show only.If you were serious about shifting they'd break off the first time you power shifted.I remember some large dice of different colors(red and green seemed to be the most popular)with matching dash knobs if you had bucks.
When floor shift conversion kits started to become popular,the original Hurst pink yoyo knob was the hot setup because it was just 2 pieces of plastic bolted through the solid steel lever.I had one in my Olds powered 54 Chevy.
Some of the accessory stores of the day(Western Auto,etc)had the multicolored shift balls and 8 balls but they were usually too heavy for a column shifter and would cause it to pop out of gear.
I don't know if this was strictly an East coast thing or not,but some guys would move their shifter over to the left side of the column.Made it a pain in the ass to shift(usually a backwards pattern)but easier for your girl to sit next(on top)to you.
Before tachs became popular as a dash accessory the vacuum gauge was the thing to have mounted on your steering column.Accessory gauges were usually limited to oil pressure and amp gauges.I better stop now;my mind is regressing.............

 

I figured with guys coming back from WWII and Korea that a hand grenade would have been a popular choice.
I'm sure guys used glass door knobs, a lot of these were already threaded.
Somebody needs to do a red primered 8 ball and knobs.

Well I was gonna post something similar to this - some guys would move their shifter over to the left side of the column.Made it a pain in the ass to shift(usually a backwards pattern)but easier for your girl to sit next(on top)to you.

I use a red hand bander knob.Letters were stamped into the top and then painted in white,I filed them off and polished it then epoxied it on the shifter handle.
I also have a red striped #15 pool ball I reworked the numbers to 46. I usually stick it on the dash when I don't bring my Pirahna.

 

My Fleetline has got that chrome ball shift knob in it.