Just wondering if anyone here ever came across alternatives to the OEM walnut ball shifter **** for the 70-72 Cutlass console auto cars?

Since it has such a deep threaded recess to seat near the t-bar grip, it occurs to me I've never noticed any console auto-equipped Cutlass using anything else but that one on a stock shift handle.

 

I know for a fact the Hurst aluminum handle will fit. One of my first cutlass was a 71 that had hurst handle on it. The T bar stays on the handle, the hurst shifter threads on just like the wood grain ball.

 

Whatever **** you use has to have a counterbore so it fits over the top of the finger grip when you push down on the **** to move the shifter. Most don't, which is why you rarely see a different one on this shifter.

 

Interestingly, it was actually the Hurst handle that got me thinking about this question since I'd seen in photos that they had what looked like a similarly recessed thread base.

I figured there was an absence of any others with a deep enough pocket to provide the necessary downward travel - guess I'm just surprised at the lack of any aftermarket options for it (even from past years).

 

The dual gate handle is easy - the ball doesn't need to move so all you need is the right thread. And frankly, people who were happy with the stock shifter likely didn't care about an aftermarket shift ****.

 

A great alternative is a skull...why not... you did ask for alternatives.
I used this gnarly bas turd with a nut counter sunk with some good ole JB...long before doing a full restoration.
Still have it. Just cuz.
Now I gotta screw it back in place for a photo op...motorway.

 

That's just too cool!