Twist Grip Shifter

My brother got this shifter in a box of parts he bought. I have searched google images and E-bay, and well if you cant find it in those places its a needle in a haystack. I will be throwing this up on a few sites today to try and find someone that knows what it is, why it is, if it has a special reason that it was designed this way. It is a B&M 3 speed automatic shifter, with a twist grip shifter. You twist it like a bicycle shifter to selector gear position. And it has a reverse lockout protection button on the handles end. Any thoughts or ideas are welcome.

i am thinking something for a boat?

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Originally Posted by gassersrule_196

i am thinking something for a boat?

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thats a thought, It has a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, neutral, reverse, and park on the selectors though. I hate spelling neutral, nuetral. What is the correct spelling there? problem after problem. now we have 2 things to figure out.

i didnt even notice the park deal, call b&m they should tell you about it? notice i said "should"

Well, it is a really cool piece for sure. I don't remember ever seeing one. Obscurity generally has a reason.

Is there a part number on it? Its a twist shifter right?

Oops, didnt see the title of the thread. LOL Im a little slow today...

I remember them, they weren't out long. I think they were called twist shift or something like that. Maybe the carpal tunnel shifter.:eek:

Ron

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Originally Posted by mooneye777

thats a thought, It has a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, neutral, reverse, and park on the selectors though. I hate spelling neutral, nuetral. What is the correct spelling there? problem after problem. now we have 2 things to figure out.

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My handy dandy Webster's Handy College Dictionary confirms the spelling as neutral.

Looks like it's intended for a placement that does not have room for shifter movement for and aft, tight places, up against the seat? Lon

Do you want to sell it?????? I'll take it (LOL)

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Originally Posted by Brigrat

Looks like it's intended for a placement that does not have room for shifter movement for and aft, tight places, up against the seat? Lon

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Or sticking out of the dash of your 71 Winnabago

I'm like Ron B, I remember seeing them at one time, I think in the '70's. Obviously, they were not a hit because they were not out long. But on the cool meter, this one would be off of the scale today............quite the conversation piece. Back then there were some weird shifters out.......remember the one with three levers? Price one of those today if you can find it and you will be shocked. :eek:

Don

I tried to get you a little more history on this shifter, but the problem is B&M, and Hurst and Mr. Gasket have been intertwined and changed ownership so many times over the years that it is not clear who was running the show when these were built.

The only thing they could tell me was that it was before their time and they had only seen them in pictures. The concept obviously was to incorporate a motorcycle type twist grip shifter into a car. How many were made or for how long is anybody's guess.

I would put it into a hot rod just for the WOW factor. :D :D :D

Don

sorry 1973swinger, no part number at least on the outer surface, NTFDAY thanks for the propper spelling, and Itoldyouso, thanks for the investigation. Sorry the identity had not surfaced yet. I was told maybe it was for a person that has handicapped on that hand, but I thought it would be harder to grip it to shift then to just tap a rachet shifter into gear. Now the lack of room idea might be something, But I am guessing it was something that went as quick as it came and just never took off. And sorry PAT my brother will probably just hang it on his wall, he got it for next to nothing and it might find a tunnel to sit on someday. But I will ask him if he would sell it and post that info later!

No, it wasn't a handicap thing, it was just their attempt to bring out a new shifter that someone at B&M felt would be different from the competition, and would sell well. Evidently, either he was wrong, or during one of the various shakeups that occurred there, the idea was scrapped.

The rat rod guys would love that shifter. The Craftsman wrenches, Rebar, and other different things used for shifters have now become so common there is no cool factor to them any more. The one your Brother has is really unique, I don't think you will ever see another one in any car in your lifetime.

Don

The rat rod guys would love that shifter. The Craftsman wrenches, Rebar, and other different things used for shifters have now become so common there is no cool factor to them any more. The one your Brother has is really unique, I don't think you will ever see another one in any car in your lifetime.

Don[/QUOTE]

I know ive seen alot of cars and have never seen one yet. You are right, probably never see another one again ever.

I'm almost ready (not quite) to start surfing the old mags for an add. I'm thinking late seventies. Don the Hurst Lightning Rods were put in a prduction Oldsmobile weren't they? 80's 442?

Ron

Thanks Mooneye. Obviously I was just kiddin'! Although if the price was right I would buy it. If I stumbled across something like that I would never sell it. Like Don (Itoldyouso) said, I would definitely install it on a car for the WOW factor. I'm surprised no one from the "other board" responded to this yet.

Good luck in finding more info about the shifter.

Have a great weekend!

Pat

P.S> Hey Don...that would look really good in your car!