If you are talking about what I think you are talking about...
My dad always told me that when he was in highschool people said "Four on the floor is way cooler than three on the tree". He said you were only cool if you had four on the floor and you were a grandma if you had three on the tree. He also said that somepeople would cut a whole out of their floorboard and figure a way to move the shifter from the column to the floor. I always thought cars like this were really cool.

 

I know we're getting a bit off track here, but WTH.

The last car that I know of that had a column shift was the Chev Caprice - the car that was often used as a police vehicle. Most had the bench seat, too, which allowed three in the front seat. I think the bench was split into sort of a 60/40 configuration, so that the passengers portion could be adjusted independently for leg room and tilt.

Back to the good old days. I always liked the three-speed manual column shift. I think the wider-ratio 3 speed transmissions, although not potentially as fast as the four speed units, were nevertheless handy because they didn't have to be shifted as much in the city. I remember a friend's dad's Olds that had a rather high 1st gear. Once in second you didn't have to shift till you got on the highway - above 50, or so, but I believe the thing could go up above 70 before one really HAD to shift. So the three speed was great around town - almost a two spped, really.

There were 4-sp cars that also had bench seats, too, although "buckets" were the cool way to go.

My father and mother's favorite car was the Buick Electra 225. Huge bench seat in front with column shift auto. Three people could fit very nicely in the front seat. It was one of the most comfortable cars ever made, IMO, although the W140 Mercedes was a very close second in the front seat for two people, and even better than the Buick in the back. But these cars were real "lead sleds" and you practically needed to pull a refinery behind you to keep them fed.

Another thing about consoles and console shifters - they're bad for people like me who have long legs and would like to "splay" the right leg to the right side to get some more "knee" room when the accelerator is under foot. With these high consoles and short dashes that poke out so far, it's impossible to do that and then it is necessary to have much more "straight on" leg room - a rare feature nowadays. (If I want a cocoon, I'll go to bed, thank you.)

For me the ideal set up would be to have paddle shifters on the steering wheel, absolutely no console whatsoever (put the emergency brake to the left of the driver's left leg), a flat foor between the two front seats, and, finally, a "thin" dash under which there is the same amount of space to the floor from the passenger to the driver. (You could put a few six-packs, or anything else, in the freed-up space.) Locate the small heater and radio controls where you now typically see air vents in the center, upper portion of the dash. (I don't need a 20" TV/ GPS / game console / media center on the dash between the seats, thank you.)

Come to think of it, I don't want a traditional "dash", either. I don't mind seeing what's under there, so let me see it. I'd be perfectly happy with separate gauges mounted on the steering column.

I don't need a "glove box" either, so just put a hook over there under the windshield for me to hang an old grocery bag from.

This would be roomier vehicle and we wouldn't have to be puzzle-masters to get to whatever we want to fix under these ridiculous dash boards.

While we're at it, let's get rid of all of that plastic stuff covering the engine, too.

Oh, back on track, it must also be a big, RWD Honda in-line six automobile - not some SUV, or mini SUV, or "crossover" from something to something else.

 

Here's something I just ran into that may interest others. It's called the Toyota Century and I guess it's the ultimate Toyota. It's still in prodcution after being introduced in the 60's. Believe it or don't, it's a huge, RWD car that, to me, looks remarkably like the 80's Chev Impala or Caprice Classic. See for yourself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Century


Now, that's my kind of car, but not at my kind of price. I'd love to drive one, though, just to see what the ultimate Toyota car is all about.

I wonder why. oh why, their ultimate car has REAR wheel drive?

(You performance folks take note - "The Century received a complete redesign in 1997, although the new model was visually very similar to the old. The 1997 model also received an engine upgrade: it could be purchased with the 280 PS 5.0 L 1GZ-FE V12. The Century remains the first and only Japanese front-engine, rear-wheel drive production car equipped with a V12.")

Here's a link the Century's site.
http://toyota.jp/century/index.html
There's a nice video of the car that starts after the page loads.

Here's one that's for sale (I think I'm in love):
http://www.autogallery.com.hk/eproduct.php?id=377

 

FWD FOR SURE. GET GOOD TIRES AND YOUR GOLDEN