The straight shifter started with the ’60 Monza, in which the three-speed was of course the only manual transmission available. 61 Monzas with buckets and 3-speed continued to use the straight lever.
GM Proving grounds photos are attached, showing the shifters for both years. These aren’t prototype cars. They’re ordinary production cars selected for testing. Note the lock nut under the 60 shifter knob, and that the 60 knob has the 3-speed shift pattern embossed on it while the ’61 doesn’t. I don’t have a 62 3-speed bucket photo that I can think of right now.
I believe the reasoning for the straight 60 Monza shifter was that a middle front seat passenger would be an unlikely event. The only reason I can think of for continuing the 60 Monza shifter into 61 and 62 for bucket seat 3 speeds might have been to use up stock on this unusual application.
Information provided by Dave Newell
Photos provided by Dave Newell and Larry Claypool
