If you were building a late 20's to early 30's street rod sedan, would you install a floor shifter or column shifter. What are most street rod guys doing these days.

I 'm building from the frame up and want to plan ahead to ensure all my clearances work.

Your thoughts/ suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you........

Floor shifter is simpler and more "hot rod".

This one uses column shift to save floor space. Works very well and it is a hot rod.

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Auto tranny, either way but in a Model A and even a '32, you run out of room real quick with a column shifter due to frame width, exhaust, brakes, etc.

Manual tranny - floor shift - IMO is the only way to go.

Dave W

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consider one of the hidden shifters. I installed one made by "Fairlane" it hides under the dashboard, and still has an indicator ability so you can still pass nsra safety 23 inspection. all you have is a handle like a cowl vent under the dash!

Actually, if you have auto and a cable shifter you could do the same thing...just move the shift handle up under the dash to hide it. In fact, I recently saw a rat rod sedan with the shifter hanging down from the roof. I also once saw a T-bucket (cramped for room from the get go) with the shifter mounted to the drivers side door (obviously not an operable door) to provide a little more center leg room. So with a cable shifter you can do all sorts of tricks.

Back to the original point, I have the feeling that floor vs. column is something of a regional preference. In some areas of the U.S. and Canada rodders tend toward floor shifters and in some areas they really seem to like column shifter (I think mostly to get away from the sameness factor associated with floor shifters. When push comes to shove, go with what YOU like...you won't be wrong.

Every one has their own opinion ... I suggest you look at a few cars at the next car show or cruise night and see which one you like ...
I prefer the column shifter ... if you have a automatic transmission ... This photo is of my 32 Roadster with a automatic ...



The NEXT photo shows a automatic column shifter in my 32 Ford coupe. See the simple shift lever ??



The next photo shows how LITTLE room there is ... even in a 32 ... for clutch linkage and a pedal.



The next photo show a early Chevrolet van tilt column is my 32 coupe. Notice that it is very small ... and has the P R N D L2 L1 indicator built into the shifter. It also has no key on the column. I always use these columns in the cars I build.



This photo shows how small and compact the van tilt is ...



Just look at the next car event and ask to sit in the car ... and you will see how cramped and small they are. I do not want anything in the floor of my 32's ...

Great comments..........

Car shows in the northeast don't begin until spring, but I will certainly check out the early interiors whenever I can.

I was torn between the 2, and the various comments are helpful...

Any other comments are appreciated.

Thank you

I always preferred a column shifter in a small car, a floor shift knob always seems to find the soft spot between my tibial tuberosity, fibula and patella.
Very uncomfortable.
Later, mikey

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imo i like the floor shifters, i just converted my 82 pickup to floor shift and i think it kicks ***** i put a b&m streetrod shifter in it and i've been nothing but happy. i know this is a different application but i like floor shifters in hotrods especially in some of the old school rods i've seen with chain shifters and long shift rods, even though seen as not "practical" i think that they are an excellent showcase of traditional hotrodding. i'd go floor shift all the way.

just my $0.02

Who makes the "hidden" shifters as recommended.

I tried a google search, but did not see anything?

Thank you.........

Could also consider the auto shifters in the old Dodge A100 vans.
It was actually on the dash.

I had an old corvair station wagon that had the shifter on the dash. But never thought of using that idea today. Might be cool and should not be hard to make.