What Is A Column Shifter and Why It Is Regaining Relevance?

Pictured here, the opulent multi-colour interior of the 1955 Packard Caribbean Convertible included a dazzling chrome column shift lever. (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada) 

The important role of a transmission paired with an internal combustion engine has been established for

more than 100 years in facilitating the efficient flow of power through the drive wheels. Eventually through

the evolution of automobile design, the familiar placement for a gearshift lever was mounted on the floor.

However, for a time, it was also popular to find a gear shifter behind the steering wheel attached to the

steering column.

The Birth of Three on the Tree

Although column shifters would become synonymous with automatic transmissions, the first appearance of

the gear shift behind the steering wheel came with a manual gearbox. Referred to in brochures as remote

control shifting, the 1939 Plymouth introduced the shifter positioning behind the steering wheel. The novel

remote control shifting design not only made gear changes more convenient for the driver but allowed a

middle passenger to seat comfortably in the middle of the car’s front row bench.

During the 1950s, American automotive luxury prioritized interior space with bench seating. As seen in this 1956 Lincoln Premiere, a column shifter provided the spacious cabin desired for the time. (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Caanda) 

The introduction of modern automatic transmission through the late 1940s on American-branded vehicles

would proceed to make use of column shifters. Whether it was Oldsmobile’s Hydramatic transmission

introduced in 1948, Packard’s Ultramatic or the Powerglide gearbox introduced on Chevrolets in 1950,

automakers elected to place the gear lever on the steering column to better promote an elegant interior look

for the time. Column shifters were commonplace inside a 1950s car interior for most coupes, sedans and

wagons being sold.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the term “four on the floor” was popular automotive lingo for a four-speed

manual transmission with a floor-mounted lever. For three-speed manuals using a column-mounted shifter,

a similar phrase “three on the tree” was also common.  However, manual shifting column shifters grew less

common on American-made vehicles with the Ford F-100 pickup truck cited as one of the last to be available

with such an arrangement.

The Eventual Downshift

The shift in gear lever location occurred during the 1960s as automotive interior design was led by a changing

desire for sportier front bucket seating as opposed to bench seating. In addition to manual gearboxes being

regularly floor mounted, it was becoming more common to find automatic shifters within a center floor

console. For auto manufacturers, floor-mounted shifters also presented more ideal packaging as could be

placed closer to a vehicle’s transmission. 

During the 1960s into the 1980s, column-mounted transmission shifters famously used on many vehicles sold throughout the world including on this pictured 1962 Datsun 1200 Deluxe Sedan (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada)  

Column shifters continued to be prominent on cars from the Detroit Three automakers entering the 1980s

with front bench seats remaining widely available. The Chevrolet Caprice, Ford Crown Victoria and even

several products part of Chrysler’s K-car family offered six-passenger seating configurations. This would

change through the decade as the idea of a middle front seat proved unattractive when considering comfort

and safety as a passenger positioned between the driver and passenger would only have the protection of a

lap seat belt. Heading into the 21st century, the only place where a column-mounted gear selector could be

found would be on select pickup trucks.

Column Shifting Comeback

The appearance of column-mounted shifters have declined greatly since the 1980s but has remained in limited use. Pictured above is a column shifter found in the 2018 GMC Sierra 2500HD. (Photo Credit: Chris Nagy/Car FYI Canada) 

Through attempts to reimagine the automobile without an internal combustion engine, electric vehicles have

given modern designers a chance to explore new ideas (or rather some old ideas). In order to create a cleaner,

simpler instrument and control layout, some interiors are incorporating a revival of column shifters. The Kia

EV9, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and the Honda Prologue are among battery electric vehicles reviving the

column-mounted gear selector for a new era.