1969 Automatic shifter handles

[Coralsnake]

The silver jade car currently on BaT has a wooden handle shifter without the snake. I am pretty sure this handle was "released" for production, but is it common?

[Bob Gaines]

The silver jade car currently on BaT has a wooden handle shifter without the snake. I am pretty sure this handle was "released" for production, but is it common?

No I don't think it was common. I have mostly seen them as replacements when owners were questioned decades ago. Now days it is harder to get confirmation because cars have passed through more owners. Shelby had a common practice of sticking emblems everywhere on the 68,69and 70 Shelby's . Consequently it does not follow that they would abandon the practice on purpose especially since there are many late production autos that have had the snake handle all of their lives. Logically this would imply that ether some slipped through by mistake or it is a replacement. There are many versions of the exact wood handle with different emblems etc. that sold through Shelby and others during that time period. This the general consensus at least until more compelling evidence suggests otherwise.

[TOBKOB]

I can't speak for the 1st year of my cars life but when I bought in in July 1970 (built April 7th) it had a non snake handle. Since it was a Hertz car someone may have taken a souvenir. 

TOB

[Krelboyne]

I would imagine that they were available plain. There was a Cougar version for the 1970 Eliminator.

[J_Speegle]

I would imagine that they were available plain. There was a Cougar version for the 1970 Eliminator.

Plain ones (without the snake) were sold through may speed shops and in catalogs like JC Whitney and Honest Charles

[propayne]

Scan from a vintage brochure.

- Phillip

[Coralsnake]

Thank you all

The plain ones were also "released for production" according to an AOSmith letter I have.

Not sure if that means they made it to the floor

[TOBKOB]

[quote Plain ones (without the snake) were sold through may speed shops and in catalogs like JC Whitney and Honest Charles
][/quote]
Interesting but I doubt Hertz or Ford would replace one from those sources ( who knows) but probably from a Ford  dealer. My car went from Hertz back to Ford then I bought it so I wouldn't expect a third party part but who knows...

TOB

[J_Speegle]

[quote Plain ones (without the snake) were sold through may speed shops and in catalogs like JC Whitney and Honest Charles
]

Interesting but I doubt Hertz or Ford would replace one from those sources ( who knows) but probably from a Ford  dealer. My car went from Hertz back to Ford then I bought it so I wouldn't expect a third party part but who knows...
[/quote]

Dealer might have had them as an impulse item hanging in the dealership/at parts counter. As mentioned we will never know just discussing the possibilities