78 Grand Prix factory shifter question

[galeaiii]

I picked up this GP yesterday for the gauges that are in it.


It is oddly optioned. Manual doors, non-tilt column , buckets , console, rear defrost , 301 V8 4bbl & an aluminum radiator support. Now here's the question. It has a factory slap shifter. It has two functions. In normal operation it's like any other shifter but in the other operation when the shifter is in first if you slap it forward and to the right it will go up one gear and lock until you slap it forward and to the right again. How rare is this ? I've never seen one before.

 

[Longroof79]

Could you post a pic of it? It certainly doesn't sound like your garden variety GP shifter. I can't say that I've ever seen one myself. Does it have a sort of dual gate operation like the old his and hers shifters?

 

[Gbarrie]

This is a first for me,sounds very interesting and its factory? How about some interior pics?
Looks to solid to part out, what are your plans?
Gbarrie.

 

[galeaiii]

I will post some better pics of it later today when the wife gets home & I'm not watching kids. I got the car just for the gauges. I have a GP dash that I've been wanting to put in my car. I also have GP door lower door panels & console in my car. Every useable part on the car is for sale. It has 83,000 original miles on it. The way the previous owner described it the normal shifter has a round opening in the plastic that covers the void where the shifter moves in the console. On the shifters like this GP has it is an oval.

 

[galeaiii]

Ok, here's some more pics.

 

[tdvick]

I think most older Pontiac shifters operated that way. It's the same as the one I pulled from a '78 G/A that I parted out. My '70 GTO had the same thing. Most late 60s and 70s Firebirds and Trans Ams had it as well. It's pretty neat, but I don't think it's that rare.

 

[grandamman]

The slap shifter is a hit and miss option similar to the aluminum radiator support. Not really rare at all imo. Some had it, some didn't. Most, did not.

 

[galeaiii]

Then if most didn't have it doesn't that make it rare?

 

[Evan11]

If most didn't have it, I'd consider it rare. I've never saw one. I myself would consider the alum core supports to be pretty rare as well. Pretty neat seats too

 

[grandamman]

I've seen them in approximately 1/3 of the floor shift cars I've parted/or saw in the scrap yards.
Out of > 1 million Pontiac G body cars produced, I personally wouldn't call it rare.
It is a cool option to add if your car doesn't have it.
My first Grand Am, in 1978 had it, so maybe I've looked for it longer than some.
A friend of mine actually told me about it while we were out cruising.
I always try the shifter to check for the option. Sometimes they are too rusty to pull, plus I have plenty already.