short tower and shifter ball is just personal preferrence....for me the shorter the throw...the faster the shift....and the ball on top lets me just shove it into 3rd. Believe it or not...it is the same set-up I had in the Duster on the left below...circa 1976
I think I first saw this shift combo in one of Sox and Martins cars...never remember seeing a pistol grip shifter in a early 70's pro stocker....I think they were made more for "marketing"
if it's good enough for Ronnie...it's good enough for me