Not best, but optimum Transmission?

My Barracuda was built April 14, 1964. It is a factory four speed car. When Plymouth decided to offer a four speed, there was no viable platform available. They had three to choose from; push button automatic, which had the wrong dash, column shift three speed manual, which had the wrong column, floor shift automatic, which was good everywhere except it didn't have a large enough hump to clear the shifter. So, the side of the transmission tunnel was torched out as it went down the assembly line and a humped panel was pop riveted in place. They are referred to as, "factory hack jobs". It worked; unlike some "top notch" dude who "jimmies" up linkage to clear headers to a point that the car is dangerous to drive.