Well, I can relate, seeing as how I still have two column shifted manual trans cars.
Worst column shifted car I ever drove was Dad's beater 61 Falcon wagon with a 144 six. Try to hurry the 1-2 shift too much and it would hang up. Many's the time I had to stop, get out, raise the hood and jiggle the shift levers to get them un-hung.
65 Valiant's column shift was much better.
Best manual-trans column shift I've ever experienced is the one in my 49 Dodge. No H pattern; you shift from low to second in a straight line. Very sturdy and very precise.
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