356B shift knob
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:03 am
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
356B shift knob
My early 57 coupe came with what I assume is a 356B shift knob and shortened shaft that was jury rigged to the stub of the original shifter shaft. The B shaft slides over the A shaft and the two were cleverly secured with what I think is the pinch clamp from a front stub axle from a B. It was that way as early as 1968. Maybe it looked more modern but it did nothing to improve the shifting.
I tried the Ken Daugherty shift tower and used the same knob with an adapter, but it was too much trouble (trial and error) to get everything aligned correctly. I returned to the original (stock) floor shifter mechanism, devised a better shifter, and reattached the 356B knob. There is no dimple on the top.
In handling the knob, I noticed a slight asymmetry. In cross section the knob is slightly tapered at one end, like a bicycle helmet, which I assume is meant to be rear-facing. Although this difference is not obvious, with the tail to the back it seems a better fit to the hand. This may be a manufacturing defect, but I doubt it.
Has anyone noticed this before? If someone would confirm this observation (evidently nothing in archives on this), it would be yet another example of the attention to detail that marks our marque. Why would the designers even bother with such a small detail? I believe it is the sum of many such features that made these cars as desirable back in the day as they are today.
Lloyd Keigwin
I tried the Ken Daugherty shift tower and used the same knob with an adapter, but it was too much trouble (trial and error) to get everything aligned correctly. I returned to the original (stock) floor shifter mechanism, devised a better shifter, and reattached the 356B knob. There is no dimple on the top.
In handling the knob, I noticed a slight asymmetry. In cross section the knob is slightly tapered at one end, like a bicycle helmet, which I assume is meant to be rear-facing. Although this difference is not obvious, with the tail to the back it seems a better fit to the hand. This may be a manufacturing defect, but I doubt it.
Has anyone noticed this before? If someone would confirm this observation (evidently nothing in archives on this), it would be yet another example of the attention to detail that marks our marque. Why would the designers even bother with such a small detail? I believe it is the sum of many such features that made these cars as desirable back in the day as they are today.
Lloyd Keigwin
- Sebastian Gaeta
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Re: 356B shift knob
Lloyd,
If you can post a picture or three, you would get your answer immediately. I for one am very interested to see what this shift knob look slike.
If you can post a picture or three, you would get your answer immediately. I for one am very interested to see what this shift knob look slike.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
- Posts: 11490
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 4:37 pm
- Location: SW Los Angeles
Re: 356B shift knob
Years ago when I bought my '58 coupe, it had a similar set up on the shifter. It was a VW accessory.
Mike
Mike
Mike Wilson
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
Lomita, CA
'63 B coupe
- Martin Benade
- 356 Fan
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- Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Re: 356B shift knob
I had a 56 VW that probably had the same thing. I never looked inside to boot to see if it was clamped or welded, but it looked like a real B shifter at quick glance.
Cleveland Ohio
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
62 Cabriolet
56 VW
02 IS 300
04 Sienna
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:03 am
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
Re: 356B shift knob
Sebastian, I just assumed the mystery knob (photo attached) was from a 356B, but I compared it to a complete B shifter assembly and I can see the original is completely symmetrical. The mystery knob has the same length (75 mm) and same shaft diameter (15 mm) as the original, but at its widest part the original knob has a diameter 2 mm shorter.
So could the one pictured be from a 356C or early 911?
So could the one pictured be from a 356C or early 911?
- Sebastian Gaeta
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Re: 356B shift knob
Lloyd,
I have 2 C's and along with all the C cars I have observed over the years I can say with confidence that B & C knobs are the same. If I had to guess, I would say that your knob has been modified. Can you post a picture of the top of the knob? I am curious if it has the manufacturer's dimple. That would not change the fact that I believe it has been modified, I am just curious.
I have 2 C's and along with all the C cars I have observed over the years I can say with confidence that B & C knobs are the same. If I had to guess, I would say that your knob has been modified. Can you post a picture of the top of the knob? I am curious if it has the manufacturer's dimple. That would not change the fact that I believe it has been modified, I am just curious.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:03 am
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
Re: 356B shift knob
I don't think it has been modified because the diameter of the top is 2mm larger than the 356B. No dimple or anything else noteworthy on the top surface. But it sure "looks" Porsche. The one I have known to be 356B has a small circular mark on the top at center, surrounded by what I would call a starburst pattern or lines radiating from the circle. Looks like a mfg artifact.
- Sebastian Gaeta
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 3047
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:50 pm
- Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Re: 356B shift knob
That’s exactly what it is, a manufacturing artifact. The starburst are probably little hairline cracks.Lloyd Keigwin wrote: The one I have known to be 356B has a small circular mark on the top at center, surrounded by what I would call a starburst pattern or lines radiating from the circle. Looks like a mfg artifact.
As for the knob, the easy answer is that it is custom made, especially since there is no dimple, but someone might read this thread that knows something we don’t, although that is not likely. The short answer is that I would wager a large sum that it is not a stock setup from Porsche.
Sebastian Gaeta
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
www.arbormotion.com
Registry #8339
'65 C coupe
'64 C cab
-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle
-
- 356 Fan
- Posts: 338
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:14 pm
Re: 356B shift knob
Are you talking about these?
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- 13989a.jpg (25.88 KiB) Viewed 1074 times
MICHAEL FOSTER
- Vic Skirmants
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Re: 356B shift knob
Since the knob is screwed on, there is no positive stop for alignment. Ergo, it must be symmetrical. The custom knobs with the Porsche crest, in order for the crest to be situated correctly, have a thin lock nut to hold them in the correct orientation.
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- 356 Fan
- Posts: 60
- Joined: Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:03 am
- Location: Cape Cod, MA
Re: 356B shift knob
Michael, I think what I have is the one on the left in your photo, with the bent shaft. Mystery solved. This knob is not threaded so orientation can be changed. Thanks all.
- Mike Wilson
- Classifieds Monitor
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- Location: SW Los Angeles
- Daniel Roman
- 356 Fan
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- Joined: Thu Mar 23, 2017 9:00 pm
- Location: South Florida
Re: 356B shift knob
Michael is correct. That is a ShiftStar aftermarket accessory knob. They are vintage made in Germany. They made shift knobs for VW, BMW and possibly other makes. The knob has not been modified. The offset is what makes them distinctive. It is an early ergonomic design.MICHAEL FOSTER wrote:Are you talking about these?
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