60 Roadster Shifter Base

[Dennis Wellner]

Was the shifter base for the roadster painted in a black semi gloss finish from the factory?

I bought my car with the base in its natural alloy color. I’ve seen online photos showing both. I always assumed the painted finish was removed where photos showed a natural color. But maybe not.

[Jon Bunin]

Was the shifter base for the roadster painted in a black semi gloss finish from the factory? I bought my car with the base in its natural alloy color...

Dennis,

The shift lever housing of my 60 Roadster (9/59 build) was not painted, and the Super 90 Roadster test car in the March 60 issue of Road & Track was also not painted. But at some point from 1960-on they were all painted black.

[Dennis Wellner]

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My car was built 6/60. I noticed some black finish inside the fastener holes. Not sure it was from its original coating. Also there was a clear coating over the base which didn’t appear to be annodized. I likey will go with a black finish on the base. Thanks Jon for your response.

[Jon Bunin]

My car was built 6/60. I noticed some black finish inside the fastener holes. Not sure it was from its original coating. Also there was a clear coating over the base which didn’t appear to be annodized. I likey will go with a black finish on the base...

Dennis, your shift lever housing is the second B version, with a shift lock provision. I'm fairly certain that yours should be painted black.

The first photo below is from the March 60 issue of Road & Track magazine, showing the Roadster test car with an unpainted shift lever housing. This car was 86832, the 2nd Roadster by serial number. My Roadster is the 40th by serial number, so they're both very early B cars. Notice too that the optional seat recliners are still the A version.

In the second photo are two early B housings, without a shift lock provision. The original housing from my Roadster is the unpainted one, as it was when I purchased the car in the 70s. It's not scraped or media blasted, and has no evidence of ever being painted. The painted example is one I purchased about 20 years ago. I'm not certain if the paint is original, but it appears to be.

The lower photo is from the factory B parts catalog, showing the first two versions of the shift lever assembly. The second version, like yours, began approx in January 60 with Coupe 110407, Cabriolet/Hardtop 153023 and Roadster 87492. I believe by this point that they were all painted black...

[Dennis Wellner]

Great detailed information. Thank you.

[Dennis Wellner]

Mine has the rubber plug not the lock mechanism.

[Jim Breazeale]

Most of version 2 had a rubber plug in the lock hole. T5 shift locks are different from the ones provided in T6 cars. The T5 locks were Chrome plated and the T6 locks are bare brass.
The T5 shift lock was an option and rarely fitted. The T6 locks were standard equipment. By the way, the T6 shift lock will not fit in the T5 housing and you can't bore out the hole big enough to make it fit.

[Jon Bunin]

Was the shifter base for the roadster painted in a black semi gloss finish from the factory?

More early examples...
1) Page 34 of the 9.59 356B Driver's Manual... Unpainted, partially covered by the tunnel mat.
2) Page E25 of the 356B Workshop Manual... Unpainted.
3) Page R70 of the 356B Workshop Manual... Painted black.

[Steve Kram]

Here's a pic of my '60 transmission lock. I believe it was one year only

[Dennis Wellner]

3) Page R70 of the 356B Workshop Manual... Painted black. From this photo it appears the change to a black finish occured before the addtion of the lock provision. Thanks again for the research Jon. Jim and Steve thanks as well.

[Dick Weiss]

All;

I never removed any tunnel rods while replacing the guide ring; I did cut the ring @ an angle and thinned down
the ring's lips (@ the cut) to ease insertion into the ring's bracket. However, since the shift lever has its spring pressure
upward for reverse lockout, you don't need the full diameter of the ring (w/its slot @ the top) as the bottom section of the ring (once it's in) will stay in place. Just add some grease on the shaft's underside.