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History Hurst T handle shifter history question

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 53 hemi, Aug 4, 2019.

  1. 53 hemi
    Joined: Jan 8, 2009
    Posts: 501

    53 hemi
    Member

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  2. I used my first Hurst T handle in my 63 1/2 Falcon Sprint in 1967.

    I haven't used one since, I prefer the ball.

    It's ironic that I used that same old 4 speed Hurst shiftier albeit I cut the handle and modified it to adapt to the 5 speed transmission in the Ranch Wagon. HRP
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2019
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  3. Kan Kustom
    Joined: Jul 20, 2009
    Posts: 2,739

    Kan Kustom
    Member

    I have some of them and like Hotrod primer, I like the balls better so the T handles sit on the shelf to look at. I used to like and use them when they first came out but cant even remember when I first got them.
     
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  4. Jokester
    Joined: Jan 29, 2005
    Posts: 688

    Jokester
    Member

    When did the T-handle shift knob come out?


    The T-handle is gay??????????????????
     
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  5. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon


    Well, then I guess I was gay for a while:eek:
    Yep, 1970, man, a new Hurst Competition Plus with a "C" shifter and a T handle in a bench seat 57 Chevy, life was good for this 16 year old, hell I even put a hole in that new Hurst Super Boot just so I could have a reverse lockout with that cool little round red knob like all my drag racing heroes used, but that T handle kept giving me a blister on the palm of my hand.
    I guess it was just a passing phase, a fad of the time, that old round white ball brought me back to reality.

    [​IMG]
     
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  6. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    Who remembers those fuzzy coated T handles?
     
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  7. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

     
  8. Copy by core-shifters.com........
    "When Hurst first released the T-handle in 1966, they offered it in 3 different mount angles - 25, 45, and 65 degrees (from vertical) because Hurst sticks have a great variety of thread angles. For the best feel, the handle should be horizontal on top. Sadly, few understood the objective and Hurst consolidated to the 45 deg mount a few years later. This doesn't fit very well for many, particularly on today's applications where the shifter stick is dead vertical."

    Notice the "open 4" and the "closed 4" in the handles below.
    For your homework, which style "4" is the real-deal Hurst part and which is the cheap, Chinese counterfeit? Or are both of 'em Kosher?
    closed hurst.jpg
    open hurst.jpg
     
    Last edited: Aug 4, 2019
  9. 6sally6
    Joined: Feb 16, 2014
    Posts: 2,459

    6sally6
    Member

    You SURE that's what was causing a blister in the palm of your hand, DDDenny!!:rolleyes: A young 16 year old? Hmmmmmmmm!
    6sally6
     
  10. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
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    19C57247-23D3-476E-84D6-8063FD1575F3.jpeg

    Here is a fuzzy one
     
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  11. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
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  12. deucemac
    Joined: Aug 31, 2008
    Posts: 1,483

    deucemac
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    I used one on a '61 Impala I had in the late 60's and early 70's. My ex-wife had Polio as a child and her right arm lacked strength. Using a ball to shift into reverse or back into first was real trouble for her. But, reaching underhand on the T handle gave her the leverage needed.
     
  13. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    there is not much I can think of you can do in a car with your pants on that is more fun than banging gears with a Hurst linkage with a T handle hooked to your 4 speed.... addition of a big block adds even more fun.

    balls are for your wife or girlfriend to handle.
     
  14. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    Grumpy liked T handles, though this one was not a Hurst

     
  15. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    I used to turn mine to almost a 90 degree angle, with the right hand side facing forward, pointed right in the direction of third gear. It made shifting into reverse kinda awkward though.
     
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  16. Z06-LITE
    Joined: Nov 13, 2010
    Posts: 221

    Z06-LITE
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    The first one I remember having was in 1968 when I put a Hurst Competition Plus shifter and reverse lock out in my then new '68 GTO.
     
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  17. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
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    I have a T handle in my off topic 66 Chevelle

    E3F42E1D-0D75-475A-9727-306253AA7CF9.jpeg
     
  18. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,143

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    That would be a P&G shifter, made in Portland.
     
  19. @The Shift Wizard -
    Gotta be the open 4, based on Mark's black one and the broken white one I have. Thanks for the clarification, I just polished and gave away the one like you showed. It went on my pal's '57. Glad to know it can be told from the copy.
     
  20. I was using one on the shifter in my '57 Custom bracket racer in '71. The car is long gone, but I still have the T-handle in its bag on the shelf.
     
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  21. I would totally buy that as a poster.
     
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  22. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,753

    Deuces

    Love that old Pioneer Super Tuner also.... I had one of those with a cassette player..... ;)
     
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  23. Don't worry..There's some guys here that won more than Jenkins, using a ball..They are_______,________, ________..?? Oh hell, I'm sure they're here ;)
     
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  24. slowmotion
    Joined: Nov 21, 2011
    Posts: 3,330

    slowmotion
    Member

    Mine was an 8-track with the angled up black face.:D
     
  25. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,753

    Deuces

    Can't remember if they dished out 40 er 60 watts... I had Jensen speakers hooked up to mine... :)
     
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  26. Moriarity
    Joined: Apr 11, 2001
    Posts: 30,778

    Moriarity
    SUPER MODERATOR
    Staff Member

    DFEF031C-490C-4201-BA9C-C483CF305A40.jpeg
     
  27. corncobcoupe
    Joined: May 26, 2001
    Posts: 7,257

    corncobcoupe
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    The ultimate Bitchin' Grump Banging Gears Video....


     
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  28. southcross2631
    Joined: Jan 20, 2013
    Posts: 4,413

    southcross2631
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    The first one I ever used was in 67 on a 65 GTO that I drove for a guy . I used one for years on a 69 Camaro.
    I just built a T handle for my inline shifter on my DSCF3532.JPG Morris Minor Gasser.
     
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  29. Kan Kustom
    Joined: Jul 20, 2009
    Posts: 2,739

    Kan Kustom
    Member

    Right there is the proof he was not gay ! ;)
     
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