on 1970 challengers. did they have some kind of "transmission lock" (column/floor shifted) on the column?? im arguing with someone that my challenger use to be a column shifter car, but he argues that the lever inside the engine bay is to lock the transmission when it is in reverse?????? please help decide who is wrong.

 

I shouldn't pick sides without seeing it in person, but your buddy is correct. It was a theft deterrent attempt on stick cars from Ma Mopar. Why do think it was a column shift car?

 

we have two challengers. one is a 4 speed, the other is a automatic. the one that we both agree use to be a column shifted car is the automatic. but when we talk about the 4 speed challenger, he says that its originally a floor shifted car and that the lever on the column inside the engine bay is for a transmission lock. when to me both columns look exactly alike. sorry i cant post pictures. bad computer

 

Even the 4 speeds did. My 70 440-6 RR had a big irritating linkage (removed) from the reverse lever up to a lever in the column, hooked to the column lock / ignition. In addition, it had the clutch safety switch.

As far as I'm concerned this is as bad as it was good. I NEVER used to park my cars in reverse, because it is the weakest gear. If someone hits you, it's very likely to break

In addition, when you start the car, you are starting in reverse, unless you take the time to

turn the key on

pull the handle into neutral.

depress the clutch and twist the key to start

So if you just jump in, push the clutch, and start, it's VERY easy to forget that you are still in reverse.

The one good thing about this, at least with the 4 speed, is that "if" the linkage worked right, and if you had to shut the engine off at speed because of some problem, you could not !!!!! LOCK !!!! the column