i believe the shifter is apart of trying to move the shifter closer to the person and still having a "short throw". similar to the 05+ stangs if you have ever seen an aftermarket shifter.
here is what mine looks like...sorta. i dont have the console or the woodgrain.
nothin beats an old hurst shifter stickin up out of an old hotrod!
im with the consensus of the people in this thread. Amazing restoration however, things needed to be changed if i were to own this car are the following:
steering wheel
wheels - size, height, and style
shifter - return it back to more of a stock set up
suspension- idk about you guys, but i think the dam thing is TOO LOW. its a muscle car, not a lamborgini.
color - not my first choice but its alright. I would have preferred an original color