Queen Mother Shift Knob

[365 GT 2+2]

My 365 GT 2+2 currently has a plain 'round' shift knob. I have seen a few other Queens with similar knobs, but have also seen a few with knobs that are similar to that on a 330 GTC - with more of a two finger grip. Is there a 'correct' knob for the 365 GT 2+2?

[TOMKIZER]

All evidence that I've been able to find leads me to the conclusion that yours should be like a 330, BUT, I'm not sure I trust the evidence. It goes like this:

The early 365 GT 2+2 parts book (23/68) for cars (allegedly) before s/n 12811 shows that the knob was "upside down rounded conical with finger indentations" and screwed directly to a skinny shift lever. This system is visible on the Ricambi America web site showing the 365 GT 2+2 transmission controls.

The later parts book (35/69) for cars s/n 12811 and above calls for the spherical knob that screws onto a larger hollow lever that apparently slides over and snaps onto a skinny shift lever. These parts, knob and hollow lever, are FIAT parts. This system is also shown (kind of) on the Ricambi America web site by clicking on the 365 knob part number that is highlighted in blue. It takes you to the later knob and lever as it is used on the 400i (although it was also in the late 365 GT 2+2 parts book for s/n 12811 and later not shown on the Ricambi America site).

The only reason that I can see for changing knobs would be a change of shift lever systems, however, mine (s/n 12293) also has the later spherical knob and hollow shift lever although the books say it should have been like the 330 knob.

I understand that your car was an early prototype, so logic says it should have had the 330 type knob.

My opinion is that there are so many inconsistencies in these cars, relative to the parts books, that it is almost impossible to know exactly how they were originally built. I suspect that if one actually followed the parts books during a restoration, one would rebuild the car more accurately than Ferrari built it in the first place.

I know that this is not an answer to your question, but maybe it can provide a place to start your research.

Maybe we can get other 365 GT 2+2 owners to identify their shift knob system and corresponding car serial number. I'm almost sure that the change from 330 type knob to spherical knob occurred earlier than s/n 12811, in spite of what the parts books say. I would hate to loose points in a concours just because a judge had blind faith in Ferrari's ability to build according to the parts book.

Good Luck, and please post any new information that you find.

Tom Kizer

[Bryan P]

mine is spherical and looks to be original; 11199; 26th Queen; build date of Jan 4, 1968

[mdempsey]

Bryan, You want to know what my knob looks like????

[mdempsey]

OH it's Tom K that wants to know what everyone's knob looks like!!


Sorry just could not resist!

[Bryan P]

y'know, you can take the boy out of Carroll County, but not the . . . .

[mdempsey]

Culvert County Culvert County carroll is a whole big step down!!

[TOMKIZER]

OH it's Tom K that wants to know what everyone's knob looks like!!


Sorry just could not resist!

Yeah, well, we all suspect that yours has finger indentations in it.

Please don't post a picture.

I couldn't resist either.

Tom Kizer

[tyang]

OH it's Tom K that wants to know what everyone's knob looks like!!


Sorry just could not resist!

Yeah, well, we all suspect that yours has finger indentations in it.

Please don't post a picture.

I couldn't resist either.

Tom Kizer

Alright, now that's funny.

Tom

[365 GT 2+2]

Thanks Tom Kizer for the detail - much appreciated. The maturity level of this forum is that of about the eighth grade - that's why I love it! I'll think twice before I call anything a 'knob' again...

[Bryan P]

let me throw this out there - w/ the caveat that there is rarely a conclusively "correct" answer to this stuff - my hypothesis is that NO queen mothers had the 330-type shift knob. I've seen plenty of early (67-68) queens and have never seen the indented knob in any of them. Is is possible that this tavola in the manual was simply re-used from the 330 parts book? Zac D and Shaughnessy have seen many, many more queens than I have; they may say differently . . .

[365 GT 2+2]

yeah - and I agree on needing a caveat - but I looked for my Queen for quite some time and saw a lot of cars...never saw one with anything but the spherical shifter (notice the lack of use of 'knob'!) My manual has the 330 style shifter in the pictures - thus the reason for my inquiry in the first place. but I am thinkin' you might be right...I have asked someone with roots to the factory in Italy. let's see what he comes back with, if anything.

[TOMKIZER]

A couple of days ago, I went through my photo files looking for other 365 GT 2+2 "impugnaturi". HOW'S THAT FOR AVOIDING PITFALLS?

I did find one with an "impugnatura" like the 330s. It was one of the two Queens used to illustrate the 365 GT 2+2 Buyer's Guide. I don't know whose it is but it would be interesting to know if the owner was maybe "overzealous" in his restoration and followed the parts book exactly, thus removing a good one and installing what begins to look like the wrong shifter "impugnatura".

Admittedly, I've also never seen anything but the spherical ones on the 365 GT 2+2s that I've seen "in the flesh" - OOPS, another faut pas.

Tom Kizer

[330GT]

OH it's Tom K that wants to know what everyone's knob looks like!!


Sorry just could not resist!

Yeah, well, we all suspect that yours has finger indentations in it.

Please don't post a picture.

I couldn't resist either.

Tom Kizer

The real question is, are the finger indentations for left hand or right hand (drive)?

Actually, this brings up a semi-serious question. Having never seen a RHD 330 GT, are the shift knobs made differently so the left hand fingers wrap around properly?