GMC Shifter and Turn signal knobs Auto vs. Manual

[1960HDGMC]

Hello, I would like to know if GMC used the same shifter knobs, shifter Lever and Turn Signal Knob and Lever on automatic and Manual Columns each year 60-66. I am seeing what I call a Tulip shaped knob in the literature for the 1960 Hydra-Glide Auto trans. The Inline Six Shifter Knob looks to be a different Tulip Shaped Knob, in the literature. Were there two different, but similar, knobs used in 1960? Did GMC use the Tulip knobs for either shifter or Turn Signal in any of the 60-66 trucks? I have a Tulip Turn Signal Knob and threaded arm, but I do not remember what it came from. I do not recall seeing the Tulip Shifter Knob on any GMC trucks From 60-66 that I have seen. GMC did the automatic Hydra-Glide trans starting in 1960. What would the Shifter Knobs and Lever, and Turn Signal Arm and Lever look like for this 1960 !002 with Auto Trans? I have added some picture from the 1960 Maintenance Manual that show the knobs in question. Thanks for any help, Greg Mead

[BarryGMC]

These are the hardest knobs to find for a per 72 GMC product. One year only. Grey knobs

[1960HDGMC]

Great pictures, Barry. Are these the same for 1960 manual trans trucks? Also, the turn signal knob I have is shaped exactly like this one, only black. Without a picture, can you tell what year and make truck it came from? The arm is straight, chrome and threaded at the end. Did the 1961 GMC keep the same shape and just change the color from gray to black? Thanks for the help, Greg Mead

[Funky61]

Here's what I had on my 61; gray turn signal stalk bulb. I had a 4 speed sm420 on the floor. It came with gray dash knobs, gray vent knobs and gray ashtray handle and gray heater control knobs. Radio was deleted and had the block plate.

[jbgroby]

I have the '60 hydra-matic trans and it has the same shifter knobs as in the pictures

[GMCNUT]

Originally Posted by BarryGMC

These are the hardest knobs to find for a per 72 GMC product. One year only. Grey knobs

Barry is right - one year only for this style shift and turn signal lever in Grey plastic - 1961 also used Grey plastic but the shifter knob was the shape of the well known black colored ones used on all the 60-66 Chevrolet trucks, and 62-66 GMC's.

[1960HDGMC]

Hey GMCNut, you mean that in 61 GMC used the shape of the Chevy knobs, but in this same GMC Gray knob color? That is wild. I would love to see a picture of those. Do you happen to know what the 1962 GMC knobs did, color and shape? Also, do you know what year the Turn Signal Arm lost the threaded end and went to the flat, angled end? Thanks for the help, Greg Mead

[GMCNUT]

Originally Posted by 1960HDGMC

Hey GMCNut, you mean that in 61 GMC used the shape of the Chevy knobs, but in this same GMC Gray knob color? That is wild. I would love to see a picture of those. Do you happen to know what the 1962 GMC knobs did, color and shape? Also, do you know what year the Turn Signal Arm lost the threaded end and went to the flat, angled end? Thanks for the help, Greg Mead

Sure - I will find that grey 61 shifter I have and post pics of it next to a grey 60. In 1962, GMC followed Chevrolet and went to all Black knobs vs making specially colored ones just for GMC - this cut cost and made it easier to run both lines by sharing more parts going forward. So the 60-62 turn signal arm was the screw in type used to actuate a cable running the length of the column that actually connected to the switch itself manually switching it to operate the turn signals. In 63 they did away with the cable operated design and flattened the end of the turn signal arm to accommodate mounting to the now well known 63 up style switch pawl or cancel cam.

[1960HDGMC]

I found this picture of reproduction knobs. They are sold as correct for 1963,4,5,6 Chevrolet Truck. The shifter knob is shaped like the end of a Clarinet, sort of. Or a trumpet shape. The Turn Signal Knob has the grooves running lengthwise. Did GMC use these same shape, same color from 1963? I am assuming the same knob sets were used for both manual and automatic tranny trucks.

[GMCNUT]

So for the purposes of this thread at least, lets call this black knob the "Trumpet" design and the Grey one Barry posted the "Tulip" design to keep it simple. So the Tulip design was borrowed from the 59-61 era Chevrolet cars but I do not know for sure which one or any of them had the grey knob - I think I have seen a early Impala w/ tulip grey knob. The tulip knob was for sure made in black and used on the cars so a reproduction is probably available that could be painted grey if need be. The trumpet knob started in 61 on trucks, and was black on Chevy and Grey on GMC. I am not 100% sure if there was ever a grey version of the conical turn signal arm knob you show here - I have only seen the tulip version on 60 & 61 GMC's so I do not think it changed in 61, and for that matter, I cannot say all 61's had the trumpet style knob, because usually GM always had leftovers used on the first run of new models, so if someone said they had an original untouched 61 w/ tulip knob, I would have no reason to dispute that as being correct. I would say the grey tulip would be correct for 60 & 61 and the trumpet grey knob 61 specific.