What older car had the shift on steering wheel?

Question

It was right where the horn is

Answer 1

I don't remember any. The Plymouth and Dodge had push buttons on the dash about 1954

Answer 2

The Edsel. The cool thing about Edsel's Trans Buttons is that they were Electric, just requiring a light touch. The original Edsel in '58, was loaded with unusual & cool stuff. The speedometer was kind of like a floating disk. The heater controls were unique too, a single dial, but wonderfully complicated!

All Chrysler products, Plymouth, Dodge, DeSoto, Chrysler, and Imperial, with auto transmissions had Push Button Controls from 1956 thru 1964. (There were one or two exceptions in '64, like the Plymouth Sport Furry.) The Buttons were always to the left of the steering wheel on the dash. They were mechanical, requiring a little more "Punch," than Edsel's electric ones. But, Chrysler's were extremely reliable. The '57 & '58 Mercury's had Mechanical Push Buttons similar to Chrysler's, on the left side. A few Ramblers had them too. Not sure of the years. The '56 Packard had Electric Buttons to the right of the steering wheel.

I would love to see Push Button Controls make a comeback. The Toyota Prius would be an ideal candidate for them. The trans controls are already unconventional. They use a small lever, (Joy Stick), that is not a mechanical linkage. It is an electric switch. Oddly enough, the Prius does already have a "Start" push button, and one for "Park." They might as well go all the way with Start, Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. I found that someone has customized a modern vehicle with Cool Electric Push Button Controls. You can check it out at
http://www.minitruckinweb.com/features/chevy/0612mt_custom_1997_chevrolet_s10_blazer/photo_05.html

Answer 3

Edsel.

It was designed to be a technological showcase. The push-button automatic transmission buttons were right in the center of the steering wheel. It was really pretty slick, but people back then were a little skeptical of technology, especially with Edsel's name on it. Everybody back then knew the guy was a flamer, and didn't have much confidence in his business acumen, so the name is what sunk the car, not anything the car did wrong.

Answer 4

There was a Plymouth that put pushbutton automatic transmission gear selection in the wheel hub. Some cars on sale now have gear selection (up, down) paddles on the back of the steering wheel.)
http://www.plymouthcentral.com/57PlymouthOptions.html
eSearch 'Plymouth push button transmission' for a bunch of sites

Answer 5

THE FORD EDSEL HAD THE PUSH BUTTONS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STEERIG WHEEL AND ALSO I BELIEVE THE 1955 PLYMOUTH, DODGE miGHT WANT TO SAY cHRYSLER PRODUCTS) IF YOU HAVE ONE KEEP IT WORTH SOME MONEY

Answer 6

My Dad had a 1963 Chevrolet sedan with "three in the tree" - that's what we used to call it. In fact, he taught me how to drive in that car and I never had to drive one since!

Answer 7

Rambler was one.