Early 1970's had no wording on the lens. Then it changed to "shift gate". Then finally, it went to "slap stick". When did they go back to the ball? Was it right at the start of the model year or was it a running change? Did some very late 73's get the ball handle OR did some 74's get the "T" handle?
The "T" handle at the beginning of 71 was different then the later versions. The base of the handle(and the plastic shift plate) were a different shape.
Burdar is correct, the early 1970 ball type shifter was released with no script on the plastic lens, and from what i know only the advertising released the wording "shift gate" earlier on in advertising, but never printed on a lens, and then the release a couple of months in to the building of cars, that the script "slap stick" was added to the lenses.
Their also is a difference with the main body of the early 1970 Slap Stick mechanisms that not many people would know about, they had a design flaw and had a weak design element that must have been fixed in the first quarter to half way in to the year model run, the same to look at but later shifter mechanism (still ball type) was beefed up in the problem area and unless you knew what you were looking for, you would never have known they changed the design deep in the mechanism.
The 71 - 74 used the T-handle and their are two types of T-handles used, again due to poor design of the earlier models not standing up to abuse in poor design, they too brought out the second beefed up version to compensate.
Their is a cross over somewhere in 74 that the shifter changed back to the ball type shifter, but i have not been able to come up with a date of when that happened yet.
