I thought the Reynolds car was a auto with the column
Yeah, for some reason I thought it was a 4 speed. I just went and found the issue buried and it is an A/T.
Mopar Action june 05'
In any case this holds true.
If it were to be an automatic car with bench originally then it would be shift on the steering column.
If it were a 4 speed car with a bench it wouldn't have a center console either.