steering - what is this part for?

[willard]

My car has power steering. There is a miscelaneous metal part on the driving column (dont know it is a proper name - a shaft leading from the steering wheel to the steering transmission) with a rod. I marked it with a red oval. The plate is loose and the attached rod swings freely pointing downwards... there is nothing to hold it with. What is it for?

[hemiken]

This is a 70 E-body only feature and is called a lock rod.  It is connected to your shifter and locks it in park while the key is in the off position

[LAA66]

 Yes, a rare item now since most everyone (including 4-speed owners) removed them first thing.

[Samuelson1022]

I figured this one out the hard way after I fought with my steering column to give me my key back for an hour

[Katfish]

Yes, a rare item now since most everyone (including 4-speed owners) removed them first thing.

Yeah, mine is gone too

[heminut]

I figured this one out the hard way after I fought with my steering column to give me my key back for an hour

Don't feel bad Samuelson, been there and done that myself!

[Alaskan_TA]

.

[willard]

Ok, this picture says it all. Please coreect me if I'm wrong - it's a today common feature that you cannot retract the key until the trans is in park? The plate in my car rotates freely and in fact I can retract the key in any position of the ignition.

Thanks for answers.