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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:44:12 PM EDT
I've seen lots of 8 ball or cue ball shifters at car shows recently. I've seen them for awhile, but what was the origin behind them?
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:46:34 PM EDT
[#1]
My dad had one on his 63 chevy From what i was told they would drill out pool balls. I guess Just to be cool
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:46:42 PM EDT
[#2]
just an easy replacement knob
drill a hole that fits the threading, free shift knob |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:47:57 PM EDT
[#3]
A billiards game named pool.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:48:59 PM EDT
[#4]
Good size and weight for a shift knob.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:50:24 PM EDT
[#5]
I actually want an old school white knob like that for my F150.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:51:00 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A billiards game named pool. Well there ya go OP. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:51:12 PM EDT
[#7]
Fits your hand better than a hockey puck or bowling ball.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:54:43 PM EDT
[#8]
Because footballs pop when you try to drill a hole in them.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:56:48 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Good size and weight for a shift knob. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:56:54 PM EDT
[#10]
Most replaced the Hurst T handle 4 speeds ,with
the white ball Hurst white ball .Sometimes those were hard to find. Rodders started using white queballs. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 6:58:52 PM EDT
[#11]
They came from China.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:00:49 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A billiards game named pool. But that's not important right now. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:03:07 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: But that's not important right now. It is if some Motörhead stole your 8 ball. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:04:31 PM EDT
[#14]
Cocaine and meth are commonly sold as an "8 ball" which is 3.5 grams. I figure the 8 ball became so popular for things like shifters and what-not because people wanted to show "I know how to party, I get high bro".
I'm probably wrong, but that's the way I always figured it happened. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:04:52 PM EDT
[#15]
It dates back to the Civil War when Confederate Soldiers would put them on the shifters of their wagons to symbolize that they were considered underdogs.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:08:07 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cocaine and meth are commonly sold as an "8 ball" which is 3.5 grams. I figure the 8 ball became so popular for things like shifters and what-not because people wanted to show "I know how to party, I get high bro". I'm probably wrong, but that's the way I always figured it happened. Dude. No. They were in use long before those terms became popular. 8 ball has always meant bad news, rebel, etc. I’d love an old Hurst white ball! |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:13:29 PM EDT
[#17]
Big Daddy Roth 1965
 https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/george-hurst When the first Hurst shifter appeared in 1959, it already had its signature curved, flat chromed lever topped by a knob that resembled a cue ball. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:37:28 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Dude. No. They were in use long before those terms became popular. 8 ball has always meant bad news, rebel, etc. I’d love an old Hurst white ball! Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Cocaine and meth are commonly sold as an "8 ball" which is 3.5 grams. I figure the 8 ball became so popular for things like shifters and what-not because people wanted to show "I know how to party, I get high bro". I'm probably wrong, but that's the way I always figured it happened. Dude. No. They were in use long before those terms became popular. 8 ball has always meant bad news, rebel, etc. I’d love an old Hurst white ball! It's the Black Ball (Bad) and you have to get it LAST to win a game of 8ball. Put it in any pocket out or order or without calling it and you lose. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:41:15 PM EDT
[#19]
Fuzzy dice, moon eyes, and those doll kids playing hide and go seek....
Old old old shit |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:48:30 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Good size and weight for a shift knob. This. People who have never used a weighted shift knob are missing out. I have one that is a touch smaller then a billiard ball. So nice. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:54:34 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryHaha... I remember building some of those models as a kid.  
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:55:30 PM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Big Daddy Roth 1965 https://i16.servimg.com/u/f16/17/91/41/66/rothde10.jpg https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/george-hurst When the first Hurst shifter appeared in 1959, it already had its signature curved, flat chromed lever topped by a knob that resembled a cue ball. When I think of Hurst shifters, I think of this…  |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 7:59:30 PM EDT
[#23]
Not sure, but the birth of hotrods is tied to prohibition and bars. Billiards also had a strong surge in popularity during the 60's muscle car era.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:00:46 PM EDT
[#24]
My 1965 Mustang had a "Felix The Cat" shift knob on it.
A girl in high school wanted it so I gave it to her - no blow job. 
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:01:43 PM EDT
[#25]
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:12:31 PM EDT
[#26]
Tommy Ivo's T Bucket built in 1956.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:14:45 PM EDT
[#27]
Cause a bowling ball would just look silly.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:14:45 PM EDT
[#28]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Good size and weight for a shift knob. I had an 8-ball on a 3-on-the-tree shifter... the added weight would occasionally drop the car out of gear if it was in 3rd and I hit some big bumps. Those were less complicated times...... |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:15:41 PM EDT
[#29]
Y'all know know were making custom shifter balls over a 100 years ago?
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:19:07 PM EDT
[#30]
Where do they come from? Amazon, of course. A perfect model of Jeff Bezos' head.
https://www.amazon.com/Pursuestar-Luminous-Shifter-Automatic-Vehicles/dp/B07T5ZLGPC |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 8:53:17 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Y'all know know were making custom shifter balls over a 100 years ago? |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:00:30 PM EDT
[#32]
Many teen and. 20s cars have different shifter balls on them than original , ivory cue balls were quite popular, seen them on old lathes and machinery as well
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:04:36 PM EDT
[#33]
My uncle had an 8 ball shifter in his 66 GTO
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:06:06 PM EDT
[#34]
Someone needing a knob, and had extra pool balls I guess.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:12:17 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Huh? Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Y'all know know were making custom shifter balls over a 100 years ago? When I was with Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba one of our supply wagons had one. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:12:43 PM EDT
[#36]
As stated, they are a good size and weight.
Why the 8 ball instead of a color that matches the car? V8. Which is how you can tell guys with imports using an 8 ball instead of a 4, 6 or Cue don't quite get it. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:13:41 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Fits your hand better than a hockey puck or bowling ball. Oh dude, that's a great idea! A light weight bowling ball with the name "Asshole" stamped in above the finger holes. Just make the holes a little oversized so your fingers don't get stuck when you want to reach for your beer. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:15:54 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted: When I was with Teddy Roosevelt in Cuba one of our supply wagons had one. There's actually some pretty cool custom ones, here one they called a uranium slag glass fro the 30s, glowed in the dark , didn't know you were that old 
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:17:45 PM EDT
[#39]
Shift ball that comes on Hurst shifters is small that an actual pool ball.
Probably 60-70% of the actual size. One of my care has white the other black. Could machine a pistol grip shifter if I wanted but the round ball is just better feeling. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:19:32 PM EDT
[#40]
I use a 9 ball. It’s one better.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:19:33 PM EDT
[#41]
When the 2015 Mustang came out it had a completely different style shifter and very few vendors that make shifter ball were geared up for production yet. I found one guy and had him make me a Hurst old school style knob. Even has the engraved shift pattern while most are just smooth.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:21:28 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: When I think of Hurst shifters, I think of this https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E9_yMS6WUAgAMZU.jpg  |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:28:12 PM EDT
[#43]
A kid I went to school with in the 90s had the stick shifter with cue ball on it from his dads truck as a teen.
He kept it behind the seat of his truck. I saw him pull it out one Friday night to a guy talking shit to him. Dude was like nevermind we’re good here.  I also had a pair of fuzzy dice that my dad bought me at a flea market when I was probably 6 or 7. They were a quarter. I kept those things somehow till I started driving and had them in my first 2 or 3 different vehicles until some asshole stole them. Ive also still got the Bigfoot gas pedal that my dad had in his hot rods back in the 70s. It was in my first car which was a hand me down 64 4door malibu from my uncle who had got it from my dad. I had it in a couple of rides but tucked it away when my dice were stolen because I was afraid someone would steal it too eventually. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:34:02 PM EDT
[#44]
Quote HistoryQuoted: They came from China. They still do. 
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:43:16 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: A kid I went to school with in the 90s had the stick shifter with cue ball on it from his dads truck as a teen. He kept it behind the seat of his truck. I saw him pull it out one Friday night to a guy talking shit to him. Dude was like nevermind we’re good here. I also had a pair of fuzzy dice that my dad bought me at a flea market when I was probably 6 or 7. They were a quarter. I kept those things somehow till I started driving and had them in my first 2 or 3 different vehicles until some asshole stole them. Ive also still got the Bigfoot gas pedal that my dad had in his hot rods back in the 70s. It was in my first car which was a hand me down 64 4door malibu from my uncle who had got it from my dad. I had it in a couple of rides but tucked it away when my dice were stolen because I was afraid someone would steal it too eventually. Great story man!  |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:44:52 PM EDT
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Dude. No. They were in use long before those terms became popular. 8 ball has always meant bad news, rebel, etc. I’d love an old Hurst white ball! Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Cocaine and meth are commonly sold as an "8 ball" which is 3.5 grams. I figure the 8 ball became so popular for things like shifters and what-not because people wanted to show "I know how to party, I get high bro". I'm probably wrong, but that's the way I always figured it happened. Dude. No. They were in use long before those terms became popular. 8 ball has always meant bad news, rebel, etc. I’d love an old Hurst white ball! Yeah that’s not at all where it started but I can’t blame a child of the 80/90’s for thinking that. The symbology was kinda hijacked by a certain culture there for a while. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:53:11 PM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Fuzzy dice, moon eyes, and those doll kids playing hide and go seek.... Old old old shit Mooneyes products still around, but not sure about Dean Moon. Mooneyes-USA History |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:57:43 PM EDT
[#48]
They're cheap, easy to tap, cool looking, and a comfortable size. Hot rodding is about improvising in style on the cheap, and billiard balls check those boxes.
I made one in shop class. A little smaller size might be more comfortable, but it's sentimental value means it will always live in one of my vehicles. |
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Posted: 8/29/2021 9:59:24 PM EDT
[#49]
Had a 7 ball in my cj7 in high school.
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Posted: 8/29/2021 10:17:49 PM EDT
[#50]
They make a trackball mouse that uses a ball the same size as pool balls.
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