Autoblog

Osama Bin Laden can be under your control daily, as a shift knob

Zach Bowman — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EST

This didn't take long. American Shifter Company has created a dead Osama bin Laden shift knob. For the low price of $69.95 (on sale!), you can row your gears with the zombified head of Al Qaeda's former leader. Sure it's about as tasteless as fishnets at a funeral, but it's far from the worst automotive accessory we've seen.

Each knob is cast from high-impact resin and hand-painted for that special look. The artists use a protective coating to keep the paint from wearing or fading, and American Shifter says that the company only plans to produce 5,000 of them. Each Osama knob comes with its own threaded hardware, though American Shifter Company conveniently sells an adapter kit for most applications.

Who knows? Wait 20 years and you just might see one of these on Antiques Roadshow. Truthfully, we can only think of one ride that can credibly rock this accessory: the Navy SEALs Desert Patrol Vehicle.

Head over to American Shifter Company for a closer look, just be warned that not all of the company's knobs are safe for work.

Osama Bin Laden can be under your control daily, as a shift knob originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Jun 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Contemporary furniture designer Thonet takes on Volvo C70 gearshift duties

Steven J. Ewing — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Volvo, Design/Style, Luxury

Thonet shift knobs for Volvo C70 - Click above for high-res image gallery

We'll be honest - when we heard that a European contemporary furniture designer would be creating something specifically for Volvo, our first thought was, well, IKEA. (Very funny, we know.) However, the folks at Thonet (based in Germany, not Sweden) have created special wooden gearshift knobs specifically for the 2011 C70, in partnership with Volvo tuner Heico Sportiv.

The shift knobs, made out of oak, beech or walnut, are said to reflect the design language of Volvo's floating center console. Thonet has a long history of creating wood furniture designs, so it was a natural fit for Volvo to select them to create this special gearshift specifically for the Heico Sportiv C70. Hit the jump to read more in Thonet's press release.

Gallery: Volvo C70 by Thonet and Heico Sportiv

Gallery: 2010 Volvo C70

[Source: Thonet]

Continue reading Contemporary furniture designer Thonet takes on Volvo C70 gearshift duties

Contemporary furniture designer Thonet takes on Volvo C70 gearshift duties originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AC Schnitzer releases LCD-equipped shift knob

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Tuners, BMW, Mini

Click above for high-res gallery

Over a year ago we told you about the Indy-Cator, an LCD-equipped shift knob that displayed your gear selection. Now, the German tuning powerhouse AC Schnitzer has come up with its own version for BMWs and MINIs, and we're still left wondering if it has any practical use.

According to AC, drivers have to rely solely on feel to know which gear they're in at any given time (gasp), so the digital display takes all that pesky guesswork out of gear selection. The red LED on the shift knob has a light sensor which dims or brightens the display depending on conditions, matches the stock interior lighting, features a position sensor and can be installed in just a few minutes.

AC Schnitzer hasn't released pricing, but just like the Indy-Cator, its worth is in the hand of the beholder.

AC Schnitzer releases LCD-equipped shift knob originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Could this be the most trick shift knob ever?

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: Aftermarket, Gadgets, Etc.

We've always been of the opinion that if it doesn't make you go faster, stick better or be safer, it's generally a waste of money. There have been exceptions, but this has to be one of the coolest.

The idea is pretty self-explanatory: on top of the shift knob is an LCD that after telling it the number of gears and, we're assuming, the movement of the stalk, displays what cog your transmission is residing.

Unfortunately, our German is a bit rusty, so when we downloaded the Indy-Cator's directions, we weren't able to decipher how it's programmed. If you've got the means, we'd ask you to check out the company's website and let us know exactly how this little piece of automotive geeketry works.

According to TMTuning, installation is straightforward, the LCD has an auto-dimming feature and it can be yours in blue or red for $169.00. Worthwhile? That's in the hand of the beholder.

[Source: Gaslock.de via TMTuning]

Could this be the most trick shift knob ever? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Apr 2007 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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