75 bronco (parts) has three on the tree that I've always wanted to extract and install on something. It's unlikely that will ever happen. I have operated many shoebox Bronco's (66-77) as most were 'on the tree' from factory. I think they were the nicest manual Bronco's to drive, when in tight and lubricated condition, once they wore down though...man was it aweful...and conversion was most economical, plus the crappy tranny the column operated was well...crappy. Not to mention the fact that those vintage Bronco steering column's aren't worth shit, and replacing the lot, converting to the floor, etc...is time consuming and expensive. End of the line, scrapping the three on the tree set up is your best option.
Buddy's dad in high school used to have a Studebaker Lark Six that we'd roll out of his driveway in the middle of the night and go cruisin in.
I've also driven cushman landscaping buggies...kind of like motorized, ride on, wheel barrells. Strange little vehicles with three on the tree.
Tractors and other farming machines, often still have gears on the column...and other places. Both my Ford and Kubota have three on the tree...
Heck, once they sunset three on tree trannies, they put the automatics in the exact same spot.
It's destined to stick around
I've always liked having gear controls on the column, and appreciate the engineering simplicity, and ergonomic efficiency of operating gears very near the plane were your other hand is steering the vehicle. Kinda makes sense to me.
peace,
-bear