Variable length automotive gear shifter

A variable length gear shifter for attaching to a shaft to operate a transmission comprising:

• at least two hollow elongated telescoping members movable relative to one another along a longitudinal axis, one of said telescoping members having an end adapted to be attached to a shaft extending from a transmission;
• a sleeve telescopically received by another of said telescoping members and having a free end for grasping by a human hand, said sleeve being movable relative to said telescoping members along said longitudinal axis;
• and
• a releasable locking means for locking said sleeve and said telescoping members telescoped together in a selected one of a plurality of predetermined locking positions, each said locking position determining a different distance between said free end of said sleeve and said end of said one telescoping member.

An automobile transmission and variable length gear shift assembly comprising:

• a transmission having a shifting shaft extending therefrom;
• at least two hollow elongated telescoping members each having a plurality of locking notches formed in an interior surface thereof, a base member of said telescoping members affixed to said shaft;
• a sleeve received by an upper member of said telescoping members;
• at least two shaft guides received inside said telescoping members, said shaft guides engaging said locking notches to prevent relative movement among said sleeve and said telescoping members and to selectively determine a different distance between said shifting shaft and said sleeve for each said locking notch;
• and
• a key lock attached to said sleeve for disengaging said shaft guides from said notches to permit relative telescoping axial movement among said sleeve and said telescoping members.