Early A steering column question

69+ cars had a collapsible column, per federal mandate. The outer tube has a web mesh that can crush axially. The center rod is a 2-piece sliding unit, unlike your solid rod. I wonder if old rusty ones actually slide anymore. Maybe you could retrofit a later column to your car, but never read that. If so, look for an early one, before they switched to the in-column key switch and steering lock.

The impaling risk was from an accident so severe that the K-frame and steering gear is shoved inward. I imagine that is real, based on crash dummy tests, but seems that would only happen in conditions that are close to fatal regardless.