Missing lower end parts on steering column?

cudamark said

Are you sure that's a '74 standard shift column? It looks to me that it's and earlier automatic column. I seem to remember that '74 started the slotted hole crush zone instead of the squared expanded metal crush zone.

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I was told by the previous owner it was a 74, never second guessed it. Just decoded the VIN and I think it's actually a 73 model. Though that doesn't seem like a huge age difference to have a different column. The shift/lock/turn indicator housing matches the rest the color the car used to be, inside and out.