Classic/Antique Car Repair: cant shift into park or reverse, Shifting linkage problems

Question
Mr. Benjamin--I own an all original 1951 Chevy Styleline DeLuxe (straight 6 with an automatic Powerglide transmission). He was running like a dream until a couple evenings ago when the shifter on the column started to stick. By the time I got home the shifter wouldn't budge into park or reverse (and sticks from N to L). I have him in N with the parking brake on until I can get some help. This is my first classic auto and with 30,000 original miles I haven't had to do much other than general maintenance. Any info. that can help me through my first real problem with him will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Answer
These are very reliable cars, and the Powerglide is one of the longest lived, most trouble free transmissions ever made, so I don't think anything is worn out in the transmission with that low a mileage.

I suspect your problem is entirely contained within the shifting lever and parts between the lever and the transmission.  You can visually inspect the things that move under the hood at the bottom end of the steering column while a helper wiggles the lever as far as it will go without forcing anything.  Quite likely, you can spot the trouble - something has come unhooked or something is blocking the lever from traveling as far as it should.  If you see nothing wrong there, the car is going to have to lifted into the air so that the undercar parts of the shifter can be inspected.   If you can drive the car (get it into drive?), take it to a locally owned garage that is operated by a mechanic who is old, gray haired, grumpy, and has grease under his fingernails (I'm describing myself here) and ask him to figure it out for you.  Do NOT take it to anyone who advertises on TV, or any chain store - they are all out to take your money, and lots of it, and their so-called mechanics are under very strong pressure to sell parts, whether or not they are needed.

If you happen to be in the Southern California area, post a follow up question to me - I can give you a few shops to take it to where you can trust them to treat you fairly and know what they are doing.

Dick