What's a weird car that you would like to restore?

[bugo]

I'm lacking experience in the department, but the idea of manually shifting on a column sounds about as exciting as using a vacuum cleaner, and seems to approximate the precision of a handle-less drill.

Precision isn't that much of an issue because the vast majority of column shift manuals were three-speed. So as a result, there were only four ways you could move the shifter: toward you and up (reverse), toward you and down (first), away from you and up (second), and away from you and down (third)

Apparently, at least Ford did have a four-speed column shift manual which relocated reverse to an awkward separate lever under the dash. Then first took the position reverse usually had on the column, with the remaining gears following in the logical pattern.

I found this of the Ford four-speed in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjkRB1Ibjj0

That '61 "four on the tree" is not factory, it was modified by the owner.

[cpzilliacus]

That '61 "four on the tree" is not factory, it was modified by the owner.

SAAB built cars with "four on the tree" manual transmissions. 

[bugo]

The early Ford Falcon (later "Econoline") vans were available with a 4 speed on the column.