[editor-surveyor]

That tall chrome rod with the big knob was a “Moon” shifter for the “MercOmatic” trans.

[Windflier]

“Moon” shifter

Now there's a phrase I haven't heard for forty years or so. Little before my time, but I knew what they were, back in the day.

[GOYAKLA]

For those that can magnify the photo will see it is exactly that. Note it is a automatic transmission, no clutch pedal.
Having seen many of those shifters used on “Stick shift speed shifts””at the drags strip, bend and crease the dash, I will attest to that. Autoshift not so much.
Sometimes they were topped by a pool ball(#8 or cue) or a chrome Scull!
The traffic light gizmos where usually attached upper left on windshield.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

That tall chrome rod with the big knob was a “Moon” shifter for the “MercOmatic” trans.

There's something I haven't heard of in years.