I noticed that my 76 Camaro has a shifter indicator between my gauges and indicator in the console plate. But my console plate doesn't have a dial like the dash does.

I've also seen some automatic shifter plates that are "blanked out" in that area where mine has lettering.

Why is that?

79-81 models lost the indicator in the dash and they put a lighted shifter plate (with gear indicator letters) in the console.
Even with the letters... There was no indicator needle in the plate.

You probably have a shifter plate from a 79-81.

I think all 73-87 models had the blank plate in the console. My 78 plate was
"blanked out".

There as never a "needle" in the shift plate. Cars which have the gear indicator on the dash cluster did have a needle though.

For cars with the gauge mounted indicator use the blanked out shifter bezel. Cars with out it on the dash gauges use the PRNDSL on the shift plate.
1981 the PRNSL was replaced with PRND21

Hope this helps all are available new. Also there are some for 700R4 uses too!

Thanks guys, that makes sense. I'm going to search for a blank plate to install in this area since my dash has the indicator and the needle. Plus this one on my car now has been drilled right into the top of the of the "P" so bubba could put a toggle for a alarm siren to "scare people".

I'm having a hard time looking at my dash when I put it in gear though :screwup:

http://www.fbodywarehouse.com/fbw/product.php?productid=347&cat=195&page=1

http://www.fbodywarehouse.com/fbw/images/T/74-77%20c%20shift%20plateE.jpg