I learned to drive, mostly in 1966-1967, on a 1958 Ford LWB pickup, anemic 6-cyl, 3 on the tree. Dad's next pickups- '60 Ford SWB, then later a basic but very nice '69 Chevy LWB w/307 V8- both had column shift.
For a year or two, when I was much too young to drive, we had a couple of old DeSotos, ~1950-52 models, both 3 on the tree.
Lessee- Oh yeah, the family Opels! Rekord sedan and Caravan(Station wagon), circa 1959-60 models, they had 3 on the column to handle the raging 50-HP 4-cyl engines.
Plus the Stupidbaker Lark V8 wagon- it nearly fell on my head while I was installing bushings on the shift linkage! Also- the '53 Chevy Bel Air 2D HT- 3 on the tree. For a short time, about age 20-21, I owned a '65 Ford Custom 500(think lowest trim grade, full size car), 4 dr sedan, 289 V8, ice cold air- & 3 on the column.
It was actually a pretty good car, sold that one cheap to my younger brother David.
I(well, at the time, we) owned a 1956 Chevy Panel Truck for a couple of years, ~1976-78: 3 on the tree also, I think. Plus a starter pedal on the floor!
IIRC, the last vehicle I owned with 3-speed manual column shift was a 63? 62? 61? Ford pickup, with ye olde 292 V8 engine. Bought about 1978, sold ~'81.
I know it really shows my age, but it just seems strange that many have never driven one.
And for those who don't remember, either through lack of exposure, or just plain good luck- the old 3-speed column shift was one area where Fords had it all over Chevys! It was very common to have to get out, open the hood, and "Pop the linkage" on column shift Chevys after a certain amount of age & wear. An old, worn out, otherwise useless good-sized screwdriver was often kept under the front seat of 3ot Chevys for just this purpose.
Such antics, though not unheard of, were required much less often on Fords.