Automatic Transmission Shift Cover Plate
Representative Photo, actual item may vary
Representative Photo, actual item may vary
Representative Photo, actual item may vary
ACDelco 42355599 Piano Black Automatic Transmission Control Opening Cover Bezel
Representative Photo, actual item may vary
What Is an Automatic Transmission Shift Cover Plate?
The automatic transmission shift cover plate — sometimes called a shifter bezel cover, shift boot plate, or console shift plate — is the trim piece that surrounds the base of your automatic shifter in the center console. While it may look like a purely cosmetic component, it serves a practical purpose: sealing the opening in the console around the shift lever, keeping road noise, debris, and drafts from entering the cabin, and providing a finished, factory-correct appearance to the shifter area.
Over time, these plates can crack, fade, warp, or simply wear out from the constant friction and exposure that comes with everyday gear changes. On classic and vintage vehicles, they're also a common casualty of decades of use — or improper removal during prior restorations. Whether you're doing a full interior restoration or just cleaning up a worn console, replacing the shift cover plate is one of those small details that makes a big visual impact inside your vehicle.
What to Look for When Shopping
- Material: Shift cover plates come in stamped steel, die-cast zinc, and rubber or flexible boot-style designs depending on the application. Steel and zinc options are common on classic muscle cars and offer a durable, period-correct look. Rubber boots are typical on performance aftermarket shifters.
- Finish: Options range from black painted steel to chrome-plated zinc, depending on whether you're aiming for a factory-stock look or a more polished appearance.
- Vehicle fitment: These parts are highly vehicle-specific. Always verify that the plate matches your exact year, make, model, and console style before purchasing.
- Included hardware: Some assemblies include the shift dial, selector slide, and mounting hardware — making installation straightforward without hunting down additional pieces.
Top Brands for Automatic Transmission Shift Cover Plates
B&M is a legendary name in automatic transmission performance, with roots going back to the early 1950s. B&M offers replacement shifter cover top plates and rubber boot-style shift covers designed to fit their own iconic shifter lines — including the Quicksilver and Hammer series — making them the go-to source when an original B&M shifter component needs to be refreshed or replaced.
Scott Drake is widely recognized as a specialist in classic Ford Mustang restoration components. Scott Drake's shift cover plates and shifter bezel assemblies for 1964–1968 Mustangs are exact reproductions crafted from precision-stamped steel or die-cast zinc with chrome plating and factory-correct detailing, making them a natural choice for anyone restoring a first-generation pony car to original specifications.