EMPI Trigger Shifter — Black Powder-Coat, Long 13.5" O.A.L. | VW Type 1, Ghia, Type 3 & Thing (00-4508-0)

If a 12" short shifter puts the knob further down than your arm wants to travel, this is the one you actually want. The EMPI Trigger Shifter 00-4508-0 is the same black powder-coated, reverse-lock-out trigger shifter in the long 13.5" overall configuration — the height that suits a stock seating position.

Length is the whole point of this part number. The extra 1.5" over the short version raises the knob to roughly the height of the factory VW shifter, so your hand falls onto it without reaching down past the seat. That matters most in a stock-height sedan with the original seats, and it matters even more if you are tall. The trade-off is clearance: this is a tall shifter and it is not the right choice for most dune buggies, kit cars or lowered cars with a full console, where the 12" version (00-4507-0) is the one that fits.

Best for: Stock-height Beetles, Super Beetles, Ghias and Type 3s with factory seats; taller drivers; anyone who found a short shifter too much of a reach.

Vehicle Fitment

• VW Beetle (Type 1): 1949–1979
• VW Super Beetle: 1971–1979
• VW Karmann Ghia: 1956–1974
• VW Type 3 (Fastback / Squareback / Notchback): 1962–1973
• VW Thing (Type 181): 1973–1974

Will not fit: VW Bus / Transporter (Type 2) — the Bus sits the driver far forward of the shifter and needs the 23.5" extra-long shifter instead. Manual transmission only; not for Auto-Stick.

Which EMPI Trigger Shifter Do I Need?

Every EMPI trigger shifter uses the same sliding reverse lock-out mechanism. What changes between part numbers is finish, knob and overall length — and length is the one that decides whether it fits your car comfortably. Short 12" suits lowered seats, full consoles, buggies and kit cars. Long 13.5" suits stock-height cars on factory seats. Extra-long 23.5" is Bus-only.

Why Choose EMPI?

EMPI has been building air-cooled VW performance and restoration parts since 1956, and the trigger shifter is one of the designs the brand is known for. Every unit ships as a complete assembly with the knob installed and the EMPI logo cast into the trigger. Washburn's Metal stocks the full trigger shifter range so you can match finish and length to the build rather than settling for whatever a catalog had left.

Key Features & Benefits

• Long 13.5" overall length: near-stock knob height — see the comparison table above.
• Sliding reverse lock-out trigger: reverse stays blocked until you lift the trigger, so you cannot catch it on a downshift.
• Complete assembly: ships with the round black plastic knob installed and the EMPI logo cast into the trigger — no separate knob to buy.
• Factory-height knob position: 13.5" overall puts the knob near stock height, so nothing about your driving position has to change.
• Black-on-black: powder-coated shaft with a matching black knob keeps a restored interior looking untouched.
• Bolt-in replacement: uses the stock shifter base plate and mounting bolts. No cutting, drilling or transmission modification.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: EMPI 00-4508-0
• Finish: Black powder-coated
• Shift Knob: Round black plastic knob (included, installed)
• Overall Length: 13.5" (long style)
• Reverse Lock-Out: Yes — sliding trigger
• Fits: Type 1 / Ghia / Type 3 / Thing
• Transmission: Manual only
• Sold As: Each
• Shipping Weight: 2.58 lb
• Boxed Dimensions: 17.75 x 7.75 x 3.25 in
• UPC: 707924385656

Installation Notes

This is a tunnel-plate job and a straightforward one: lift the shift boot, unbolt the shifter base plate from the tunnel, lift the old lever out with its spring and stop plate, drop the new shifter in, and bolt the plate back down. Most owners have it done in an afternoon with hand tools. Because the plate is already off, this is the sensible time to replace the shifter bushing, the base plate gasket and — if the shift feel has been getting worse for years — the shift coupler at the transmission. A new lever tightens the driver's end of the linkage; the coupler and bushings are what tighten the rest of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the actual difference between 00-4507-0 and 00-4508-0? Only the shaft length. 00-4507-0 is 12" overall (short), 00-4508-0 is 13.5" overall (long). Same black powder-coated finish, same black knob, same sliding reverse lock-out trigger, same Type 1 base plate fitment. Pick by seat height and reach, not by function.
• Will a 13.5" shifter fit under my console or in a buggy? Usually not, and that is the main reason to choose the short version instead. The 13.5" shifter is a tall shifter; in most dune buggies, kit cars and cars running a full-length tunnel console the knob sits too high or fouls the console. For those builds use 00-4507-0 (black, 12") or 00-4451-0 (chrome, 12").
• Does the longer shaft make the throw longer? Slightly, yes — leverage is a function of length, so a 13.5" lever sweeps a bit further at the knob than a 12" lever for the same movement at the base. Both are still substantially shorter and tighter than the worn factory shifter they replace. If shortest-possible throw is the priority, go with the 12".
• Will this fix a shifter that pops out of gear? Probably not on its own. Popping out of gear is almost always a worn shift coupler at the front of the transmission, worn shift rod bushings, or a transmission issue — not the lever. A new shifter fixes vagueness and gate feel. Plan on inspecting the coupler and bushings at the same time; you already have the tunnel plate off.
• What is the part number? EMPI 00-4508-0, UPC 707924385656. Black powder-coated, 13.5" long, Type 1 family.

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⚠️ WARNING (California Prop 65): This product can expose you to chemicals including lead and lead compounds, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. All parts legal for use on pre-pollution controlled vehicles only.