EMPI Trigger Shifter — Chrome-Plated, Short 12" O.A.L. | VW Type 1, Ghia, Type 3 & Thing (00-4451-0)

EMPI Trigger Shifter — Chrome-Plated, Short 12" O.A.L. | VW Type 1, Ghia, Type 3 & Thing (00-4451-0)

Chrome, short, and the one that actually clears a buggy floor. The EMPI Trigger Shifter 00-4451-0 is the triple chrome-plated 12" short version — the shortest and most clearance-friendly shifter in EMPI's Type 1 range, with a sliding trigger that locks out reverse.

Two things separate this part number from everything else in the lineup. First, the chrome: a polished shaft is the classic Cal-look and hot-rod answer, and it is what most people picture when they picture a Hurst-style trigger shifter. Second, the 12" length — this is the shifter EMPI's own dealers point buggy, Baja and kit-car builders toward, because a 13.5" lever sits too tall once the body is off and the seats are on the floor. In a stock sedan the same 12" length gives you the quickest, most deliberate throw of the family.

Best for: Dune buggies, Bajas, Manx-style kit cars, lowered Cal-look Beetles and any build where the shifter has to stay low and look good doing it.

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
• Dune buggy, Baja and kit cars built on the Type 1 floorpan

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

• Short 12" overall length: the shortest Type 1 length EMPI offers — 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.
• Buggy and kit-car friendly: the 12" length is the one that clears a low buggy floor pan and floor-mounted seats. The 13.5" version generally will not.
• Triple chrome-plated shaft: the traditional show finish, and the easiest one in the range to polish back up after a season.
• Bolt-in replacement: uses the stock shifter base plate and mounting bolts. No cutting, drilling or transmission modification.

Technical Specifications

• Part Number: EMPI 00-4451-0
• Finish: Triple chrome-plated
• Shift Knob: Round black plastic knob (included, installed)
• Overall Length: 12" (short style)
• Reverse Lock-Out: Yes — sliding trigger
• Fits: Type 1 / Ghia / Type 3 / Thing / Buggy
• Transmission: Manual only
• Sold As: Each
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 lb
• Boxed Dimensions: 17.75 x 7.75 x 3.25 in
• UPC: 707924327045
• Cross-reference: ACC-C10-3565, EMPI 4451

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

• Is this the Hurst-style trigger shifter people talk about? Yes. The trigger shifter design — a chrome lever with a sliding trigger under the knob that unlocks the reverse gate — is what the air-cooled world generally means by a “Hurst-style” VW shifter. EMPI 00-4451-0 is the chrome 12" version of it.
• Which shifter should I buy for a dune buggy? This one, or the black 00-4507-0 if you don't want chrome. Both are 12" overall. Buggies and kit cars mount seats low and often have no console, and a 13.5" shifter ends up sitting awkwardly tall. The short 12" versions are what EMPI and its dealers specify for buggy applications.
• How do I keep the chrome from pitting? Wipe it down occasionally and keep a light coat of chrome polish or wax on it, especially in an open buggy or a car that gets rained on. Decorative chrome on a shifter shaft is thin by nature; the shaft lives inside a heated, dry cabin in a sedan and does fine, but an exposed buggy interior is harder on it. If the car lives outside uncovered, black powder coat (00-4507-0) is the lower-maintenance choice.
• What is the difference between 00-4451-0 and 00-4450-0? Length only. 00-4451-0 is the 12" short version; 00-4450-0 is the 13.5" long version. Both are chrome, both use the same black knob and reverse lock-out trigger, and both fit the same VWs — the difference is knob height and clearance.
• Does it lock out reverse? Yes. Reverse is blocked until you lift the sliding trigger under the knob, so you cannot drop into reverse by accident while shifting down through the gears.
• What is the part number? EMPI 00-4451-0, UPC 707924327045. Chrome-plated, 12" short, Type 1 family plus buggy applications.

Explore Related Categories

Drivetrain & Transmission · Transaxle Components · EMPI

⚠️ 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.