stuck in reverse, Transmission is stuck in reverse Options

[PCH]

Hi Everyone!

I took my ‘71 1.7 to the car wash yesterday. When I picked it up, they told me it was stuck in reverse.
Sure enough, the gearbox is stuck in reverse. It seems like you can shift back and forth between 4 and 5, but in those positions the gearbox is just locked up; feeling like “park” in an automatic transmission. Shifting back and forth in neutral only left the gearbox in reverse.
On my initial search of the internet, I came across mentions of a car being shift ed between first and reverse while still moving and this could cause this. Also there was a mention of doing something with the reverse light pin to get it out of reverse.
Is there an emergency fix for this problem and what is the long term repair?
Thanks everyone,
Peter

[r_towle]

Tail shifter has a bushing underneath the shifter...when those types disintegrate...you get no movement.
Alternately...look at the back of the trans while someone of shifting the car.
It should move logically...up/down and back/forth
You can see this from the read of the car.

If you have never redone the bushings, it could simply be time after 50 years.

Rich