Result happy3 After conferring with John V6 today it seems only later 3.7 Roadsters had the gear knob style shown above, certainly from the introduction of five link rear models and likely earlier.

On a suggestion I used some curved blunt nose pliers to grip inner sleeve holding grub screws, and held arms gently in a soft jawed vice, enough to maintain a firm pressure. I was then able to unscrew outer with both hands and only modest effort after a little help from releasing fluid.

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I was concerned I might damage the plastic inner further but it's just some soft rubber tubing that the grub screws bite through directly onto gearstick threads. Note MMC hacksaw butchery though which I've now squared up with careful filing.

After cleaning up components I screwed inner down and nipped up all three grub screws gently before screwing outer knob fully back on. Just one more attempt had the replaced knob with correct gearshift pattern orientation, when I nipped up grub screws with a little more enthusiasm. Actual outer knob although tightish is loose enough to allow easy removal if further adjustment is needed.