I spent almost half a day checking for a part for my 1969 Volvo 144.
The car has an automatic shift,
and a part called a 'gear shift ball socket' has disintegrated.  This
part is in the steering column housing where the gear selector handle is
attached.  It is
a retainer that keeps the handle locked in a single orientation which
allows it to swivel to select gears.

I talked to a Volvo dealer who told me the part (#677277) is no longer
supplied by
the manufacturer.  I tried about ten parts outlets across the country,
and nobody had
it, either as a stand alone, or on a junk car.  I still remember those
ads about the Volvo's with
a million miles on them still running.  Sure the engines may hold up,
but
the surrounding car becomes impossible to keep up.  My engine has only
50000 miles on it,
runs great, and I just spent 500 dollars to redo the floor which had
rusted
out.  Now I can't drive the car because of a stupid plastic part that
probably costs
less than 5 dollars.

                                     Sherwin Dubren