It looks a lot like the upright pivot rod for a console slapstick from the early 70s. The bottom set in the bracket bolted to the back of the trans, the lower lever arm was connected to the trans shift linkage, and the upper lever attached to the shifter linkage. Missing in the center, between the 2 levers, was a rubber boot to seal against the floor. The top of the piece shown was held in place with a plastic bushed bracket that bolted to the console brackets. The lever arms are nearly in line with each other because the slapstick linkage had to change direction 180 degrees to move the shift lever in the correct direction.

The reason I don't believe it was a cross link is because the two lever arms are nearly in line with each other, most cross links had the levers facing opposite directions. Gene