>>28496669
The zig zag pattern is due to the actual, mechanical linkages going to the transmission, and brands like Mercedes were using the same shift pattern that brands like Toyota copied and still use today, but 50+ years ago (just with the upshift/downshift selector added). Lots of those early automatic Mercedes in fact had no brake + shifter interlock, which was part of the reason for the shape since it at least tried to prevent the shifter being knocked in and out of gear.