I'll check out the external shift levers and pull the shift lever to see if a bushing has worn out, but the exact problem is this:

I can't get the car out of reverse, even when it is turned off and the ignition is locked. The shift lever will move out of the reverse position into the neutral position but will not actually take the car out of gear. Also, I can not engage 1st or any other gears even when the car is turned off and the clutch is depressed. So it seems like no matter what I do the car is stuck in reverse. This is probably the strangest problem I've ever seen with this car which until now has been pretty reliable.