The manual tranny on my S197 GT vert has always been a bit temperamental ( at times it would not go into a gear after WOT acceleration - felt like the car's body was twisting or something ). Today, suddenly I could couldn't get it into second gear... After that incident, I noticed it getting stuck in 1 or 3 gear DESPITE moving the stick to the second gear position ( opposite stick direction!! ). Had to stop and restart the car, reapply the clutch etc... Also, at some point, it got stuck in 1st and I could not change a gear no matter what, its like gates went missing and the stick would not find anywhere to click. Did I bent some something inside? Also, when I am pressing a little more towards the left, while in second gear, I hear some grinding WTF? HELP!

 

If the shift lever doesn't seem to have excessive play then you probably broke or bent the shift forks in the transmission. That transmission isn't the strongest, smoothest transmission ever made sadly.

 

This sounds similar to something I had where the bolt on the shift linkage sheared off, you could try checking that out. The stick was just completely loose.