Here is an article from a 1954 HRM about magneto ignition. it discusses many of the pros and cons that Jerry mentioned. Many of the magnetos used in racing engines had no advance mechanism, so in addition to the relatively low voltage at starting RPM there was too much advance, so a push start was almost mandatory.
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 A magneto has never been an inexpensive ignition system. In 1960 I paid about $130 for a Joe Hunt Scintilla Vertex magneto for a 261 that I was building for an H/Gas 1953 Chevy. The project was not completed, as I went back to school, got married, a real job etc. A couple of years ago I resurrected the engine and put it in a 32 street roadster, still with the magneto. It fires right up with a 6-volt starter and a 12-volt battery. This magneto has about 22 degrees of centrifugal advance. Here is a
video of its first "cruise." I am planning on using a Tom Langdon HEI on another 261 that I am now building for a AD pickup.
Hoyt
