When you consider the nature of factory ignition systems devised a half-century ago, you’d have to wonder how they’ve endured. A buddy of mine has a nicely restored classic Mustang; its factory-original Autolite ignition is fitted with breaker points and a condenser along with Ford’s "yellow-top" coil. If you stand by the tailpipe, you’ll hear the occasional "putt-putting" of a misfire, harbinger of unburned hydrocarbons and wasted fuel. Time for something better under the hood.

If your classic car is still fitted with points and a condenser, it may be time for an upgrade to a modern ignition system. Install one and you’ll never have to think about breaker maintenance again. There are two ways to get there: a drop-in electronic ignition conversion for your stock point-triggered distributor, or a complete replacement of your classic car’s ignition system with either a factory electronic ignition system or a high-tech aftermarket system. There are plenty to choose from.

One of the most popular drop-in ignition systems is from Pertronix, which offers its line of Ignitor-branded drop-in ignition conversions. A typical installation time for an Ignitor kit is around 30 minutes, and once it’s installed, there is no maintenance to worry about (unlike an old-style breaker point). Part of the installation involves setting the proper air gap with the thickness gauge Pertronix provides, but that’s a one-time process. These units fit inside the stock distributor and are essentially undetectable once the cap is back in place — there are no external control boxes to mount.

If you own a vehicle from a manufacturer that didn’t make it to the electronic era, like Hudson, Packard or Studebaker, you’ll be limited to aftermarket conversions. Pertronix is but one of several drop-in electronic ignitions on the market. There are others from MSD, Accel, FAST, Speedmaster, AEM Electronics, AC Delco and many more.

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