Perhaps he did it just to piss off gear-heads? A success. Now, if they are viable motors and are now being used as yard art, doesn't that make yours worth more? A guy can take a vintage goodie and smash it right in from fo me, I don't care. It's his stuff. As long as the owner is getting what they want from it and they are happy with it's use, intended or not, it's a good thing.
I think his name is Madsen, he came up with the Crossfire dist. cap, the wires were all in order on each side. He did all kinds of crazy stuff, I had a video he did on how to build pro-street lawnmowers. My buddy's five year old son watched that tape so many times it broke. Now all he cares about is skateboards, baggy pants, and getting high.
Nope, you all have it wrong. This is the alternative to building a motor in your 2nd floor living room. Just reach out the window and wrench. Less cleaning up when the old lady rings the dinner bell.
-Get a battery powered sawzall -cut the angles just right so that when it falls - it will land in the back of your truck