Just out of curiosity anyone with knowledge about this stuff, would my 1930 model A Ford start and run after an emp? It's not shielded by any means but it's also hand crank start with old fashioned points ignition and doesn't *need* the battery to operate.
If it has no semiconductors (transistors or integrated circuits) -and it surely doesn't if the ignition system is as-original - it'll run just fine.
If however the original generator (with associated mechanical voltage regulator) has been replaced with an alternator (with diode-semi-conductor- rectifier and voltage regulator), eventually the battery will run down because it won't be receiving a charge from the now-damaged alternator.
If the ignition system is a points-and-battery as you suggest, when the battery is dead, so is the car. I have heard that some of the early cars had magnetos (which also contain points) so if you have magneto ignition then you don't need the battery at all.
Expect the first policeman who sees it running to commandeer it :-)
BTW- there is some uncertainty about how susceptible cars really are because their structure is somewhat of a shield. Whether it's adequate to protect all the important electronics inside is not clear.