Outboard question

The 7-1/2s have a clutch rod that protrudes above the gas tank and starter , just says "clutch" and they spin 360* in their mount, you have to spin them around 180* for "reverse"
I know the next year newer they changed that engine a lot, 54 they went to remote tank and I believe actually got a reverse gear. I think it was ~54-58 were quite similar to each other but we're very different from the '51-53 models of that engine that I'm more familiar with.
A guy I know and used to work with has(had?) a '57 version which I have done some work on probably 30 years ago, had to replace the coils.
I've so far never had to buy a coil, been able to find good originals that weren't cracked up.
I've never had any, but just on looks alone, I liked the late 50s Johnson's better than the Evinrude. Though I'm pretty sure they were the same under those covers.