5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

1 GIVE IT MORE POWER

Much depends on how ambitious you are and the depth of your pockets, but you can safely take a 20v Turbo engine to 300bhp without it needing internal modification. You’ll be looking at work on the turbo, intake and exhaust systems. plus a re-map, but the results will be pretty spectacular. The downside is that it could set you back upwards of £2500.

2 DO THE VITAL JOBS

If there’s any doubt over a car’s maintenance history, then two jobs need doing straightaway: the first is a fresh cam belt; and the second is replacing the often suspect coolant pipe at the rear of the engine. The work will cost around £400 at Coupé specialist, Midlands Car Servicing – an outlay that will save a lot of heartache and expense in the long run.

3 KEEP IT ORIGINAL

There’s a strong argument for keeping a Coupé entirely standard, particularly as those cars are likely to be more sought-after in the future. At the very least, consider mods that are easily reversible, and if you’re considering a car that’s been upgraded, think about the ease and cost of returning it to original specification. Specialists and the club can advise.

4 REPLACE THE BUSHES

The Coupé managed to blend sharp handling with decent ride quality, so if either are amiss then a suspension overhaul is probably on the cards. A few hundred pounds spent replacing perished bushes will pay dividends, and new springs and dampers might be needed, too, although you’ll have to put in a decent search for original parts. Alternatively, consider aftermarket items from the likes of Eibach and Bilstein.

5 UPRATE THE BRAKES

If discs and pads are due for replacement then you’re unlikely to upset the purists by opting for quality aftermarket parts from the likes of EBC or Tarox. Shop around as prices vary, but budget on spending round £300 to refresh both ends. Alternatively, the bigger Brembo brakes from the 20v Turbo will fit other variants.