5 WAYS TO MAKE IT BETTER

1 FIT A BIGGER ENGINE Engine swaps are popular and the 1275cc A-series is a great route to more power. Decent ones are plentiful, cheap and eminently tuneable if you want to go further, and the swap isn’t difficult to do. And they look similar to standard units, so you won’t upset the purists.

2 MAKE SOME UPGRADES Prefer to retain the standard engine? There are plenty of things you can do to improve reliability and make maintenance easier. An exchange unleaded cylinder head costs about £300, and we’d also recommend electronic ignition and a spin-on oil filter conversion – which will set you back about £30.

3 BANISH THE ROT The bodyshell contains all manner of nooks and crannies that can trap muck, and result in rust starting from the inside. If you’ve got a solid shell, an annual session with Waxoyl is time and money well spent. Spending less than £100 on an application pump and a five-litre tin may well be one of the best investments you’ll ever make.

4 BETTER ELECTRICS It’s well worth treating an ageing electrical system to an overhaul, especially if you plan on regular use. Swapping an A30 to negative earth is simple, and about £100 secures an alternator conversion kit. Or, spend about £500 on a ‘Dynator’, which retains the original look. Adding extra fuses and replacing perished wiring or connectors is a wise move.

5 IMPROVE THE BRAKES Swapping the front drum brakes for a disc set-up from a Midget costs a few hundred pounds in parts, with another £100 needed for a servo. It’s certainly advisable if you’ve taken the bigger engine route. If originality is more important, consider a thorough overhaul of the standard arrangement – the club and specialists can supply everything you need and it’s a DIY task.