As previously mentioned the dizzy cap or coil pack (not sure what fitted) is in a very prone posotion on the polo behind the radiator. On our polo I used to cook (yes cook in the oven very low heat on baking tray lined with grease proof paper) the ignition leads once a year and refit coating with grease (stops condensation ). Kept things reliable - before this I bought a set of leads per year!

However- I also had problems with carb icing when the hot air (off exhaust manifold) divertor valve failed. R reg probably has single point injection which is like a modern carb ie check that hot air makes back into the system (follow air pipe from manifold)

Thanks for this John - especially 2nd paragraph. Yes, it is single point ..... will check the 'hot breath' situation tomorrow!

I have to confess that it 'feels' more like an air (or fuel) problem than electric because of the conking out when the accelerator is blipped but satisfactory increase in revs when smoothly increasing pressure in accelerator .....

I would think this has probably got old style dizzy cap an leads.perhaps take a look inside for any corrosion or fractures,or burning on rotor arm tip.

Thanks for this suggestion elekie. We did all the cap and leads stuff a few weeks ago .... and in fairness, it was all OK until today's downpour ..... maybe need to recheck and refettle ....

Does anyone remember the old dodge to keep your 850 mini running when it's raining?

Get hold of a decent thick rubber glove, it's got four fingers and a thumb =5

The distributor has four plug leads and a coil lead = 5

Punch holes in the ends of the fingers and the thumb and fit it over the leads and the cap and way down over the distributor body. Secure with a cable tie around the distributor body to keep the water out- this worked until years later Lucas brought out a plastic boot that did the same job.