For the first time in around eight years, I finally managed to get my Sportshatch running on Sunday afternoon. There's been nothing wrong with it, it's just that as it hadn't run for so long it needed some coaxing to get it going. There's a big leak somewhere around the exhaust manifold (it always used to crack between 1 and 4, it has a tubular manifold of some type) and it's a bit rough, but then it has got petrol from 1998 going through it now (I used new from a can to start it with).
So, maybe another Sportshatch back on the road for next season, depending on what work it needs. I'm expecting trouble with the brakes after all this time, but it was in pretty good condition when it was laid up so fingers crossed.