Mysterious Engine Failure - Ideas, please

[Malcolm Parker]

Another possible cause could be the distributor, some of the internal electrical connections are not always obvious and failure is not always down to the points, condensor or rotor arm.   It may be worth fitting a spare distributor that you know works okay.
Is the engine properly earthed?  On some Austins with rubber mounted engines it has been found that the choke cable is providing the only earth.