Thanks all yet again. Very sensible comments which I will take on board.
Well, it's the garaging thing that is the biggest cause for concern at the moment - I'm going to call the agaents who manage the property I live in to enquire about getting access to one of the garages that are around the back - as far as I know, they're not all in use although the cost may be prohibitive. Thinking further about it, I'd definitely need one actually, as I don't think I'd win any popularity competitions at home if I had to keep the hard top in the spare bedroom when not in use.
AlfaLincs - as before, your comments about the timing chain are right in all respects as I understand it - without the apparent FSH I wouldn't even look at this. Oddly enough I have actually been offered a decent MGB by a friend, and may go ahead with that if I don't go for the Stag. Much more sensible in almost every way, but a poor second in terms the aesthetics and overall desireability and of course, no V8 - but at least I'd be pretty confident of being able to do much of the work on that myself.
As for being a daily runner, don't worry about that - my daily car will continue to be that paragon of reliability, my 156
Edited to add that in fairness to my Alfa, it
has (touch wood) been reliable, but then I do look after it as though it was my first born. I don't want to unfairly perpetuate the legend that buying an Alfa automatically means a season ticket to the nearest garage.