Looks like the only thing holding the Mk1 back is a tiny little gauze filter and some new spark plugs. But can I locate any in the Middle East? I think not. So, as I twiddle my thumbs waiting for a parcel to arrive from Germany I popped over to the UK to check out the throttlebody option from Jenvey in Bridgnorth, UK. Their fuel injection range has steadily extended since they opened their doors in 1987 to cover the entire induction system – including manifolds, fuel rails & fittings, air horns, linkages and associated parts.

In a rather modest factory they make virtually all components in-house (from the housings and spindles, through to the butterflies and levers) allowing the company to keep a constant eye on quality control, from the drawing board, through to manufacturing process. Keeping their business in-house has also allowed Jenvey to maintain the level of confidentiality essential for success in all forms of motorsport – including the British Touring Car Championships, where all competitors happen to use the Jenvey throttlebody system.

Back home in Dubai I had been bouncing off the Gulf-Sport garage wall for months upon months – deliberating which flipping route to go: whether standard inlet manifold, or direct-to-head throttlebodies? Commonsense dictated that I stick with what I already had, knowing it is a reliable and potent power-mill. However, the latter produces 190bhp, while the throttlebodies have a promise of adding an extra 40bhp. The Jenvey kit I finally plumped for included a pair of 45mm bodies, a set of tailored fuel rails, four shiny air horns (designed for torque increase), an air-box backing plate and a Jenvey air-filter.  In time I’ll cover the technical side of the Jenvey throttlebodies in a lot more depth, along with the standalone ECU and injectors. But before any of that, I need those darn sparkplugs…