There are plenty of 'will it start' videos on t'interwebs...
Generally they take the form of finding something in a barn, saying 'really, before you try and start it you should...', and instead of doing that just pouring petrol in the carb, and hot-wiring the ignition. Often followed shortly afterwards by melting the starter, finding the fuel pump doesn't, filling the carb with ancient petrol sludge, or in extreme cases finding that the valve guides are going up and down along with the guides and bending all the push-rods (and sometimes the con-rods too).
This sort of approach doesn't work with the coupe engine.
While I wouldn't want to take work away from the marque specialists, a lot of this you can do yourself. But after twelve years, I'd probably start with:
- Replace battery
- Drain and replace fuel
- Drain and replace coolant - plain water will work for initial testing, but antifreeze mix is required once it's working
- Check that there is some oil - no point replacing it until you know things turn but you'll need to change it sooner or later
- Careful inspection of belts - you will need to replace the cam and aux belts anyway, but no need to do so if the engine is seized solid. Unlikely but you never know.
- Assuming the cam belt is still in one piece, pull the plugs (this is important; it's possible that a cylinder is full of water and you need to provide a way to let it out) and try and turn the engine from the crank bolt - not the starter. You want to see if it will turn initially and that the pistons aren't stuck to the cylinder walls. While it's turning, you will be watching the cams to make sure they're both turning too
- If it's stuck, then you'll need to strip the engine. If it turns halfway and sticks, and will turn the other way, it's probably either rust at the top of the cylinder or a valve stuck in a guide blocking it. If it won't go round at all, it's probably bottom end which will be a pain!
- Assuming that all is happy and the engine will make a couple of complete turns by hand, it's probably time to change the cambelt and water pump
- Check that the engine turns on the starter (still no plugs) and will raise the oil pressure
- Check that the fuel pump runs for a couple of seconds when the ignition is first turned on
- Plugs in and see if it starts...
There are still many things which might not be working: leaky head gasket, injectors sticking or simply dead, ignition system not ignitioning and so on, but the main thing is to keep the engine in one piece. Everything else you will need to check out once you have more of an idea of its status.
You will of course be checking and replacing brakes and pads, and possibly brake lines, shocks, and tyres. There's a possibility that the clutch plate has rusted itself to the flywheel. Tin worm has probably infected various bits of the bodywork...
I'm sure others will be along to point out the bits I forgot!
Neil