Talbot express

Well they were probably not a very sophisticated engine regarding control systems. The engine is obviosly starved of fuel and running lean. When I was more able I would have started by changing the fuel filter and then stripping the carburetor and soaking in cleaner. Now, with arthritis taking its toll I would go to my local independant garage who, as well as dealing in modern cars,, has classic car owners driving over a hundred miles for his services.

No idea whereabouts you are based

Could also be an air 'leak' drawing air into the carburretor from a gasket etc but unlikely. If the vehicle is 25 years old, and spends periods unused through the winter with fuel aging in the carb over winter a mucky carb would be my first suspecr

Thought that I would bump this up as it was moved from story section.

Could be a varnished carburettor. They can appear clean on first inspection.

Ah! A choke ...... Fortunately a dim and distant memory for most of us ☺

Without driving it , or being there, its difficult to know whats wrong. It could be many things?

It could possibly be something as simple a loose linkage on the throttle connection. The fact it will idle with a small amount of choke suggest its using the first part of the choke lever movement (fast idle setting) to increase the idle speed.  My advice is get it looked at by someone in the know. Diagnosis by speculation or slinging parts at it because someone said etc, will cost you more in the long run and prolong the issue getting sorted out properly.

Good Luck.

We have a selection of peg widths for our MG!😂😁

🤣🤣🤣 The only thing worse than a manual choke is/was an ill adjusted auto choke 

The days of manual chokes and flooded carbs is fading from the collective memory.

Flooded carburettor...........petrol lawnmowers. Pain in the butt. We now have an Aldi special, plugs into electrics. Should have done it years ago. Today’s fuels don’t help, especially when you forget to drain down lawnmower!