you could consider flushing the fuel system out, as rust from the filler could have blocked the fuel system some where, as with the history of older cars it may have been run dry pulling in to the system all kinds of debris from the tank, I don't think the car would run smooth as you describe if the chain was stretched beyond
its limits you would know about it straight away. the rattle you mention sounds like a alternator, a cheap second hand one will sort that if it is that you mention. with the car at such low mileage it would be really bad to simply scrap it, also check the spark plugs and change the engine oil, oil stood in cars only used to start up or short journeys can decay rapidly and become acidic.
