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Body wise, check the sills and floor pan very carefully. Being a monocoque and without a roof the sills are a major part of the structural strength of the car, once they go the whole car will literally start to fold in half. Check the shut lines on the doors, then get someone to sit in the car and do the same. If you have trouble opening or closing the door when someone is sat in the driver's seat then walk away. Rear corners is another favourite place to rot - water gets in the boot and collects in the corners.
Mechanically, definitely go for an A-series one over the later 1500cc Triumph engine. One plus point of BL/BMC badge engineering is that a lot of mechanical and electrical parts are used in many other cars so are still easy to obtain. If you local parts factor can't get it then there are a number of specialist suppliers who can. If you are mechanically inclined it's mostly fairly easy to work on.
Obviously due to the age of the car check if the engine has been converted to run unleaded or if you'll need to use a lead replacement additive every time you fill up.
I've never driven one with a hard top but will confirm what Bluebottle said about the soft top leaking. It's a very simple design which means it can be taken up or down in a matter of seconds. Three stud fasteners on each side at the rear and 2 clips over the windscreen, and fold back. If you do get a hard top it can be fitted without having to un-bolt and remove the soft top. Good news is that the heater is great so your legs will be warm even if the rest of you isn't.
If you're used to a small hatchback you might find driven one a bit different. It's a very low driving position in a small car so in traffic you can feel a very vulnerable. Expect lots of wind and road noise and a tiring drive if going a long distance on motorways. Then again on A and B roads they are an absolute blast to drive.
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