fesiva works then does not

[timowil]

I have a 1988 Festiva (bought it new). The gas flow to the engine cuts down and car does not get enough gas so that it begins to stutter and jerk and it will continue doing this until the car won't go further and then engine cuts out. It has happened four times- 3 times: I let the car sit for an hour+ and then it runs fine. The fourth time it continued the same problem even after 3 hours. I had it towed. The fuel filter was clean. The fuel pump had good pressue. The carb was getting gas. The carb was clean. Before the mechanic (who has worked on this car for about 15 years) could make a diagnosis, the car began running well, and it has run well for a week now.
Could someone suggest what the problem might be?
contact timothy_williams@pba.edu

[eurotiva]

Possibly in the distributor. Runs good then when it gets hot stops.?

[Sparky]

Or a coil.....happened in a similar way to me. Would run fine until it got warm, then would sputter until it died. Come back an hour or so later and it would run fine again.

[FestYboy]

yeah, same thing here, i'd go after the coil (easy and cheap upgrade).