clutch question

["Evangelos G. Makris" <emakris@hol.gr>]

Is it true that performing simple clutch work
such as changing the pressure plates or even
a basic inspection requires pulling the engine
out of the car?

I know of other cars with similar engine/gearbox/axle/diff
arrangement (e.g. Mazda 323 MkI, Alfa Romeo Junior, etc)
where engine removal is not necessary to fix the clutch.
How about the Sprite?

Finally, is the 1275 clutch prone to frequent failures?
(My car has a late 1275 engine with the dual brake/clutch
master cylinder system).

Evangelos