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So, what exactly is a Mini
Moke?
What follows is an excerpt
from "A Guide to Mini Mokes", published by The Mini Moke Club in 1997. The
book is still available from the club and is highly recommended reading if
you are contemplating purchasing a Moke, already own a Moke, or just
interested in this most unusual of the Mini derivatives.
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Far from being a generic term
for a boxy, very fun, open vehicle, "Mini Moke" or "Moke" means only one thing:
A little piece of motoring history. Contrary to popular belief, they
were never available in kit form, but have always been factory produced using a
steel monocoque body pan mounted on Mini sub frames and powered by an "A"
series Mini engine/gearbox unit. Be it England, Australia or Portugal, they
have always left the factory fully assembled.
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The Mini Moke was designed by Sir Alec
Issigonis at the same time as the Mini Saloon. The first pre-production
prototype was produced in 1959 and a handful of other prototype Mini Mokes
were made up until 1964, including a couple of four wheel drive versions
with two engines. Some of these prototypes are still in existence (see
left). |
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The first production Mini Moke was manufactured in
January 1964 at BMC's Longbridge factory in Birmingham, England.
Production continued until late October 1968 when around 15,000 English
Mokes had been produced.
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Production then switched entirely to BMC's factory in
Sydney, Australia, where they had been producing the Moke since 1966. A
number of specification changes had been made to suit the local
conditions and the growing leisure vehicle market. The Mini Moke
continued to be manufactured in Australia until early 1982.
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In 1983 production restarted in Portugal with
British Leyland. Initially the final Australian specification was
used, but this was substantially revised in 1986, and under the
control of Austin Rover Portugal, continued until mid 1989. |
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The manufacturing rights for the Moke were sold in
1990 to the Italian company Cagiva, who produced practically
identical Mokes in Portugal from 1991 through to early 1993, when
the last Mini Moke was made.
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