Description
The Mini Moke was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis at the same time as the Mini saloon and used an identical engine, transmission and suspension parts. Although the pre-production prototype came out in 1959, full-scale production did not start until 1964. It may seem strange to design and build a vehicle with no clear idea what you are going to do with it, but this was BMC in the sixties. It was initially mooted as a parachute-dropped utility vehicle for the British Army, but this notion failed at the first hurdle when they rejected it due to its low ground clearance. Sold overseas as a utility vehicle but in Britain viewed more as a fashion accessory, the Moke captured the 1960s’ spirit of freedom and self-expression more effectively than any other car. The Moke’s prominent role in Patrick McGoohan’s cult TV series The Prisoner has only served to maintain its popularity, and today this quirky Mini variant remains highly sought after.
Some 14,500 Mokes were produced at BMC’s Longbridge plant between 1964 and 1968 before production moved to Australia where a further 26,000 were made between 1966 and 1981. Another 10,000 were made in Portugal before production finally ceased in 1993.
One of the last UK-built Mokes, the example offered here today was restored in 2015 and is described to be in very good condition by the vendor; who advises us that many tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on it. The car comes with a comprehensive history file containing the restoration invoices, old MOT’s and tax discs dating back to 1979, and a V5C Registration Certificate. The original steering wheel and a more usable modern one are included in the sale.
