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What is a Moke? |
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What is a Moke? |
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A very basic vehicle…. they are a derivative of the British Motor Corporation’s Mini.
The motor fitted ranged from a basic 850cc to an 1100cc and the top of the range 1275 (similar to that fitted to the famous ‘Cooper S’). The 1275 Moke runs a modified differential than that fitted to the Mini in order to cope with its intended design of pulling loads. Why would anybody
want one? History of the Mini Moke The first pre-production prototype was produced in 1959 and a handful of other prototype Mini Mokes was made up until 1964. The English Mokes had the original Mini 10" wheels, while later Australian models were fitted with 13" wheels and the body was hot galvanized dipped from late 1979 early 1980 onwards.
Left: A nice example of an English Mini Moke Production then entirely switched 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 was manufactured in
Australia until early 1982. Right: A very tidy Australian standard Moke
Left: Portuguese Moke in an unusual silver finish.
Production Figures
Total Mini Moke 49,937 English Mokes Production
history Specification
Optional extras: Australian Mokes
Production history April 1969: Mk2 Moke arrived: standard engine became the 1,098cc A-series and 13in wheels were standard. Also wider tracks, larger mudguards, kicked-out rear panel, better oil filter, improved cooling, larger brake cylinders, lower final drive and Cooper 'S' type mechanical inboard universal joints. 1970: Name changed to BMC Moke. December 1971: Moke Californian launched with 1,275cc engine, two-speed wipers, hazard flashers, reversing light, spare wheel cover and rear-mounted fuel tank. Cost: $1,675.
1973: 1,275cc engine dropped because of emissions regulations, taking the Californian with it. December 1974: Moke Utility (pick-up) launched. Cost: $2,377. Production ceased at Sydney plant. April 1975: Production restarted at Enfield plant. May 1975: 1,098cc engine deleted. Mokes now only with 998cc engine. 1976: Emissions-controlled 998cc engine introduced. September 1977: Moke Californian launched with 998cc engine and uprated equipment. Cost: $3,599. November 1979: Moke revamped with zinc galvanized body, improved front deflector screens, new hood with zippered side screens, new high-back tilting front seats, strengthened spare wheel bracket, larger fuel tank with sidemounted filler, new rollover cage for Californian, inertia-reel seat belts, new stalk-mounted controls, improved gearchange, improved mountings for bumpers, modified steering rack, improved emissions control, larger front grille badge and new 'Moke' logo on rear mudflaps November 1981: Moke production ceased in Australia. Total production: 26,142.
Performance Optional extras: Portuguese Mokes
Production history Late 1983: UK imports began through Dutton Cars. Cost: £4,100. December 1984: Production ceased as British Leyland Portugal went into liquidation. January 1985: Production transferred to new site. No longer called Californian, retained 13in wheel through 1985, then modified to include 12in wheels, flush back panel, disc front brakes and 3.44:1 final drive. 1986: Rear mudguards narrowed by 1in each side. Late 1986: New hood and seats. Rollbar, grab handles, bumpers and grille now painted silver. January 1988: Zinc plated body standard. Bumpers painted white and rollcage painted body colour. Inertia-reel rear seat belts mounted to rollcage. Late 1988: UK imports restarted under Duncan Hamilton. Late 1988: Split rear seats introduced. May 1989: Moke 25 limited edition (250 stated) launched, with 'Moke 25'decals on bonnet. July 1989: Rover suspended Portuguese production (final Chassis Number TW7XKFP 328 S 981230). April 1990: Rights to Moke sold to Italian firm Cagiva. April 1991: Production restarted under the 'Moke' name, with revised side curtains, radiator resituated at the front, electric fan and white trim with green piping (Chassis Number TX5XKFP 318 S 190001). May 1991: Moke re-launched in UK through Duncan Hamilton. Standard £6,128 and SE £6,869. Late 1993: Production suspended and tooling transferred to Italy. Total production: From 1983 to end of 1992: 9,277. Specification
Optional extras: References |
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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 a kit car, 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.
and compact, particularly
with the windscreen down, but the front wheel drive, small wheels and low
ground clearance did not give sufficient mobility, although experimental
four wheel drive Mokes were built - with two engines and transmissions,
power at each end! (some of which are still in existence, picture
right).The general idea was to design a utility version of the Mini- a
lighter weight Land Rover capable of packing in crates to be dropped from
the sky with a parachute or lowered by helicopter (if you look carefully
at a Moke, you can see how with the windscreen removed, they stack on top
of each other, the wheels on the top one fitting nicely on the fenders
underneath). The big military orders fell through but the Moke went on to
become a cult, a real classic car.
The first
production Moke was manufactured in January 1964 at BMC's Longbridge
factory in Birmingham, England. Production continued until late October
1968 with around 15,000 English Mokes produced
In 1983
production restarted in Portugal with British Leyland. Initially the final
Australian specification was used, but this was revised in 1986, and under
Austin Rover Portugal, production continued until mid 1989.
The
manufacturing rights for the Moke were sold in 1990 to the Italian company
Cagiva, who produced Mokes in Portugal from 1991 through to early 1993,
when the last Mini Moke was made.
April
1972: Name changed to Leyland Moke.