The Mini Moke (a moke is a type of donkey), was yet another of BMC’s attempts at niche marketing of the Mini range, with a Land-Rover look. To say the Moke was of a simple construction would be an understatement, the Moke had no doors or roof but could carry four people inside its tub like body.
It's model code was ADO 15-B.
Originally produced as a serious attempt at providing a "Jeep" like utility vehicle for the British Army, the Moke lived for many years in civilian guise. It became popular all around the world as a cheap "fun" vehicle ideal for hot climates. During the swinging sixties, the Moke became popular with the "Carnaby Set" because it snubbed it's nose at the establishment by being so overtly impractical, and became the coolest car to own.
Alec Issigonis laid down his blueprints for the utilitarian Moke in the early 60’s, and production of the first very Spartan models came about in 1964. He was apparently enthusiastic about putting two engines in the body, one front - one rear, hence 4-wheel-drive from the start. It was evaluated by the US Army for Military use, but failed due to lack of load space, but was capable of greater speed and adhesion than the standard model.
The Moke stated life with a 848cc engine and 10-inch wheels, which unfortunately did not enough ground clearance. A range of Mini power plants found their way into the Moke including 998cc/1098cc and 1275cc A-series units. It did not have any real off-road attributes and was not suited to adverse weather conditions because of it’s open body, and small wheels which tended to bog-down in mud. Of course the distributor was renowned for "drowning" in any type of downpour, let alone negotiating streams and rivers.
BMC persevered and put 13-inch wheels and gave it a 998cc engine, with side Perspex windows, big mud-flaps and wider wheel arches. Later, the hood received zip-in doors, roll bars, and the zippy 1275cc engine became an option. Production shifted to Australia in 1968 where "roo bars" were fitted as standard equipment.
Between 1964 and 1968, UK produced around 30,000 Mokes, but only around 1,500 were registered there as most were exported to Africa, Europe, parts of South America, Australia and New Zealand. Portugal continued production continued a little longer after Australian assembly stopped. Nearly 50,000 examples were produced before ending in 1992.
The Moke was a film star in the British cult TV series, The Prisoner, with star Patrick McGoohan. Dozens of Mokes were used as taxis in a futuristic prison settlement.
Moke’s mainly found their way into the Tourist spots of the Tropics and Carribbean, and Northern Australia.
