PHOTOGRAPH - I took this photograph at a Surrey classic car event August 2022
HISTORY
the Mini Moke has an involved history that apparently is not over yet; more mature readers may remember it in The Prisoner TV series with Patrick McGoohan. Originally it was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis and was an unsuccessful attempt to win military business; was then offered to the general public as utilitarian vehicle from 1964 to 1973 with the 4 cylinder 848cc engine. In 1966 it began to be produced in Australia where after a few years the wheel arches were widened and 13in wheels were used instead of the UK 10in and a 998cc engine. In 1974 Leyland Australia produced an export model called the 'Californian' with a 1275cc engine; I was lucky enough to own one of these when I was younger and loved it.
The Moke was produced in Australia until 1981 after which it was transferred to Portugal utilising the 'Californian' edition. In 1990 the Moke was then sold by British Leyland to an Italian motor bike manufacturer called Cagiva who continued production in Portugal until 1993.
The story of the Moke continues although slightly confused with it being revived in 2013 when production began in China to sell into the Far East, while in 2020 a fuel injected version was begun in France and an electric version in Britain.
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