1970 Leyland Mini Moke

Description

Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, the Moke was essentially a stripped down, utilitarian version of the Mini developed with both military and commercial applications in mind. Indeed the original design brief called for a car light enough to be dropped by parachute and the ability to cover difficult terrain. Unfortunately the small wheels and limited ground clearance made it impractical for off-road use and the British military ultimately rejected the design. Instead, BMC marketed the Moke as a 'fun car' with production commencing in 1964, the vast majority earmarked for export. Although it shared the same running gear and general layout as the Mini, the Moke used an entirely new pressed-steel monocoque platform that did away with doors and most of the bodywork. The Moke could seat four passengers and came with rudimentary weather protection in the form of a folding hood and plastic side curtains. Moke production switched to BMC's Zetland plant in Australia between 1966 until 1981 and a number of changes were made to suit local conditions, including wider track, bigger 13-inch wheels, longer rear trailing arms, new seats and more powerful locally-made 1098cc engines from 1969 until 1976, when the introduction of strict new ADRs saw the Moke revert to the cleaner, imported 998cc unit. In total some 26,142 Mokes left the production lines in Sydney and although they have proved durable enough, finding a car free from the dreaded rust is the biggest challenge, with the 1098cc engine and drivetrain relatively unbreakable. Ideal as a beachside runabout, the Moke is fantastic fun to drive and surprisingly practical, with plenty of room for surfboards and gear behind the seats.