Vehicle Story
What was possibly the least convincing military vehicle concept of all time has become one of the most charming civilian utility vehicles of the classic era. Aiming to take a share of Land Rover’s lucrative military contract, Alec Issigonis envisioned the Mini Moke – allegedly named from an archaic term for a mule – as a lightweight, parachutable version of the Mini, which could rapidly move soldiers in far flung parts of the globe. Sadly, its front-wheel drive layout and limited ground clearance offset any advantages the little Moke possessed in the rough stuff, with even a twin-engine four-wheel drive variant not enough to loosen the coffers of military procurers.
With its brief dalliance with the world’s military only going so far as becoming a tender on aircraft carriers, the Moke was offered to the public in 1964. BMC’s Cowley plant in the UK produced 15,000 Mokes until late 1968. As 90% of those were destined for export markets, the decision was taken to build the Moke in Australia until 1982 and then Portugal – the last Moke left the Setubal plant in 1993.