Some cars have found an unlikely cult status thanks to their presence in popular culture, and the Mini Moke is one of the most significant.

Developed by the British Motor Corporation with the primary purpose of being an inexpensive, simple-to-build and air-portable military vehicle based on the Mini, the Moke was originally a bit of a disaster – its low ground clearance and lack of off-road ability making it less popular with the forces than BMC expected. An ill-fated experiment with a twin-engined four-wheel-drive model was attempted, but was far too complex and still couldn’t solve the ground clearance issue.

It was never the utilitarian success for which BMC had hoped, but the Moke more than made up for it by becoming an icon in its own right, beloved of celebrities including Brigitte Bardot and Michael Caine (both of whom were enthusiastic owners) and made famous by TV series and films including Captain Scarlet, The Persuaders, The Avengers, Tiny The Giraffe, UFO, Catch us if You Can, The Man with the Golden Gun and Moonraker. But it was the car’s starring role in cult TV series The Prisoner, around which the Welsh village of Portmeirion was built, that truly gave it fame – a fleet of four Mokes being used to ferry the village’s incumbents around as taxis and starring in every episode.

The Moke was also a big export success for BMC, for while the British weather didn’t really offer much opportunity to enjoy what was essentially a pared-down Mini with a canvas roof and no heater, other climes made it much more attractive, especially Commonwealth countries where cars could be constructed locally and imported in kit form. This one’s a 1972 UK-made Moke and was restored between 2015 and 2020.

The Moke is for sale due to bereavement, as the gentleman that restored it passed away a few months ago. A classic car enthusiast, he had built the car for his wife as a gift and restored it between 2015 and 2020, an A4 ring binder showing the extent of the parts bought and the money spent bringing it up to the standard it’s in today. Most of the bills come from MiniSpares, one of the UK’s leading Mini specialists, while it also has a UK V5C and is both tax and MOT exempt.

 

There’s not a huge amount inside a Mini Moke to start with, but what there is in this one is in fine order. The four individual seats – blue in the front and black in the rear – are in great condition, while the front floors are protected by tailor-made mats. 

Otherwise, it’s a steering wheel, a speedometer, three pedals, a gear lever and a handbrake… and that’s pretty much your lot. This one has been upgraded to include four inertia-reel seatbelts and an additional oil pressure gauge, as well as a later three-spoke Rover steering wheel.

The body of the Moke is exceptional, with a lovely paint finish in Fern Green. It’s set off by the bumpers, lamp surrounds, wheel and hub caps finished in matt black instead of chrome – a smart look that really complements the Moke’s utilitarian nature – more so than the more common approach of excessive chrome that’s frequently seen.

It sits on a set of period four-spoke slot-mag alloy wheels and comes with a full tilt-style canvas roof, which offers limited weather protection, while further defence from the elements comes in the form of additional Perspex side screens. 

It’s in excellent condition, the only flaws being three areas of paint damage – two on the bonnet and a tiny one on one of the body sills.

Under the lift-off bonnet you’ll find a 1.0-litre BMC A-Series engine familiar to anyone who has ever owned a standard Mini, or one of a number of other British classics. It starts well with a bit of choke and the vendor reports that it drives without fault. The entire suspension, steering and braking system was renewed during its restoration and it comes with a full Manilflow stainless-steel exhaust and a hidden electric kill switch for security.

Fully refurbished, unusual and beguilingly cute, this little Moke will make the perfect fun summer classic, an unusual twist on the Mini theme or a fascinating artefact from the empire that was once the British Motor Corporation. It’s a real charmer. 

This item is sold on an ‘As is Where is’ basis. The condition of this item is the opinion of the seller and may differ from your own opinion. Photos and listing descriptions are for guidance purposes only*.** Car & Classic do not warrant listing accuracy. Full inspection is recommended. Viewings are at the seller’s discretion. Buyer is responsible for delivery and collection of any item purchased.*