1967 Austin Mini Moke

The initial idea to his car was to create a light multi-purpose vehicle for the British military based on the Austin/Morris Mini. Its development started in 1959 parallel to the launch of the Mini. But soon it became clear that the lack of ground clearance caused by the typical suspension and the small wheels would not meet the demands for an off-road purpose - while the plan to make the vehicle parachute-droppable failed as well.

In 1963 the British Motor Corporation eventually decided to turn the project into a kind of a motorized buckboard for private - and fun - missions. About one year later the beach-buggy like car appeared on the market as the Mini Moke. It immediately became a cult transportation in Australia, in the United States and last but not least in tropical resorts like the Caribbean. Technically the Moke was nothing else but the Mini micro car. So most came with the Mini's base engine, a 848cc inline four with 34 horsepower.

Outside of Europe the car was marketed under the Austin nameplate in its first years. Until 1993 there were some 50,000 Mini Mokes produced - not only in England but also in Australia, Portugal and even down in Rhodesia, Southern Africa.