Originally intended as a vehicle to go behind enemy lines, the Moke became a hit with Hollywood A-listers and now it’s back.
The original Mini Moke launched in 1964 and was penned by legendary crayon twirler, Sir Alec Issigonis – he of the Austin Mini. Indeed, the Moke shared plenty with the Mini, including its chassis and suspension.
Now the Moke is back to celebrate 56 years. Moke International has announced the release of just 56 Mokes and only for customers in the UK. The order books are open now with prices starting from $35,000 with Moke saying that this release should be seen as “confirming the permanent return of the brand”.
“Moke is an iconic British brand that has always evoked feelings of fun and freedom. The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Brigitte Bardot have all been captivated by the personality and unique styling of these iconic cars. We’re excited to relaunch the brand into a new era and introduce Moke to the next generation, said Isobel Dando, CEO at MOKE International Limited.
The Moke has some famous admirers with the likes of Kate Moss and DJ Khalid all owning a Moke. And Mokes have appeared in four James Bond films.
Each of the 56 Mokes being built will be available in one of 14 colours. The front grille and windscreen rails are chrome, there’s a discrete union jack badge on the front wings, and a numbered plaque on the bonnet.
Hugely popular with resort owners in the Caribbean, according to Moke, the brand had planned on focussing on those markets but said there’d been huge interest from private buyers in the UK and beyond. To that end, Moke will launch “additional” models across Europe, the USA and beyond from 2021.
Updates to the ‘new’ Moke include a new 50kW and 93Nm four-cylinder petrol engine, uprated suspension, braking and the option for either automatic transmission or manual. The vehicle is also slightly larger to provide more cabin space. And things that would have been laughed at in the 1960s, like power steering and heated windscreen now come as standard.
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