THE MINI-MOKE

The Mini Moke

The model shown in the photograph above is hand-crafted from 1/8" plywood.

Tools used: sliding blade cutter, steel ruler,
hole saw for wheels, wooden dowels for axles,

cutting board and glue.
No scroll saw was used. Length: 11 inches
(Crafter: Tony Fernandes)

The Mini Moke is a vehicle based on the Austin Mini of BMC (British Motor Corporation. The name comes from "Mini"—the car with which the Moke shares many parts—and "Moke" which, I believe, is an archaic dialect term for 'donkey'. It was designed for the BMC by a genius - a famous car designer and engineer of Greek origin, Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis, CBE, FRS (18 Nov 1906 - 2 October 1988).

 I saw it and rode in it Abu Dhabi in November 1967 for the very first time. The Architectural and Engineering Consulting firm that I worked for then had a fleet of them. I was 20 years old and worked for the Consultants on the first 100 km dual carriage highway from Abu Dhabi to the oasis town of Al-Ain, a Sheikdom and British Protectorate then known as a part of the Trucial States of Oman. The Architects and Engineers used the Mini-Mokes for visiting the various construction sites in town. Also many other contractors used the Mini-Moke to visit constructions projects. It also served as a short distance shuttle for picking and dropping their personnel to the staff quarters.

Its advantage was in easy access - not much unlike the electric golf carts of today - an ideal vehicle for use as a run-about for hop-in/hop-off jobs. One had to just jump in and take off. It had a very low center of gravity, with sunken seating, more like a tub with broad raised 'pontoon' sides that served as recessed compartments - the left-hand pontoon contained the fuel tank whereas the right-hand side one had compartments for the battery and another one for a jack, tools or accessories. It was very popular with construction companies as a run-about vehicle for various jobs in town, and I was really fascinated by it as a young man - waiting for the slightest chance of hitching a ride in one.

To me this vehicle - the Mini Moke - was a real marvel - one awesome, simple and convenient form of transport, and a practical piece of engineering - front wheel drive, transverse engine, standard track, typical big steering wheel and easy to handle. It seated four persons, with space for luggage behind the rear seats. It even came with a spare tyre attached to the rear. Invariably, somehow most of them were painted dark green. Some were fitted with metal framework and tarps.

I have very fond memories of first riding in it to and fro from work, and then eventually having had the fun and pleasure in actually at the wheel in driving one myself. They were much in use until the mid-seventies.

Rear View

 Independent Front Suspension

Independent Front Suspension 

 Rear Pivot Swing Axle

I remember the vehicle quite well, and miss it so much, that I decided to include it in the range of many scale models of cars that I make out of 1/8" thick plywood and took the liberty of making a slightly extended version - as the one pictured above. There's independent suspension fitted in front and the rear wheels are fitted on a swing axle.

Please visit the following website
 to view a vast selection of Mini-moke models.

http://www.strasserhof.com/Moke/index.htm

You will find the one featured on this blog page under the following link:

http://www.strasserhof.com/Moke/index-Dateien/Page8332.htm