Australian Mokes Mini Moke

leyland moke pick-up after-market wheels

the moke built in australia 1966 1981 marketed morris mini moke , 1973 leyland moke. australian mokes had same 10-inch wheels british mokes , mini saloons in 1968 these replaced 13-inch wheels longer rear trailing arms, made them more practical gentle off-road or beach use british version. there widening piece welded wheel arches, front , rear allow wider tyres , rims. solid metal seats of british mokes replaced tubular-framed deck-chair seats. variant started 998 cc engine, switched mid-production 1,098 cc. in 1976, advent of new anti-pollution requirements (australian design rule 27a), locally manufactured 1,098 cc motor replaced imported version of 998 cc motor air pump , exhaust gas recirculation, had been developed meet uk (us?) anti-pollution requirements.

for brief period around 1971, leyland australia produced variant referred in leyland literature moke, special export , commonly called californian , had 1,275 cc engine , fitted side marker lamps , different rear lights conform fmvss standards. fuel tank austin sprite or mg midget fitted beneath rear load area, replacing standard tank mounted in left sidebox. export californian readily recognisable roof , seats, trimmed in op-pop verve black , white tiger striped vinyl or orange bali vinyl, looked rather fruit salad, , briefly marketed flower power culture in united states.

the name californian , 1275 cc motor resurrected in 1977 australian market mokes denim seat covers, more comfortable seats (which concealed same basic frame within), spoked wheels , complex tubular bumpers (known roo bars ).

australian mokes exported many countries, , pioneered large-scale exports of australian-made vehicles. leyland australia made of these exports in advertising. use of australian-made mokes israeli army (complete machine-gun tripod mounted in rear) attracted controversy , media attention.

from 1975, pickup version of moke produced, 1.45 x 1.50 metre (55 x 59 in) drop-sided bed protruded behind of vehicle, , cloth top on cab area. @ least 2 four-wheel drive moke prototypes manufactured leyland australia in late 1970s, unlike british version, these used 1 engine. leyland planning market version, moke production in australia ended in 1981 , remains of project 1 of prototypes owned enthusiast in western australia , modified differential crownwheel gearteeth cut in side drive rear tailshaft, in personal collection of melbourne mini specialist.

in 1977 1275 cc cooper s-engined moke (sponsored coca-cola) entered singapore airlines london-sydney marathon. car driven on 30,000 km (19,000 miles) on 30 days , finished in 35th place.