Hi guys... greeting from the US!

I'm a car nut (most usually Corvairs and Little British Cars... but most of my LBC's seem to be from Down Under)

I just sold my Australian built '67 MK1 Cooper S, but I still have my '73 NZ built Mini (with period Contessas) and my two recently purchased Mokes... (not to mention my daughter's 1994 Capri (series 2)... very rare here in the US... we're making her learn to drive in and around Washington, DC in the Capri before she graduates to a Mini (which is what she _really_ wants)

Pictures at www.fnader.com

It's these Mokes that I have questions on...

First, I'd like to figure out what I have...

The "blue" Moke (both are really Diamond White) is an emssions equipped 998 with the old body style. The paperwork I have says that it's a 1975 with a VIN of 018FOB1M0914xxx. I'm thinking it must be later than a '75, but have no way to tell.

The white "Californian" is a later "galvanized" body, but also an emissions 998 in it and all drum brakes... the chassis plate is missing... is there a "hidden" VIN to look for?

I'd like to determine the actual vintage of both of these. I also understand that one was a Ute, but I have nothing more than what's pictured.

Finally, I only have 4 seats between the two... two highbacks with the separate headrest and tow lowbacks... I have access to a decent set of UK Moke pressed steel seats with cushions... will these bolt into an OZ Moke? I don't have both to compare but from pictures it looks like the UK Mokes had different mounts welded to the body?

I'm also trying to decide which one to keep (I bought as a pair with the intention of selling one)... I like the looks of the earlier body a bit better, but I already have little brown stains seeping out from under the paint... though the shell is very solid... with no such issues on the later shell... even though all the controls and the engine are locked up solid from the salt air (they came out of the Florida Keys)

Thanks!!
Bill Elliott

Hi Bill,

Check this link to the mokers site - more specific info on mokes will be found there -

http://www.moke.com.au/Joomla/index.php

Cheers,

TasTyger

That wouldnt be Bill Elliot of MiniMania boards fame would it ?
Long time now see !

You'll find a lot of ex-minimania people here.... these guys are a pretty friendly bunch

Hope they can help you with what you are looking for

Cheers
J

(PS - minimania name was James_be )

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That's a pretty impressive collection of cars you've got there , fairly broad in terms of maker and types . Love the shots of how you move them together , I guess it would be the cheapest and easiest way .

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Hi Bill.

I am the editor of The Mini Experience, so be prepared for a gratuitous plug. (see our website at www.miniexperience.com.au for details.)

In Issue 6 (Issue 8 is about to come out) we had a 25-page feature on the history of the Moke. This article would be able to answer most of your questions.

For example, the side-fill fuel tank and galvanized body Mokes were introduced in November 1979, so the white Moke will be from late 1979 to late 1981, when the last Moke was built in Australia.

While it is not clear from the photos on your website, it looks like your Moke has the standard late-model side-curtain attachment, which incorporates the rear hood-bow support bracket, along the top of the rear wheel arch. If this is the case, then the car is a 1981 model, and also was not a ute.

These brackets were deleted from the cars built as utes (pick-ups). The confusion might come from the fact that the Moke is listed as a utility even in standard form, and most Mokes, even with rear seats, were registered as utilities in Australia.

The VIN should be stamped on the top of the radiator cowl.

As for the blue Moke, it will be difficult to date it accurately without close inspection, as the body was basically unchanged between 1969 and 1979. There are a few details, such as a separate reversing light bracket between 1977 and 1979. However, as your Moke does not have a removable grille (from what I can see in the photo) it would be before 1977, as I think (but not sure) that is when the removable grille was introduced.

So, you idea that it might be a 1975 model might be about right, but no guarantees.

It looks like it has been painted in Gambier Turquoise (my all-time favorite Mini/Moke colour). If this was the original colour, then the car has to be from 1971 to 1973.

We still have copies of Issue 6 available. They are AU$20 including airmail post to the US. An order form is on our website, or email me at [email protected] and I will email back an order form.

Subscriptions for the magazine are AU$60, including airmail to the US, for four issues (1 year) , and can be taken from the current issue or the following issue, only (not back-dated).

I hope this info helps.

Cheers,
Watto
Craig Watson
The Mini Experience magazine.

Hey Bill,,,:-)

good to hear from you again mate

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

Thanks much for the kind welcome, information on my Mokes, and the leads to more information!

I am indeed active on the MiniMania board and it's nice to see some familiar faces (figuratively speaking, of course)... the Mokes came from Windsor (in Key Largo FL) for those of you that might know him... really no idea how long he's had them, but the one US title suggests at least since 2002. (I couldn't talk him into selling his Twini...not that I could have afforded it anyway!)

Looks like I have a lot of learning to do. I fell in love with a UK Moke at MME this year and bought these almost on impulse...

So any idea on the fitment of UK seats?

Thanks again!
Bill

My understanding is that the seat mounting holes didnt change from the little wheelers to the big wheelers. The seats should bolt straight in.

Well, actually, while I know a little bit about Australian Mokes, UK Mokes are a bit of a mystery to me.

Certianly there is no change in mounting points from little-wheel (10") AUSTRALIAN Mokes to big wheel (13") Mokes, I would think the UK pressed steel seats would be a different fitting from the Ozzie ones, though.

Probably one of the best people to ask would be Leo Jack at Cooper Cars South West Trading in UK ([email protected]), as I know he has a couple of Ozzie Mokes and a couple of Pommy Mokes. If no luck there try Trevor Parsons at Runamoke in the UK ([email protected]) or Mini Moke Club UK - I'll try to find the contact and post it soon.

Cheers,
Watto.

Thanks again for the info; I've sent off a few inquires (and an order for that back magazine issue!)

I just realized why the "late" model is missing the chassis plate... if it was brought in circa 2002 it would not have been 25 years old... the vin on the radiator shroud has also been wiped (with only a "3 19Y" still visible. Any other place to look for a stamped chassis number?

Along those lines, I guess I need to replace the chassis plate. Mini Spares/ Mini Mania offer a wide variety of blank replacement plates, all for UK cars... does any vendor offer something similar for the Australian cars?

From the private emails I've received, it seems that I should likely keep the ealier Moke for myself and sell the "galvanized" Californian since that will likely bring more than the earlier car while not really being worth the extra? Thoughts?

Thanks again!
Bill