1966 Mini Moke John and Shirley
Cootamundra

I have been involved with Minis since day one in Australia, having worked for the local BMC dealer from Morris Minor-Oxford days. The first Moke I owned was in 1967 which I fitted with a Cooper S. engine.

With this Moke I won the Huntingdale Auto Club Interclub motorkhana at Brooklyn in November 1973. Brian Kays of Racing Car News wrote about the Moke being fitted with a left footbrake which created great deal of interest among Victorian competitors. I finished 9^th in the Australian Motorkhana Championships held at Young. This Moke was probably the quickest time in this area in those days.

The current Moke was purchased at a farm clearing sale at Grenfell in 1973 in a dismantled condition, engine overheated and seized. It was painted yellow and brown, body number is 1029 making it a fairly early 1966 model, probably built in March at Zetland. Speedo reading at purchase was 34,767 and was last registered in 1974. It was sold new by Nash’s Garage of Grenfell to J. Fowler of Grenfell whom we purchased it from. I have the original Instruction Service Manual supplied by dealer at sale time.

About 1½ years were spent on the restoration, it was dismantled to the bare body shell, sand blasted and repainted original Empire Green, full mechanical restoration, new hood and curtains. It won best restored original Moke at the National Moke Muster 2006 which was held in Shepparton. I have recently restored an original Moke Trailer, number M/12, which were available from BMC dealers and factory approved. They had matching 10 inch wheels and Dunlop winter tread tyres. This trailer was sold by J. Tuff & Son, Gundagai dealers in 1966. Have a photo of it new on Display at Gundagai Show in March 1966.