ON THE ROAD
READERS CARS
W
e love cars... and by the response we've had from our new motoring section, so do our readers. We bumped into Paula from Loulé who has this lovely Mini Moke. It has been in the family since new when Paula's mother drove it out of the showroom in Lisbon 32 years ago, and drove it down to the Algarve. The car is still in the original colour, and in order to keep it in the family, Paula's son is buying it. Today the Mini Moke is considered a classic. The prices of these cars are set accordingly and you can buy one for something in the region of €14,000-€16,000. The Mini Moke is a
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small, front-wheel-drive utility and recreational convertible, manufactured and marketed originally by British Motor Corporation (BMC), and subsequently marketed under the Austin, Morris and Leyland brands. Designed by Sir Alec Issigonis and John Sheppard, the Mini Moke is noted for its simple, straightforward, doorless design, and its adaptability. Originally prototyped as a lightweight military vehicle using the engine, transmission and suspension parts from the Mini van, the design's small wheels and low ground clearance made it unsuitable as an off-road military vehicle. The design was subsequently offered in civilian form as a lowcost, easily maintained vehicle, achieving
global popularity for being lightweight and recreational. The first Mokes were manufactured at BMC's Longbridge, Birmingham plant, with 14,518 produced in the UK between 1964 and 1968. 26,000 vehicles were manufactured in Australia between 1966 and 1981, and 10,000 in Portugal between 1980 and 1993 when production ended. The name combines Mini with Moke, an archaic term for "mule. If you would like to have your pride and joy featured next month please contact us at info@eastalgarvemag.com Happy motoring!
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