The Mini Moke was designed by Sir Alec Issigonis, who also designed the original Mini, and from the original prototype in 1959 went through several incarnations before production ended in 1993.
The Moke was popular as a premium-rate hire car during the heyday of the tourism industry, and Nick Rouault’s interest in the vehicle was sparked in his childhood when he was transported around the Island in his parents’ bright red 1972 Australian Moke that his father had found in a farmer’s barn.
Classic
‘A couple of years ago I decided it would be nice to get a classic car,’ said Nick. ‘With two young children, a two-seater sports car was not practical, so with the fond memories of my childhood in mind, I decided on a Moke.’
He did some research on the internet and then joined the Moke Club before starting his search for a suitable vehicle. Nick looked into importing one from the UK but decided to make inquiries locally first. He discovered a couple of very rusty examples that would have required too much work, and then heard about a 1980 Australian Californian Moke that had been stored for a decade in a garage.
‘The roof was missing, as was the spare wheel,’ said Nick. ‘There were no rear seats and the front ones had been changed. On the plus side, the body was in really good condition with relatively little rust.’
It took six months to source the missing parts from companies and some helpful club members.
‘I set about totally stripping the car and had the bodywork sandblasted,’ he added. ‘The only section of the bodywork that needed to be replaced was a section of floor in the driver’s side footwell and a small section of the lower front panel. To my relief, the rest of the body was fine.’
The body was resprayed by a local paint shop, along with the front and rear sub-frames. The car was put back together, replacing the old front drum brakes with standard 8.4-inch disc brakes, new drive-shafts, four new shock absorbers, new clutch and brake master cylinders and various other bits. Nick is grateful for the help he received from Louis at Mont Félard Garage body shop.
‘I bought a set of four original seat frames from a club member, stripped them back to bare metal and resprayed them,’ Nick said. ‘Luckily, my father completed an apprenticeship in upholstery in his youth, so we set about making a new set of seat foams using the old ones as a template.
‘The same club member also sold me a good second-hand windscreen frame, as mine had rotted badly in the bottom corners. I also stripped this back to the bare metal and resprayed it, bought new rubbers and fitted a new glass screen.
‘I did the same to both side-screens and fitted new acrylic panels. I bought a second-hand hood frame which I refurbished and fitted a new hood.’
The restoration was finished in July 2009 and Nick has been enjoying it ever since. The engine and gearbox were rebuilt last year.
He knows of a number of other Mokes in the Island and would be keen to hear from any owners interested in getting together on occasions. He would also be happy to meet up with people who may no longer own a Moke, saying: ‘I am sure that there are lots of Islanders that will have fond memories of these small cars.’
Nick’s father now owns a blue 25th anniversary Moke built in Portugal in 1989. He bought it from someone in London who had owned it from new.
Nick’s children, James (10) and Eloise (8), have a similar love for the Moke that he did for his father’s car – it’s the ultimate family beach buggy.
‘They love going out in it. Eloise in particular asks if we can use it on every journey, even if it’s pouring with rain.
‘It’s brilliant – a real conversation piece. So many people have come up to me and told me how they used to have a Moke or knew somebody who did.
‘I have tried to keep it as original as possible. You can get the big items like replacement panels, but it’s the little bits and pieces that are hard to find.
Moke Club
‘The Moke Club have been brilliant. I got a spare wheel from Australia and the seats from a chap in the UK. I still have some spares in the loft. You never know when someone will come on the Moke Club website forum looking for something, and I may be able to help them out.’
Nick is a neon glass blower by trade, so a lot of the skills he uses at work came in useful during the restoration.
‘Some people complete a restoration and then sell the vehicle, but I could never part with the Moke,’ he stressed.
Nick’s was one of four Mokes at the 50th birthday of the Mini and he estimates there must be about 20 in the Island.
‘I am really interested in finding out if anyone in the Island has any interesting stories or pictures of the Mokes that they have owned over the years in the hope of making an archive that I would then forward to the Moke Club for others to access.
‘As this is the 50th anniversary, the Mini Moke Club are organising an event at the Kent Show Ground at the end of July. I am aiming to attend this along with my father and his new Moke. We may look at travelling to France and taking the Eurostar to Dover and then driving up to Maidstone and travelling back along the south coast of England to Portsmouth.
If anyone wants to join us with their Moke for the weekend, they are more than welcome.’
To find out more can contact Nick Rouault on 874907
