Swinging sixties icon is back on the road
A SWINGING sixties motoring icon is set to make a dramatic return to the UK - and at least part of it is going to be made in Nuneaton.
Anyone who was ever a fan of the 1960s cult TV series The Prisoner will instantly recognise the Moke.
The quirky cars - also known as the Austin Mini Moke or just the Mini Moke - were used in the surreal show which saw Patrick Mcgoohan star as Number Six.
The Prisoner revolved around a former secret agent who was abducted and taken to what appeared to be an idyllic village, but was actually a bizarre prison.
Number Six refused to give the warders the information they demanded. Instead he concentrated on trying to escape and famously said: “I am not a number. I am a person.”
The series made two things famous - the village of Portmeirion where it was filmed and the Moke.
Now the Moke - or the MOKE as it will now be called - is returning, 56 years after it first appeared.
The original Moke was designed in the 1960s by Sir Alec Issigonis, the creator of the Austin Mini, and was made by British Motor Corporation (BMC).
It was subsequently marketed under the Austin, Morris and Leyland brands.
It was first specified as a military vehicle, engineered to be robust enough for deployment behind enemy lines by aeroplane.
The original shared components, including suspension and chassis, with the Mini.
Unveiled in 1964 the Moke has had a host of celebrity fans.
Brigitte Bardot epitomised Riviera chic in her Moke and more recent stars spotted behind the wheel include Kate Moss and DJ Khalid.
The Moke has also appeared in four James Bond films.
The new MOKE project will initially see cars made for the UK and Irish markets.
In the UK they will cost from £20,000. The project will see the chassis for
the vehicle built in Nuneaton before final assembly in France.
Isobel Dando, CEO of MOKE International, said: “Moke is an iconic British brand that has always evoked feelings of fun and freedom.
“The Beatles, the Beach Boys and Brigitte Bardot have all been captivated by the personality and unique styling of these iconic cars.
“We’re excited to relaunch the brand into a new era and introduce MOKE to the next generation.”
MOKE International came into being after the MOKE trademark was acquired in 2015.
The initial focus was on meeting demand in the Caribbean market, where original Mokes are popular with both private buyers and luxury resorts and hotels.
Following UK regulatory approval, all-new MOKES are now available to purchase in the UK and Ireland.
Additional models will be launched across Europe, the USA and beyond in 2021.
All MOKE bodies will be engineered and sub-assembled in the Midlands before being shipped to Cerizay, France, for final assembly.
Mark Truman leads MOKE’S engineering and production functions having held senior technical roles at Aston Martin, Ford and Jaguar Land Rover.
He said: “My role at MOKE is to preserve the integrity and spirit of the original MOKE whilst incorporating the very best of today’s technologies that match the requirements of a new generation.”
The new MOKE aims to remain true to the look and feel of the original, with a focus on maintaining the sense of fun and freedom that won it legions of fans.
Modern updates include a new 4-cylinder, fuel injection engine, uprated suspension and braking systems and the option for either automatic or manual transmission. The vehicle is also slightly larger to provide more cabin space. Features previously viewed as a luxury - like power steering and a heated windscreen - also come as standard. Would-be buyers can now order either a limited edition ‘MOKE 56’ model (of which just 56 will be built) or the standard MOKE Classic.