Mini Mokes rev up for sixty-year celebration
A colourful convoy of classic Aussie beach vehicles is rolling out at this weekend’s Bay to Birdwood.
While they may be mini by name, the Mokes have clocked up a pretty big place in Australian motoring history.
About ten Moke drivers gathered at West Beach last week to mark six decades since Australian production began in 1966.
And this weekend they will be driving their colourful cars in the annual Bay to Birdwood event where more than 1500 veteran, vintage and classic vehicles make the 67-kilometre journey from West Beach to the Adelaide Hills.
Originally designed in the United Kingdom by Sir Alec Issigonis and John Sheppard, the Moke was created as a lightweight military vehicle.
After serving its military purpose, the Moke swapped the battlefield for the beach, finding new life as a much-loved recreational car.
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Local production began in 1966 and continued until 1981, with more than 26,000 Mokes built during what was the vehicle’s longest and most successful manufacturing period.
And 60 years later, the little open-top cars are still refusing to hit the brakes.
Dane Wilden, manager of major events at History Trust South Australia, is confident the unique cars deserve icon status.
“The Moke played such an iconic role in a lot of people’s lives, through beach culture, regional and rural culture, and just as fun; I think there’s a great nostalgia for them,” Wilden said.
From their bright colours to their stripped-back design, the cars are hard to miss.
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Wilden says South Australia’s connection to classic cars runs much deeper than what is parked in the garage.
The state’s strong motoring culture could be traced back to its manufacturing past, when names like Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Holden built cars locally, he says.
“We’ve got a really strong manufacturing background, so that ties culture very closely to the cars right from the outset,” he said.
The last car rolled off Holden’s production line in 2017, leading to significant job losses and ending 69 years of Australian-made car manufacturing.
Holden’s Elizabeth plant opened in 1963 and at its peak, between June 2003 and July 2005, produced 780 vehicles per day, including the VY Commodore, the Adventra, Crewman, Caprice and Statesman.
Despite SA no longer having car manufacturing, Wilden said car culture did not leave with Holden, and that the state’s weather was another advantage to keep motoring history on the road.
He said the state’s dry climate meant older vehicles were less susceptible to rust and deterioration than in wetter parts of the country.
Add South Australia’s historic vehicle registration scheme and the National Motor Museum at Birdwood, and Wilden said enthusiasts have plenty of opportunities to preserve, drive, and enjoy their classics.
The RAA Bay to Birdwood will bring together more than 1500 vehicles for its annual run from West Beach to the National Motor Museum on Sunday, October 18.
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