Author Topic: Just bought a Moke - a plan 49 years in the achievement. (Read 946 times)

Peter_n_Margaret · « **on:** September 19, 2019, 03:59:20 PM »

In 1966 I bought a 1963 Mini 850 and drove it to Darwin and back for our honeymoon in 1967.
I traded that on a new Mini Deluxe in 1968 that took us to all sorts of places in the bush.
That was traded in on a new Mini K in 1970 that went to even more places and the plan then was to buy a new Moke to extend our bush travels even further.
BUT a couple of kids came along instead and the Moke plan became a second hand Austin 1800 M2.
Time and family move past pretty quickly and we now explore the bush in luxury in an OKA motorhome, but the Moke dream never quite went away.
So when we visited a friend in Queensland and he said he was selling his Moke, the decision making time was pretty short.

Tried to add a pic, but not sure how to...
Have not taken delivery yet. Saw it for just a few minutes so don't know much about it.
Manufactured 10/81, 998 (I think), Yellow.
Cheers,
Peter

Terry · « **Reply #1 on:** September 20, 2019, 08:31:21 AM »

Peter,

thanks for sharing.

I have updated your account and you should now be able to see options for the Gallery to post up your photos.

Terry

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #2 on:** September 20, 2019, 10:18:38 AM »

Thanks Terry.
This is what I've bought.

Vin AKFPB19Y103515
Engine 99H905AJZ500554
Maybe someone can tell me a bit more about it from that info?
Cheers,
Peter

matpaul · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2019, 12:52:25 PM »

Well done! Great looking Moke.
The South Australian Moke Club has a general meeting next Saturday the 28th at the Rex Hotel Richmond Road, all welcome. There are sure to be some like minded Mokers there, if anyone is interested I can provide further information. There is also the Bay to Birdwood on the Sunday (29th), there will be a gathering of Mokes at the start at West Beach and at the finish at the Birdwood Mill.

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2019, 02:10:54 PM »

Thanks Matpaul, unfortunately we will still be on the road, but I will catch up with them at a later date.
Cheers,
Peter

Terry · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2019, 03:22:59 PM »

Hi,

The Moke is is a 1980+ Gal body that left the factory with a 998 engine which may or may not be the same one that is still in the Moke. There is no way to connect the engine to the Moke definitely but the numbers look right for it to be an original engine of that period.

It was/is a Californian but the stickers have not been replaced after it was repainted and with the rear grab handles it could have 'Seating Cap. 4' on the ADR plate.

Rear seats are from a Toyoat/Mazada small bus and the front seats are not Moke Seats. This may cause issues when trying to get it registered.

You most likely have a leaking main seal, behind the primary gear, which may or may not be causing the clutch to slip but will need attention.

Terry

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2019, 06:07:36 PM »

Thanks Terry.
The ADR plate says 10/81 and seating capacity 4.
What are the chances of getting original seats somewhere?
Cheers,
Peter

Halfpint · « **Reply #7 on:** September 20, 2019, 09:35:39 PM »

Hi there Peter, welcome aboard and thanks for the story

What a good looking Moke, well as far as a yellow Moke can be

An AKFP (Californian high trim level) four seater straight up is a ripper find.
Just to add, If its the original 998 motor, it would be an A+ unit.
Visible sign would be a different distributor mount. A fork type rather than a clamp type.
Look forward to some more pics and stories.
Cheers,
Halfpint.

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2019, 10:38:09 AM »

Thanks Halfpint. I am still learning about what I have purchased.
I bought it from a long time friend who had it for about 10 years and did a lot of work on it. The seats have been swapped, the heater is out (but supplied) and it has an electronic ignition of some sort, but in general seems to be pretty original.

The fuel bowl dries out if it is not used for some time so that will need some attention too, but my first priority when I get it home will be to get it through registration.
Cheers,
Peter

Terry · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2019, 11:56:10 AM »

Quote

The fuel bowl dries out if it is not used for some time so that will need some attention too

The best attention you can do there is to drive the Moke more often.

Terry

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #10 on:** September 21, 2019, 02:02:09 PM »

True.

Just hope it starts when it comes off the truck in Adelaide.

Cheers,
Peter

Terry · « **Reply #11 on:** September 21, 2019, 06:01:49 PM »

Hi,

if they drive it on, then it will drive off.

The breather hoses look a bit close to the manifold and are plumbing up oddly. The wiring loom has been re-routed to go via the engine rather than behind the washer bottle. But there are still lots of bits of originality in there so other than a paint job it is fairly original for a 35 year old car.

Thanks for sharing. We get a few new people joining up each week but rarely do they introduce themselves or their Mokes so it is nice to have something new to look at.

And the camper in your Avatar, that is crossing the Pentecost River in WA?

Terry

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #12 on:** September 21, 2019, 08:04:34 PM »

Mini Sport is almost next door to my mechanic in Adelaide, so I will call in there and get some advise and maybe see a few other Mokes.
I will also be seeing the vehicle again next week, so will take some more pics and ask a few more questions.
Thanks for the interest and advise Terry. I do have a lot to learn.

The OKA is crossing the Forrest River on the Carson River Track near Oombulgurri Community. 3 days to cover 58km....
The Kimberley is some of our favourite country and we have managed to get to some out of the way spots over the years.
Cheers,
Peter

Peter_n_Margaret · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2019, 11:27:40 AM »

It is pretty quiet here...…...
Am I allowed to share some other Mini (non Moke) stories and pics?

We bought our first Mini in 1965. It was a 1963 850 that my sister had bought new.
6 weeks before we were married in 1967, we rolled it, but convinced the insurance company to repair it, then drove it to Darwin and back to Adelaide in 3 weeks for our honeymoon. That was before the Stuart "Highway" was surfaced.
It had a home made roof top tent, a heavily reinforced sump guard and a couple of driving lights, but was otherwise standard. I fitted it with Pirelli radial tyres which most people at the time said was stupid, but they performed well.

Coming through a bull dust hole north of Coober Pedy.

Parked up for the night on the side of the road, jacked up to perform the daily inspections.
These days you have to have a 4WD to drive roads like this.

More if anyone is interested....
Cheers,
Peter

moemoke · « **Reply #14 on:** September 23, 2019, 10:07:41 PM »

I don't mind the odd Mini / outback story especially when they are taken to places they 'shouldn't' go.

Most people these days think you need a 4wd to go on these outback roads but people have just got a
lot softer in the last few decades or maybe we are just silly for taking our mokes where they shouldn't go

Pic from earlier this year between Cameron Cnr and Silverton