Moke #509 stolen from Tasmania

[Moke My Day]

Over the past week-end our very own Terry was spotted in Tasmania with little wheeler #509 in tow. In the darkness of night it was A framed onto the Spirit of Tasmania with none other than Mini racer Henry Draper steering.  This very special moke, believed to be the oldest moke known in Australia was found by Kevin O'Dwyer during the Tassie tour earlier this year whislt Judy was shopping in St Mary's.  Once Terry was advised of its location he then spent the next 2 days convincing the owners to sell it to him. This they did a few months ago and he took delivey of his latest addition yesterday removing another past of Tasmanian motoring history to the bloody mainland . I have posted a few photos in the gallery however stuffed it up by posting under 2 topics. I am sure Terry will fix this and also add a link from this topic.
Great to have shared another great moking experience with Terry.

[Tim]

More Pics! More Pics!

Terry, did Moke numbering start from 1 or from 500 like the Minis?

Tim

[Moke My Day]

Terry, there is another photo in the gallery taken as we first spotted 509 in the main street of St Mary.{Added...terry}
Tim I believe 501 was the first number used. The Moke/Mini trailer was again put to good use.
True to form Terry also spotted another Moke the location which I will keep secret until I have had a chance to inspect.

[Terry]

MMD,

STOLEN is such a Harsh word and lets not forget the much appreciated complicity in the actual removal that you and Lady MMD played in this. And I think my bank statement might find the word 'Stolen' a little hard to reconcile after a small chasm appears in the debit column.

I do plan to write a few articles on the original finding of #509 and the last weekends effrots, with pictures for Tim of course, but MMD's account is pretty much it in a nutshell, although the the 'two days convincing' was more like 2 hours and the rest was spent enjoying more tassie roads driving around to find the Moke and the owner.

The numbering started at 501 for Mokes, and most BMC vehicles I am told, and this trend continued for all the YJBABnR prefixed units. #509 is the 9th Moke off the Australian production line and unless numbers 501-508 suddenly appear it is also the Oldest surviving Australian Moke. The other attraction of this vehicle to me is that is still retains the original Engine in a currently unknown condition, but it looks pretty and the numbers all match.

There are also a couple of other identification marks not shown int he photos that confirm the heritage of this Moke.

Terry

   

[alsminik]

and how many are  called mimi mokes as per photo if id plate

[tasmoken]

Als are you selling up ?
I noticed you had a few things for sale on Ausmini.

[Tim]

#509 is the 9th Moke off the Australian production line and unless numbers 501-508 suddenly appear it is also the Oldest surviving Australian Moke

Woohoo, what a find. What are you planning for it Terry, 15" alloy wheels, japanese engine conversion?

The thought occurs to me that its going to put at least one nose out of joint in the MOA.

Tim

[Moke My Day]

Hadn't noticed MIMI before, well spotted Al trust that will add another grand to the value for Terry.
I wish that we had taken a video of your departure as that was one of the funniest things Faye and I had seen in many a year. Looked more like a shopping basket behind the ute and with Henry drinking a Boags stubby added a special touch.

[Terry]

Hi,

MMD, you should have been there to see the faces of everyone involved when the Moke lurched at the ticket booth and Henry Boag sprang out of his ute and jumped in to the seat so I could get it past the check in box. The deck staff had a good look and nobody bothered to measure it fortunately.

Tim the plan is to find out just what the engine is like and find out what is missing from the original specs and over time restore it to as close to original as possible. It looks better in the photo and will need proper strip down of the body and a bit of repairing done. As for noses, not sure who you mean, but I don't put them out they do that themselves and I just get blamed for it

Terry

 

[Tim]

This would make a great restoration story. I'd love to see a detailed write up, it could include a bit of research as well as the story of finding it, then all the technical stuff. Its a special piece of Moke history this one.

Tim

[Tazzydevil]

MIMI??? what up with that Terry? My family is from St mary's you proberly stole that from one of my relatives, dam wish i had seen her............

May iask how much you payed for it please?

[Terry]

Tazzy,

Aren't most people in Tassie direct descendants of each other?

I paid more than I would normally pay for a Moke in that condition but I didn't want to see that Moke become a paddock basher.

Terry

[phoenix]

Mmm, my wife as reatives in St Marys as well 

Nice find, remember i'm looking for a moke in Tasmania as well

[Tazzydevil]

I am direct 5th generation from the East coast (mainly St Mary's), i do take my heritage very seriously as does the family.............................still have relatives from the area.

NICE catch though Terry, shame we didnt catch up again mate? you would have pretty much driven past this way, maybe on the next retreval quest hey???

[Terry]

Hi,

All you people with relatives and heritage in St Mary's, maybe i was not too far from the truth after all

Not planning to pick up anymore Mokes in Tassie so they are all yours, to expensive to get back across the river. Well maybe there are a cuople I could be interested in, but I am full for now

I did have plans to drop in a see a few people, but being crook on Saturday wasted a lot time so i never got back on track Sunday. Maybe next time.

Don't forget you have Mini's at Longford this weekend so you should try and get along to check that out.

Terry