New Mini Moke
 

All:

The Chinese have started making the Moke again. Sadly it doesn’t appear to be US legal (no surprises, but disappointing).

https://mokeamerica.com

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1507422420.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1507422420.jpg

Was going to get the wife a Mini Cooper S (maybe even a JCW) ragtop for when we retire to the USVI in ~3 years,but I think this would be better. Any ideas on sourcing a gas powered new Moke with an automatic transmission? There’s a dealer in Miami, another in NY. But they only sell the electric one. Several dealers in the Caribbean that carry the gas model, although none in the USVI. Their answer to “Can it be registered in the USVI” is too vague for my taste.

Any ideas? The original Mokes are now either silly money or rotten, and I’m not convinced buying an electric one & dropping in a gas engine & transmission would be ‘legal’ enough.

Cheers,

Paul.

Used to rent Mokes when visiting St. Barth's. Loads of fun to park under the runway approach at Baie St. Jean. So much fun. Look for a dealer there. St. Barth's is just a boat ride from USVI. They might deliver there.
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When was that? New Moke or the old ones? Automatic or maual? LHD or RHD? How were they on the steep hills? STT has some really steep stuff, which is my main concern. I like the ‘hose it off’ interior. Believe it or not, the early Range Rovers had that!

Rented one in Barbados many years ago.

The web page says gas ones are $24K

Paul, Been a few years since we rented old style manual transmission Mokes at St. Barths. They were fine on the hills around Gustavia and Governeur's Beach. Never had any issue on St. Barth's hills. Work and travels carried me all over the small islands of the eastern Caribbean. Rented Mokes and Suzuki Samurai and had a ball driving both. Lots of interesting adventures playing hit-and-run with cocaine cowboys on The Mahogany Road on St. Croix. Russian Ladas on Grenada not so much fun. Terrain on St. Thomas is very similar to St. Barths.

Most fun driving in the Carib is the 9 miles of road on the tiny island of Saba. Very steep with lots of switchbacks on the climbing roads. They actually have an annual driving competition on Saba. Course is from postage-stamp size "Juancho Yrasquin International Airport" up the hill to Hell's Gate. Mulholland Drive folks would turn green with envy. Wanted to build a Twin-Engine Mini or Twin-Engine VW Rabbit just for the event. Sigh...

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https://julietboatkids.files.wordpre...aba-road-2.jpg

Correct, but both dealers say electric only. Bah!

Must be a emissions thing for new vehicle imports?

The owner of the web site should be able to explain it.

They tried to import gasoline powered Mokes but apparently the regulations have changed regarding kit cars. I emailed the CEO so hopefully I’ll get more information soon.

Reminds me of the scenes in Rain Man with the Lamborghinis.

Business opportunity for some enterprising soul.

Yeah, I wouldn't ride in one of those things.

Update: Moke America is on the verge of bankruptcy, no petrol Mokes have been allowed in, although some have shown up registered as golf carts. Guy in the Caribbean (not the USVI) trying to sell me one but became evasive when I asked about a title. Original Mokes are silly money ($35k) and fitting a newer engine/transmission would add to that. Wife wants a JCW MCS convertible. Oh well, it seemed like a good idea.

I recall vw powered vehicles much like these that were used as taxis in mazatlan when I visited some years ago.


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So we test drove one...
 

Test drove one in La Jolla, CA on Monday. Very cool little rig. Surprisingly well built, handled WAY better than I expected (corners & bumpy roads). BUT. Not nearly enough power for the VI. We went up a couple of hills, and it really slowed down. They will sell me a gas powered one, but not in the USA (I need to figure out if I can register a gas one in the VI).

Basically 2 options- buy an electric one for ~$17k & send it to EV West for a significant upgrade ($12k in labor & $13k in parts). Or buy an electric one & (if Oregon allows a power type swap) put either a Mini Cooper S engine & transmission in, or more likely a Hinda VTEC engine & transmission.

Old ones are rubbish & restored ones are silly money.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1527632760.jpg

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Thoughts?

Cheers,

Paul.

maybe these guys can help???

https://www.miniguy.com/vehicles/category/consign-1/

Way cool pictures. My father was born in Saba. It’s on my bucket list!

I'm wondering if the range of the electric model might work out well on a small island.
You could cover your house with solar panels and never have to worry about charging from the grid. Also be well set for power outages too.

I've been using an electric cart at the park where I was volunteering lately.
Fun driving with instant torque.

Cheers Richard

Well, there's a '59 Normal 356 engine for sale over on rennlist :D

No room for an engine in the back, but thanks!SmileWavy

I wonder what engines will fit in the new bay?

In the UK it used to be quite popular to fit bike engines to old Minis .There was a firm in Scarborough called Allansons I think.