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\\ Mini Beachcomber concept Mokin’ Gun Beachcomber reprises the Mini Moke, an Australian icon of the 1960s By RON HAMMERTON and DAVID HASSALL MINI has curiously chosen the frozen climes of wintry Detroit to reveal the sunniest of concept cars – a born-again Mini Moke called the Beachcomber – at the North American International Auto Show in January. Compare, Select and Save The open-top doorless all-wheel-drive fourseater is unlikely to see the production line in this exact form any time soon, due to its lack of sideimpact crash protection, but speculation from Europe suggests the car has strong engineering ties to Mini’s forthcoming fourth model line, a small SUV to be called the Countryman. Due in September 2010, the Countryman is likely to share the Beachcomber’s all-wheeldrive system, larger wheels and taller ride height when it joins the Hatch, Cabrio and Clubman body styles in the Mini line-up. And, while the Beachcomber has pillarless open-air sides like the utilitarian Mini Moke of the 1960s, it clearly has side openings capable of taking four doors in SUV form. The original Moke was penned by Alex Issigonis, designer of the first-generation Mini and the man credited with putting the world into front-wheel drive cars. Production started in the UK in 1964 – five years after the original Mini donor car – but was discontinued in 1968, when production was shifted to Portugal. Remarkably, it remained r Ê N H 6 /14
The Beach is Back: Mini has taken the spirit of the Mini Moke to preview the brand’s forthcoming baby SUV. in production there until 1993, mainly as a supply of hire cars for holiday destinations. Australia had a particular fascination for the Mini Moke and it became something of a cult car. It was manufactured here under Morris Compare, Select and Save and Leyland badges from 1966 to 1981, with many exported around the world. Australian Moke production ultimately totalled 26,000 – more than the combined total for the UK (14,500) and Portugal (10,000). With no roof, the Moke’s Mini-based platform was reinforced by large box-like side sections – one of which alarmingly held the petrol tank. The Beachcomber differs from the original chop-top Moke by retaining side roof rails that boost rigidity and roll-over safety. While the original Mini was powered by a transverse four-cylinder engine that grew progressively from 1.0 litre to 1.3 litres over the r Ê N H 7 /14
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