The Moke Owners Club of Victoria will be rolling out in force on May 30 and 31 to be part of the 49th Historic Winton event for 2026, bringing 30 cars along to help celebrate the brand’s 60th birthday in Australia.
The Moke anniversary is one of many to be celebrated in 2026, including:
- 120 YEARS: Lagonda
- 110 YEARS: Model T Ford launched in Australia
- 100 YEARS: Amilcar CGSS, Pontiac, Mercedes Benz, Chrysler Imperial, Bentley Speed Six, Riley Nine,
Bugatti Type 35 Grand Prix World Championship, Morris Oxford Flat Nose, the first Australian-assembled Model T Ford, Willys Overland Whippet - 90 YEARS: Jaguar SS100, Morgan 4/4, BMW328, MG T Series (TA, TB, TC, TD, TF), Fiat Topolino
- 80 YEARS: Singer Gazelle, Cooper 500, Willys Jeep Wagon, Vespa, Triumph Roadster
- 70 YEARS: F.E. Holden, Austin 35, Lotus 11, Morris Minor 1100, Renault Dauphine
- 60 YEARS: Toyota Corolla, Chevrolet Camaro, Holden HR, XR Falcon, Ford Bronco, Lotus Europa,
Alfa Romeo Spider, Fiat Dino, BMW 02 Series, Brabham B21, Fiat 124, Simca 1301/1501, Mini Moke - 50 YEARS: Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint, BMW Series 6, Bristol 603, Ford Fiesta, Lotus Esprit, Honda Accord Hatchback, Mitsubishi Sigma, Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Based in Melbourne, the Moke Owners Club of Victoria has about 300 members throughout Victoria and across the Eastern Seaboard.
Trip Coordinator Ash Sharkey said the Moke was a fun, recreational vehicle that was hardy and could travel just about anywhere which gives Mokes great appeal.
“The Moke is one of the most versatile cars around and I use mine to get to work every day,” Ash said. “It’s done about 68,000 km since I restored it five years ago!
“We have a great time as a club, ‘moking’ all over Victoria and beyond, with a recent trip to see our Moke mates in Tasmania.
“Other Moking groups around the country also run big events such as a biennial roundup in Tamworth, but Mokes are just as reliable off road with some owners venturing farther afield to places like the Simpson Desert or on holidays to permitted beaches.”
Ash said that for much of the 1970s, the Mini Moke was the cheapest car in Australia.
“My Moke was my Dad’s and he was the second owner.”
He said it was first used to go round in second gear as a guard’s car at a chemical waste facility in Melbourne.
“I’m 24 and Dad bought the car at about the same age, so it’s been part of the family lifestyle for a long time” Ash said.
“It was in good condition, but Dad still chose to do it up including having the shell hot dip galvanised in Shepparton.”
“Dad had to talk the galvanisers into doing it as they didn’t know if it would work,” he said.
“They did it, and the shape did warp after being dipped in molten zinc but reformed correctly as it cooled down, thank goodness.”
Manufacture of the Mini Moke commenced in Australia in 1966.
Originally, the Mini Moke was made as an army vehicle, a poor man’s Jeep, used by the army in the 70s. When that didn’t work out, it was marketed as a utility and recreational car.
Ash said it was a great car for people who liked camping, which is what Ash will do at Historic Winton.
Historic Winton is Australia’s longest running historic motorsport event, commencing at Winton Motor Raceway in 1976.
Historic car racing, parades and car displays as well as great food and an automotive market will give spectators and motoring enthusiasts a fabulous two-days of historic car action on May 30 and 31, 2026.
For more information on the event click here.
