Obviously - a Moke. A 1979 standard 998cc yellow soft top. Bought from an older couple who had it from new, (I now understand mid life crisis purchases) had not driven it much and were happy to see it go to someone who "loved it".
I drove my little Buttercup (had to name her!) around for a while then took off for my long planned three month jaunt around Europe, came home to a flat battery, then got "carded" by a member of the MOA. Claire lived near where I was working, so I met up with her and she took me along to the next Moke Club Meeting. By memory it was October 1982. I arrived at a church hall where there were at least 20 if not 30 Mokes of all colours and styles out the front and people everywhere. I was welcomed in grand style and my Mokeeing life had begun.
I went on some pretty amazing trips, to some brilliant parties, many fantastic outings and special occasions. Met some of the best friends of my life and generally had a ball! We travelled somewhere nearly every weekend (that was BC - before children!) and hung out together. Some of us even shared flats and houses! There were often more than 60 people at the meetings, it was like a party! We had a committee of 10-12 and 120 plus bods at the Annual Dinner Dances (yep - we even danced!) We shared New Years Eve and some of us even went bush on chrissy day. Packsaddle (that’s a whole other story), Ulupna (bigger than Ben Hur), MotorKhanas (got winded more than once!), Hill Climb (still got the trophy!) and many, many more memories. Am I a Mokee? Damn Right!
It took all of a few weeks for the Moke buffs to decide that Buttercup’s anti-pollution gear had to come out. A few months later it was decided that the little 998 engine wasn’t cutting the mustard either! So my dear friend John Mackesy kindly parted with an 1100 engine and the transplant began. It was classed as an "engine out and in BBQ and party day and night at Rhonda’s", and I must confess that I spent more time feeding and rehydrating the team than working on the engine, but I remember doing some things (just can’t remember what they were!). So, back on the road again!
1990 saw the birth of child 1- Daniel. By this time Buttercup's roof was non-existent, but she was still going (where didn’t I go in that Moke?) so for the first few months I was housebound other than the pram and the sidewalk. Then I got hold of an old MCC (Melbourne City Council) roof. There are doubters amongst you, but that was a brilliant roof with soft sides and I was on the road again, capsule in the back!
Kristie came along in 1992, so it was the capsule again and a child seat. They fitted really well in the back! 1995 had me in the family way again, but by the time I was about 6 months, I conceded that I no longer fitted behind the wheel and that I could not fit another child in the back of the Moke. The Scurry (Holden-Suzuki) arrived before Mitch and Buttercup was parked on the front lawn.
Early in 1996 we discovered that I was officially a rabbit - yep - pregnant again! Then it was discovered that there were two! (#*%#!) Sam and Zac arrived in time for Christmas that year. So the house extensions began again. Why am I telling you this? Because for those of you who did not see where the property was excavated to enable the building to begin, you would not believe it! They did not move the Moke, but cut a 6 foot deep hole not 3 inches from the bullbar of Buttercup! Yep, there she stayed, weeds growing up through the engine, leaves, dirt and rubble inside her for a long, long time - while I brought up the five ferals, hmm Flynn’s!
Now let's jump to 2007.
Daniel has his learner's permit and will be looking for something to drive (he vaguely remembers going on Moke trips and thinks it will be fun!) So I had a chat with some old friends who, by the way, had been niggling at me to get the Moke back on the road for years - in fact, it was like a funeral every time they looked at Buttercup on the front lawn (through the weeds that is!).
It was decided that she was not beyond repair. A fair bit of cosmetic surgery, but not impossible. So Paul came with his 4WD and dragged my baby off the weeds and rubble, we pumped up the tyres and pushed her up the driveway.
The big clean up began. I made Daniel help me, but when he asked if we could get rid of the brown stuff, I knew we had a problem - he was talking about the rust! She cleaned up well - well - kind of! Glenn came and poured diesel fuel through the engine and we spent a couple of weeks rocking her to help move the fuel around!
Next came John with the flat-bed tow truck and off she went to Ron’s garage for a major reconstructive surgery! Ron and Bruce spent some time tinkering with Buttercup, but it wasn’t until I turned up at the next service day (with number 1 son in tow) that she was pushed out and seriously ummed and ahhhhed over! A lot of people shook their heads and even had the audacity to laugh! With heads under the bonnet (you know what I mean!) the guys were trying to turn it over (more laughter from the rabble!) crank, crank, crank (oh ye Mokee’s of little faith!) caught, died, caught, died (was that sniggering I heard?) and then (drum roll please!) finally (hold your breath!) the most amazing sound (I’d like to say it was "vroom vroom" - not quite, but good enough for me!) she started. Buttercup actually started!
At this time I would like to go on record as the one who shed a tear! Seriously! (seriously sick!). I’d also like to add that the "brief" for the Moke was that it be a usable, subtle, non-lairy Moke. It did not need to be "show" quality and would probably be driven by teenagers (God help me! - And the Moke!).
Over the next few weeks, we started stripping the body and engine, saving what could be saved, carefully tucking away bits'n'pieces found around the place and filling up the bin with non-usable items. The fuel tank was an experience and we even found some long lost items in the side boxes!
I won’t go into detail, but this Moke was no longer Buttercup. (Thank you immensely to the person who knows who he is!) For those who know the story - great - the rest just need to accept that one day the name "Buttercup" may return. Wait and see.
We scraped and scraped the body deadener stuff (?) off and got the Moke well and truly naked. Then she was off to her next specialist - sandblasting and undercoating! I had never seen such a bare Moke and she looked brilliant on top of the trailer being towed by Ron’s Moke - the Duke!
Richard started work now, repairing, patching, sanding and painting. I’m very proud to say that there is no more than a 10-cent-piece-worth of bog in the whole body! Well done Richard. The colour was chosen and finishes were discussed. It was during a winery trip with a good friend that I started thinking of a name for this "new-born" Moke. We had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in our hands while I was gazing lovingly at the sample paint chip in the colour I had chosen (some of you will understand this insanity!) when it came to me - CabSav. Short and to the point. Can be said lovingly. Can be cursed too! Perfect. So she was named! (Had a drink to celebrate too! Hic hic!)
Ron’s garage became a spray booth, and when I came to visit it was like a trip to Santa’s workshop! CabSav was becoming CabSav!
She looked different in every kind of light. Subtle, yet classy (well - hope so!) she was taking shape, as you will see in the pics! Ron’s brilliance in Moke knowledge is astounding. He will also tell you that he learnt a lot from doing CabSav. Bruce may be quiet and seem to be in the background, but he is an amazing friend who really knows what he’s doing with Mokes. Thank you to everyone at the Service Days who lent a hand, even unasked, I do appreciate it!
It was time to start putting the puzzle back together. Ron designed and built a great dash which has everything a Moke could need! I’ve got better reversing lights than headlights! I’ve even got an interior light! What more could you want!? We came across a few little problems, but the guys managed to navigate them (I wouldn’t have a clue how they did most of it - I can change tyres, oil and I think I changed brake pads once - but you certainly wouldn’t call me a mechanic) but if they said clean that or scrape this, I did it. Hell - most of you saw me "black" my tyres, so I’m not entirely useless!
It took just over a year and many hours of Ron and Bruce’s time, but the time came for the roadworthy. A small adjustment by Brian at Link and she passed! Time for registration. I arrived at Ron’s on a Saturday morning to collect CabSav; Ron was out having a final drive in her! He pulled into the driveway and I followed on foot. Then I nearly fell to the floor in laughter. After months of stirring Ron that I thought the wire holding up the exhaust would just not do, I saw what my final surprise was - a twin heart exhaust pipe! Perhaps not what I would choose, but I love it!!!!
I will digress at this time to let you know that Daniel got his driver's licence earlier this year and bought himself a very nice Magna. It has doors, locks, air conditioning, heating and is an auto. Perfect choice for the lad! Now I just have to fight Kristie for the use of my Moke! Then Mitch, then Sam, then Zac! Arghhhh! In fact the kids and I have been talking about this for years. Daniel was to get the Moke for nearly 2 years, Kristie for 3¾ years, Mitch for 14 months, Sam for 6 minutes and Zac for life! Yeah! Right! At this time the last 4 all want Mokes and have chosen their colours and styles! We’ll see!
Vic Roads. Now THAT was an interesting exercise! (Let me know if you are going to do this and I’ll let you know who NOT to see!) To cut a long (and frustrating) story short, I had CabSav registered in the original Buttercup number plates. I was determined to keep the continuity of age and rego of the vehicle. (It wasn’t until paying that I realised I could have got personalised plates for the same $!) Perhaps I will change over when the dust settles!
At this time I have to say I’ve had very few hiccups. We know the tyres will need replacing soon and I have learnt the joys (!) of vapour lock. The engine is doing well (touch wood) it was not stripped and is the original John Mack special that sat idle for 12 years. I have had the back seat re-upholstered (found a great place in Ringwood if anyone is interested) and will be getting new side curtains very soon. I recommend LSV insurance - they cut a great deal! She handles beautifully. Purrs like a kitten (perhaps that should be a tiger until we put some baffling in the exhaust) and I must say that she looks a treat.
As I have said, I may not know too much about the mechanics of a Moke, but I do know that they are in my blood and I’m a very happy Mokee!
I cannot thank the brains and brawn behind the resurrection of the Moke enough! You guys know how I feel about you and you know what this Moke means to me. Ron and Bruce’s story on the Moke rebuild would be far more mechanically interesting than mine - but hey - I told you what I could.
Mokingly yours - Rhonda Flynn 652L
I drove my little Buttercup (had to name her!) around for a while then took off for my long planned three month jaunt around Europe, came home to a flat battery, then got "carded" by a member of the MOA. Claire lived near where I was working, so I met up with her and she took me along to the next Moke Club Meeting. By memory it was October 1982. I arrived at a church hall where there were at least 20 if not 30 Mokes of all colours and styles out the front and people everywhere. I was welcomed in grand style and my Mokeeing life had begun.
I went on some pretty amazing trips, to some brilliant parties, many fantastic outings and special occasions. Met some of the best friends of my life and generally had a ball! We travelled somewhere nearly every weekend (that was BC - before children!) and hung out together. Some of us even shared flats and houses! There were often more than 60 people at the meetings, it was like a party! We had a committee of 10-12 and 120 plus bods at the Annual Dinner Dances (yep - we even danced!) We shared New Years Eve and some of us even went bush on chrissy day. Packsaddle (that’s a whole other story), Ulupna (bigger than Ben Hur), MotorKhanas (got winded more than once!), Hill Climb (still got the trophy!) and many, many more memories. Am I a Mokee? Damn Right!
It took all of a few weeks for the Moke buffs to decide that Buttercup’s anti-pollution gear had to come out. A few months later it was decided that the little 998 engine wasn’t cutting the mustard either! So my dear friend John Mackesy kindly parted with an 1100 engine and the transplant began. It was classed as an "engine out and in BBQ and party day and night at Rhonda’s", and I must confess that I spent more time feeding and rehydrating the team than working on the engine, but I remember doing some things (just can’t remember what they were!). So, back on the road again!
1990 saw the birth of child 1- Daniel. By this time Buttercup's roof was non-existent, but she was still going (where didn’t I go in that Moke?) so for the first few months I was housebound other than the pram and the sidewalk. Then I got hold of an old MCC (Melbourne City Council) roof. There are doubters amongst you, but that was a brilliant roof with soft sides and I was on the road again, capsule in the back!
Kristie came along in 1992, so it was the capsule again and a child seat. They fitted really well in the back! 1995 had me in the family way again, but by the time I was about 6 months, I conceded that I no longer fitted behind the wheel and that I could not fit another child in the back of the Moke. The Scurry (Holden-Suzuki) arrived before Mitch and Buttercup was parked on the front lawn.
Early in 1996 we discovered that I was officially a rabbit - yep - pregnant again! Then it was discovered that there were two! (#*%#!) Sam and Zac arrived in time for Christmas that year. So the house extensions began again. Why am I telling you this? Because for those of you who did not see where the property was excavated to enable the building to begin, you would not believe it! They did not move the Moke, but cut a 6 foot deep hole not 3 inches from the bullbar of Buttercup! Yep, there she stayed, weeds growing up through the engine, leaves, dirt and rubble inside her for a long, long time - while I brought up the five
Now let's jump to 2007.
Daniel has his learner's permit and will be looking for something to drive (he vaguely remembers going on Moke trips and thinks it will be fun!) So I had a chat with some old friends who, by the way, had been niggling at me to get the Moke back on the road for years - in fact, it was like a funeral every time they looked at Buttercup on the front lawn (through the weeds that is!).
It was decided that she was not beyond repair. A fair bit of cosmetic surgery, but not impossible. So Paul came with his 4WD and dragged my baby off the weeds and rubble, we pumped up the tyres and pushed her up the driveway.
The big clean up began. I made Daniel help me, but when he asked if we could get rid of the brown stuff, I knew we had a problem - he was talking about the rust! She cleaned up well - well - kind of! Glenn came and poured diesel fuel through the engine and we spent a couple of weeks rocking her to help move the fuel around!
Next came John with the flat-bed tow truck and off she went to Ron’s garage for a major reconstructive surgery! Ron and Bruce spent some time tinkering with Buttercup, but it wasn’t until I turned up at the next service day (with number 1 son in tow) that she was pushed out and seriously ummed and ahhhhed over! A lot of people shook their heads and even had the audacity to laugh! With heads under the bonnet (you know what I mean!) the guys were trying to turn it over (more laughter from the rabble!) crank, crank, crank (oh ye Mokee’s of little faith!) caught, died, caught, died (was that sniggering I heard?) and then (drum roll please!) finally (hold your breath!) the most amazing sound (I’d like to say it was "vroom vroom" - not quite, but good enough for me!) she started. Buttercup actually started!
At this time I would like to go on record as the one who shed a tear! Seriously! (seriously sick!). I’d also like to add that the "brief" for the Moke was that it be a usable, subtle, non-lairy Moke. It did not need to be "show" quality and would probably be driven by teenagers (God help me! - And the Moke!).
Over the next few weeks, we started stripping the body and engine, saving what could be saved, carefully tucking away bits'n'pieces found around the place and filling up the bin with non-usable items. The fuel tank was an experience and we even found some long lost items in the side boxes!
I won’t go into detail, but this Moke was no longer Buttercup. (Thank you immensely to the person who knows who he is!) For those who know the story - great - the rest just need to accept that one day the name "Buttercup" may return. Wait and see.
We scraped and scraped the body deadener stuff (?) off and got the Moke well and truly naked. Then she was off to her next specialist - sandblasting and undercoating! I had never seen such a bare Moke and she looked brilliant on top of the trailer being towed by Ron’s Moke - the Duke!
Richard started work now, repairing, patching, sanding and painting. I’m very proud to say that there is no more than a 10-cent-piece-worth of bog in the whole body! Well done Richard. The colour was chosen and finishes were discussed. It was during a winery trip with a good friend that I started thinking of a name for this "new-born" Moke. We had a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon in our hands while I was gazing lovingly at the sample paint chip in the colour I had chosen (some of you will understand this insanity!) when it came to me - CabSav. Short and to the point. Can be said lovingly. Can be cursed too! Perfect. So she was named! (Had a drink to celebrate too! Hic hic!)
Ron’s garage became a spray booth, and when I came to visit it was like a trip to Santa’s workshop! CabSav was becoming CabSav!
She looked different in every kind of light. Subtle, yet classy (well - hope so!) she was taking shape, as you will see in the pics! Ron’s brilliance in Moke knowledge is astounding. He will also tell you that he learnt a lot from doing CabSav. Bruce may be quiet and seem to be in the background, but he is an amazing friend who really knows what he’s doing with Mokes. Thank you to everyone at the Service Days who lent a hand, even unasked, I do appreciate it!
It was time to start putting the puzzle back together. Ron designed and built a great dash which has everything a Moke could need! I’ve got better reversing lights than headlights! I’ve even got an interior light! What more could you want!? We came across a few little problems, but the guys managed to navigate them (I wouldn’t have a clue how they did most of it - I can change tyres, oil and I think I changed brake pads once - but you certainly wouldn’t call me a mechanic) but if they said clean that or scrape this, I did it. Hell - most of you saw me "black" my tyres, so I’m not entirely useless!
It took just over a year and many hours of Ron and Bruce’s time, but the time came for the roadworthy. A small adjustment by Brian at Link and she passed! Time for registration. I arrived at Ron’s on a Saturday morning to collect CabSav; Ron was out having a final drive in her! He pulled into the driveway and I followed on foot. Then I nearly fell to the floor in laughter. After months of stirring Ron that I thought the wire holding up the exhaust would just not do, I saw what my final surprise was - a twin heart exhaust pipe! Perhaps not what I would choose, but I love it!!!!
I will digress at this time to let you know that Daniel got his driver's licence earlier this year and bought himself a very nice Magna. It has doors, locks, air conditioning, heating and is an auto. Perfect choice for the lad! Now I just have to fight Kristie for the use of my Moke! Then Mitch, then Sam, then Zac! Arghhhh! In fact the kids and I have been talking about this for years. Daniel was to get the Moke for nearly 2 years, Kristie for 3¾ years, Mitch for 14 months, Sam for 6 minutes and Zac for life! Yeah! Right! At this time the last 4 all want Mokes and have chosen their colours and styles! We’ll see!
Vic Roads. Now THAT was an interesting exercise! (Let me know if you are going to do this and I’ll let you know who NOT to see!) To cut a long (and frustrating) story short, I had CabSav registered in the original Buttercup number plates. I was determined to keep the continuity of age and rego of the vehicle. (It wasn’t until paying that I realised I could have got personalised plates for the same $!) Perhaps I will change over when the dust settles!
At this time I have to say I’ve had very few hiccups. We know the tyres will need replacing soon and I have learnt the joys (!) of vapour lock. The engine is doing well (touch wood) it was not stripped and is the original John Mack special that sat idle for 12 years. I have had the back seat re-upholstered (found a great place in Ringwood if anyone is interested) and will be getting new side curtains very soon. I recommend LSV insurance - they cut a great deal! She handles beautifully. Purrs like a kitten (perhaps that should be a tiger until we put some baffling in the exhaust) and I must say that she looks a treat.
As I have said, I may not know too much about the mechanics of a Moke, but I do know that they are in my blood and I’m a very happy Mokee!
I cannot thank the brains and brawn behind the resurrection of the Moke enough! You guys know how I feel about you and you know what this Moke means to me. Ron and Bruce’s story on the Moke rebuild would be far more mechanically interesting than mine - but hey - I told you what I could.
Mokingly yours - Rhonda Flynn 652L
Last Updated on Thursday, 04 December 2008 01:29