PHIL CAUNT AND THE PRISONER MOKE
27th March, 2020
On the 29th September 1967, ITV screened the first episode of The Prisoner which featured an unusual taxi cab - one that offered a ‘local service’ only.
Today, two Mokes survive; one in the USA while the other is the property of Phil Caunt.
HLT left the factory on the 15th May 1965 and was converted by Wood & Pickett as a “beach car” with mock-wood exterior decorations, striped PVC covering for the bucket seats, red & black floor mats, and a spare wheel cover.
The Moto-lite wooden steering and a striped roof were all intended to appeal to affluent overseas customers in Monaco or St. Moritz.
Phil’s Moke is also powered by the 998cc Cooper engine which he believes was fitted ‘early on its life’.
When the W&P Moke went on display at the Hilton Hotel, it was apparently seen by a member of Everyman Films, who realised it would be ideal for their new production starring Patrick McGoohan.
Viewers of The Prisoner gained the impression that Leo McKern and his fellow Number Twos had an extensive fleet of Mini Mokes at their disposal, but there were just four in total.
The Village authorities were quite parsimonious as HLT lacks the optional heater.
Filming ended in 1967 and HLT’s whereabouts until 2011 is mostly a mystery - by the early 1970s, it was residing in Sheffield. Before the end of the decade, it relocated to The Netherlands.
Phil and his friend and fellow Moke aficionado Jeremy Guy acquired it in 2011 – and they faced a major restoration.
At least the roof and the “Penny Farthing” bonnet motif were in place, but the engine had ceased to work, and the body was in a less than a pristine state.
Phil told Classic & Sports Car ‘The mechanical side was relatively easy but' I wanted to keep as much of the original body as possible.
Given the state of the car, it would have been easier to buy a new shell, but that would have undermined the authenticity’.
The bodyshell was eventually dipped in acid while the ultra-rare W&P trim presented a further challenge; the roof had to be remade.
And in September 2017 the Moke returned to Portmerion for the 50th birthday celebrations of The Prisoner; HLT had finally come home.
Be seeing you.
WITH THANKS TO – PHIL CAUNT
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