The Prisoner Moke - unraveling its past

There was still a big gap in the history of the surviving Prisoner Mini Moke but a little bit of that gap is now cleared. You may remember that the car was found in 2011 in The Netherlands by fellow Dutchman Olivier Bos (story here). He found it a barn where it hadn't moved a wheel since the 1970s, or so he was told. It now turns out it was moved before though. 

The story is that after filming the series The Prisoner in 1967, the car was given to one of the film crew. And when this Englishman, supposedly a camera man, moved to Amsterdam he took the famous Moke with him. He hired a room in central Amsterdam, probably drove it for some time, only to store the car in the hallway of this canal house. From the 1970s up until 2004 it languished in this unlikely hallway storage, buried under more and more boxes and bikes. 

But then, in 2004, it was moved and brought over to the east of The Netherlands, or so it turns out now. Pictures of the move have emerged thanks to Jelle Blom, who flashed them over a while ago. Jelle: "It was given away for free, on the condition that the bikes were taken with it also." Good deal, I'd say. Olivier Bos believes it's right: "Yes, it was stored in a house on the canals since the 1970s when the owner's family moved it. I think this was a nephew of the owner of the canal house, in which this Englishman had his room." 

We know the rest of the story, well almost. Olivier sold the car in an auction in 2015 and Phil Caunt became the new owner. Phil lovingly restored the car, but decided to sell it last year, also in an auction. Where it went next? He doesn't know. Phil: "On the day of the auction, I did speak to a member of the auction team, who said they believe it was sold to a UK based buyer... After that I know nothing." Maybe you do?

 

Amsterdam. Narrow doors, cobblestones and lots of bikes. There really is a Moke behind them

Picture Maximum Mini archive via Jelle Blom

There you go. And it's not just any Moke, but one that made television history in the 1960s

Picture Maximum Mini archive via Jelle Blom

'HLT 709C' was used by The Prisoner. It ended up in Amsterdam with one crew member

Picture Maximum Mini archive via Jelle Blom

"It was given away for free, on the condition that the bikes were taken with it also."

Picture Maximum Mini archive via Jelle Blom

Fully restored and brought back to Portmeirion, where The Prisoner was filmed

Picture courtesy Phil Caunt

Restorer and arch Prisoner fan Phil Caunt sold the car last year. Where is it now?

Picture courtesy Phil Caunt

Prisoner Moke breaks record

You may have read or heard that the Mini Moke 'HLT 709C', as famously used in the 1960s series The Prisoner was sold in auction last weekend. I asked the car's owner Phil Caunt, who beatifully restored the car, how he experienced the sale and he was kind enough to send a write up. Over to Phil:

 

"Silverstone Auctions, NEC Birmingham, Saturday 13th of November 2021. After being there all day since 9 am, lot 350 'HLT 709C The Prisoner Mini Moke' comes up for auction at around 4.30 pm. I admit that it has been a nervous few weeks since entering the car. Advertised previously on Maximum Mini but sadly with no success, I finally took the plunge and entered her, she was estimated at between £50.000 and £60,000 owing to her very famous past, and of course with full provenance to the cult 1960s television show 'The Prisoner' starring Patrick McGoohan."

"Having restored a previous Prisoner Moke CFC 916C back in the 1990's (this car now resides in Los Angeles with my dear friend of over 20 years) buying and restoring this car was just 'meant to be' for me, and now after owning her for 6 years the time to say goodbye has arrived. Going straight in at £50,000, the bidding quickly rose to a final £69,750 including fees. And it was over... in less that 2 minutes! I believe the buyer got himself/herself a bargain to be honest, but hey... that's how it goes. I said my goodbyes, and left. Sad... of course I am. But I have other classics to play with and all are far more user friendly than a Mini Moke. It's the end of an era for me, having owned 100's of cars including many many Minis of all types... I still hanker after an Ogle SX... maybe one day if my health allows it."

Thank you very much Phil. I was wondering if he knew where it goes to now, but Phil doesn't: "I'm afraid I have no idea whatsoever who the buyer was. I am led to believe that the car will remain in the UK, but this is not confirmed." Well, let's see if the new owner will get in touch.

The Prisoner Moke in the salesroom of Silverstone Auctions last weekend

Picture Phil Caunt

The Prisoner Moke can now be yours

To get in the mood for this message, may I recommend you to watch this first? Yes boys and girls, that's the opening theme to that great 1960s series 'The Prisoner'. This series had such an impact that the very confusing ending led to troubles. The late Patrick McGoohan, who played the lead, said later: "The switchboard at ATV was jammed overnight, my children were molested coming from school and people were beating on the door with malice. We had to go to Wales for a couple of weeks with no telephones or contacts or whatsoever to the outside world." When fiction becomes fact... 

But apart from McGoohan the stars of the show were perhaps the village of Portmeirion in Wales and a couple of converted Mini Mokes. Just one of the Mokes was believed to survive until one time warp car was found back in 2011, which turned out to be the original and first one, too (unfortunately not by me but in my home country! - click here). It ended up in the possession of Phil Caunt who beautifully restored it. When it was finished the car was fully featured in MiniWorld and Classic & Sports Car magazine in 2018 and still is in an immaculate condition. Phil, however, hasn't been getting any better himself and has now decided to sell it. He wrote: "I wouldn't be selling but my health is not good. It is with a heavy heart that I have now, after 5 years of ownership, decided to sell the car."

Here's the outline that he wrote. 'The Prisoner Moke' is HLT 709C, the fully restored original Mini Moke as seen in several episodes of the series, and once showing its true registration number in the episode 'Living in Harmony'. McGoohan himself drove it in the famous chase scene on the beach in Portmerion. Indeed, it appears in most ' Portmeirion' episodes as well as the later studio based ones, finally appearing at the famous press launch at MGM Studio's at Borehamwood. Built in May 1965, and registered in June in London, the car was converted by Wood & Pickett to a design which resembled a 'beach buggy'. It is unknown who commissioned the car but the company 'Weircrest' were to market it... It was used in brochures, photo-shoots and publicity material, and by the London Hilton Hotel. One has to assume it was spotted by a member of the production crew as what they needed for the upcoming TV show 'The Prisoner'. Based on this another three Mokes were converted to resemble this one, including CFC 916C, which was owned by Max Hora the owner of the Prisoner shop in the 1980s and 1990s. Indeed I owned and restored this Moke back in the 1990's, this vehicle now resides in Los Angeles with a Prisoner fan and Moke enthusiast.

HLT 709C was taken down to Portmeirion in late 1966 to begin filming, closely followed by the other three. Whilst filming it sustained damage to the front and had to be returned to London for repairs, the other Mokes covered its absence. After its fame in The Prisoner the car disappeared and its whereabouts were unknown, it appears to have spent time in the Sheffield area in the 1970's but after that the trail goes cold. It is rumoured to have been owned by a member of the production company although I have not been able to confirm this. In 2011 it was discovered in a farm building in Holland by a Mini enthusiast, still with its UK number plates, 'candy stripe roof' and Penny Farthing bonnet logo intact but obviously worse for wear. On to 2015 and the owner decides to sell and the car goes to auction. Upon taking delivery of the car ( I did not view it before buying... sometimes you just know you want it!), I assessed what was needed for a full but sympathetic restoration, keeping everything I could to keep the car as original as possible, whilst obtaining anything else to bring it back to how it looked in 1966. 

See the ad here.

Perhaps the most famous of all Mini Mokes - converted by Wood & Pickett in 1965

Picture courtesy Phil Caunt

The car was used by Patrick McGoohan in the television series The Prisoner back in 1966

A famous scene reenacted for this picture on the beach of Portmeirion, Wales

Picture courtesy Phil Caunt

Prisoner Moke fully restored to celebrate The Prisoner's 50th

Remember the Prisoner Moke found in The Netherlands several years ago? Click here if you don't, but I'm sure many of you will recall this great find by Olivier Bos in 2011. Olivier planned to restore the car but had some setbacks and was eventually forced to sell the car. It was sold in auction in 2015 (see here) and there the trace ended, or so it seemed. But fortunately I was contacted yesterday by one of the new owners - Philip Caunt - who snapped it up at the auction together with Jeremy Guy. Philip restored the car over the past two years, just to have it ready for the 50th anniversary party of The Prisoner, held on 29 September in Portmeirion (where else?), where the illustrious series were filmed in the 1960s.

Philip wrote: "Here is 'HLT 709C', the fully restored original Mini Moke as seen in several episodes of The Prisoner, and once showing its true registration number in the episode 'Living in Harmony ' being driven by actor David Bauer as number 2. This Moke also appears being driven by Patrick McGoohan in the chase scene on the beach in Portmeirion."

"Built in May 1965, and registered in June in the London area, the car was converted by Wood & Pickett to a design which resembled a 'beach buggy' while the company 'Weircrest' were to market it. It was used in brochures, photo-shoots and publicity material, and by the London Hilton Hotel. One has to assume it was spotted by a member of the production crew as what they needed for the upcoming television show 'The Prisoner' (it actually was the other way 'round as W&P director Eddie Collins told me-JB). Based on this another 3 Mokes were converted to resemble this one, including 'CFC 916C' which was owned by Max Hora the owner of the Prisoner shop in the 1980s and 1990s. Indeed I owned and restored this Moke back in the 1990s and this vehicle now resides in Los Angeles with a Prisoner fan and Moke enthusiast. HLT 709C was taken down to Portmeirion in late 1966 to begin filming, closely followed by the other 3."

"Whilst filming it sustained damage to the front and had to be returned to London for repairs, the other Moke's covered its absence. After its fame in The Prisoner the car disappeared and its whereabouts were unknown, it appears to have spent time in the Sheffield area in the 1970s but after that the trail goes cold. It is rumoured to have been owned by a member of the production company although I have not been able to confirm this. Move forward to 2011 and it was discovered in Holland by a Mini enthusiast, still with its UK number plates, 'candy stripe roof' and Penny Farthing bonnet logo intact but obviously worse for wear."

"On to 2015 and the owner decides to sell and the car goes to auction at Car-Fest South, where after some keen bidding myself and the co-owner and long standing Prisoner fan Jeremy Guy are successful in buying the Moke. Upon taking delivery of the car (we did not view it before buying... sometimes you just know you want it!), I assessed what was needed for a full but sympathetic restoration, keeping everything I could to keep the car as original as possible, whilst obtaining anything else to bring it back to how it looked in 1966. Despite being in structurally poor condition, the mechanical side was good, including the uprated Cooper 998cc engine which was fitted in 1966 to give it a little more 'oomph' as this Moke had a towbar fitted to enable it to pull a small trailer (as seen in the series ). So the restoration began, many hours and much money was spent. Two years later on the 5th of September the MOT obtained... ready for the 50th Anniversary in Portmeirion. So here it is 51 years on from the filming here and 50 years from the series being first screened. I hope to take it along to a few shows next year ( 2018 ) and meet some of you. Until then... Be Seeing You. Philip M. Caunt" Thank you for that, Philip!

Back in Portmeirion after 50 years! Original Prisoner Moke is now fully restored

Picture Mandy Brookes

Philip restored the car in honour of the series. Prior to The Prisoner is was slightly different

Picture Mandy Brookes

Surrey top and interior are resplendent once more with correct 'candy stripe' fabric

Picture Mandy Brookes

Penny Farthing bonnet logo was 'worse for wear', but Philip managed to save it

Picture Mandy Brookes

Driving this through 'The Village' has to be the ultimate Prisoner experience! That's Philip Caunt behind the wheel, who now owns the car together with Jeremy Guy

Picture Mandy Brookes

Prisoner Moke makes it to the market

Remember the amazing discovery of a supposed genuine Wood & Pickett converted Mini Moke, used for legendary tv series The Prisoner? The car was found by Olivier Bos in Holland four years ago now,  who was ever so keen to restore the car to its former glory - story here. However, things went quite different and due to circumstances Olivier now sees himself forced to part with his Prisoner project.

He will offer the car for sale during the auction held at Carfest South on 29 August at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire. Unfortunately Olivier never found any proof of the car being one of the actual four Prisoner Mokes, but all indications certainly seem to be there. When I interviewed Wood & Pickett's Eddie Collins in 2014 he certainly remembered the car and even managed to get out some old pictures of it, see below, clearly showing the same registration number 'HLT 709C'. Anyway: if you ever wanted to own a Prisoner Moke this is your chance. See the auction description here.

W&P Prisoner Moke comes with all the right features, and many layers of dust...

Picture courtesy Olivier Bos

The car was brought over to Holland by one of the Prisoner film crew members

Picture courtesy Olivier Bos

The Penny Farthing logo on the car's bonnet is just another clue to its remarkable past

Picture courtesy Olivier Bos

The Moke was built by Wood & Pickett and used for advertisement, too

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

This little snippet mentions Weircrest Ltd. as distributor of the W&P Moke

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

This could be the same car, too. And, yes, that is Patrick McGoohan as 'Number Six'

Picture Jeroen Booij archive

Prisoner Moke survives

It's been a while since I saw the television series of The Prisoner but Patrick McGoohan, as Number 6, made a crushing impression in his dark blue jacket with white edging driving a Lotus Seven. And then there was the groovy title song, the setting of the village (Portmeirion, Wales) and the funky Mini Mokes being used as taxis that seemed to go nowhere except for the village square. You may not qualify them as Mini derivatives, but in fact they are said to have been modified by Bill Wood and Les Pickett of Wood & Pickett fame. Yup, they were the guys who coachbuilt Minis with Mercedes Pullman headlights, onboard telephones and burr walnut headlinings.

Four Prisoner Mokes are said to have been built and only one of them (registration CFC 916C) appeared to have survived in the hands of a Prisoner fan. So what a surprise to learn that another Prisoner Moke just came to the light in The Netherlands!

The car, registration HLT 709C - the number can be seen briefly in one ofthe episodes - has not been used for decades and comes with many of the original items such as the Surrey top, rear spats and even the penny farthing decal on its bonnet. Despite perhaps not being a proper Mini derivative I'd say (after last year's miracle) this is definitely a contender for best find of this year.

Update 27 June: Just went to have a look at the car and it certainly looks as if it is the real thing. More to follow.

'CFC 916C', here in Portmeirion in 1993, seemed to be the only Prisoner Moke surviving...

...until this one came to the light in The Netherlands. Surrey top seems original

Interior trim misses but rear mud flaps are a clear hint to car's originality. As is number