The car’s Moke. Mini Moke. Sorry, we couldn’t help ourselves—we’re in a James Bondsey mood today. Aside from mounting excitement for the upcoming James Bond film “No Time to Die,” we just caught wind that the folks at Moke America teamed up with 007 masterminds Eon Productions for a special-edition eMoke inspired by the Mini Moke driven by Roger Moore’s Bond in the 1973 film Live and Let Die. So, pack your sunscreen and your tarot deck—we’re going to San Monique.
Well, not really. Seeing as San Monique is a fictional island made up for the Bond film, we’ll settle for Miami or Malibu. Better yet, have your new eMoke 007 “San Monique” shipped to Jamaica, the real-life setting for the film’s Caribbean setting, and cruise along the island’s white-sand beaches, just like Roger Moore. At least that’s what we assume Moore’s Bond did with his (presumably) rented Moke; the adorable white-and-blue micro-SUV thing had just ten seconds of screen time as Bond drove from his hotel to the dock to meet up with a contact.
You certainly can’t blame Moke America for capitalizing on never-ending Bond-mania, no matter how small the starring role. Regarding the film car, marque nerds have done all the dirty work for us, identifying it as an Australian-built Leyland Mini Moke produced between 1966 and 1981. As all old-school Mokes are based on the original Mini, power came from Mini mechanicals that included a 998-cc (1.0-liter) four-cylinder and a four-speed manual transmission.
The eMoke San Monique edition is a bit more modern—though only just. As is the case with all eMokes sold under Moke America, the special edition eMoke packs an AC electric motor between the front wheels, providing 20 hp and a relatively meaty 70 lb-ft of torque. The car’s driving range on a full charge is a somewhat low-ish 40 miles, but considering the eMoke is marketed as a community and resort runabout, that sum seems plenty for its intended mission. If you manage to sneak this past the resort compound’s front gates, make sure you stick to roads with posted speed limits at or under 35 mph, as all eMokes are designated Low-Speed Vehicles by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and are governed to 25 mph.
On the other side of the martini shaker, the Moke that shuttled Bond around San Monique was theoretically capable of hitting 80 mph. Yeah, no thanks. We’re unsure of the O.G. Moke’s cruising range, but it’s likely far beyond the eMoke’s 40-mile capacity, and it likely was easier to keep topped-up, too—from flat, the eMoke’s 12-kWh battery takes six-to-eight hours to achieve a full charge on a 110-volt line. This low range and low top speed mean you probably won’t be outrunning Dr. Kananga’s goons, but you sure will look sharp down in front of your beach bungalow’s wet bar.
Compared to other eMokes, the 007 special edition wears the movie car’s white paint and corresponding white-and-blue Bimini top. The white multi-spoke alloys on the eMoke don’t quite have the rugged charm of the Bond Moke’s white steelies, but there is a special “San Monique” spare tire cover at the back, so bonus points for that. Inside, a wood steering wheel and wooden shift knob are period throwbacks, as are the subtle “San Monique” badging peppered around the exterior.
If you’re not a fan of Bond’s Caribbean escapades but still want in on the 007 Moke madness, Moke America says this is just one of a few 007-inspired Mokes on the horizon. According to Bond scholars, a Moke plays a supporting role in You Only Live Twice, The Spy Who Loved Me, and Moonraker, so get your Palm Beach driveway cleaned up for your tiny new 007-inspired fleet of Mokes. No word yet from Live and Let Die sponsor Chevrolet if it plans to fire-up the Impala production lines again for a special run of 007-branded editions honoring Bond’s brief seat time in a 1963 Chevrolet Impala Convertible.
While the eMoke is rather costly for what is essentially a butch golf cart, you don’t have to be a Caribbean drug despot like Kananga to afford it. Pricing for the San Monique Edition starts at $26,975 before delivery and it’s already available to order online on Moke America’s website.
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