Built on 60 years of engineering & adventure
It all began with one small, unforgettable moment in 1964...
The Mini Moke
A simple, open-framed off-road vehicle designed by Alec Issigonis (who also designed the Mini) initially for military use. It failed as a military car, but the civilian version caught everyone’s imagination and became a symbol of 60’s London and all that it stood for. The Mini Moke was unlike any other car on the road, but it wasn’t just the design that captivated Ron. It was the feeling it sparked. A rush of freedom, a call to adventure, a silent promise that the world was larger, wilder, and waiting to be explored.
Runamoke
The Mokes personality was woven into its functional form, echoing the optimism of the Swinging Sixties. It was a vehicle for dreamers, for those with a glint in their eye -the mavericks. In 1965, Runamoke was born which Ron grew to be the world’s largest dealer of Mokes, and which he still runs today aged 95. It marked the beginning of a family legacy filled with great adventure, unforgettable challenges, and a huge amount of fun.
With storytelling at our heart
Runamoke evolved into something far more profound than selling Mokes; a hub of creativity and craftsmanship, the team worked on these iconic machine’s day and night; re-imagining and re-engineering them for film sets, sport events and customising them for clients and celebrities all over the world. It was an exhilarating time, where innovation, technology, design, and travel converged to spark a new era of optimism – and where the Mini Moke was part of the zeitgeist.
Living on a Thames sailing barge in Battersea, London Jasper grew up in this environment, immersed in the design and engineering of his father’s world and the creative passion of his mother, filmmaker, photographer and writer Tina Tranter. Tina collaborated with many well-known artists including Nell Dunn (Up the Junction, Poor Cow), Jeremy Sandford (Cathy Come Home) and Frank Bowling OBE RA, a leading UK artist and became a highly influential artist in her own right.
10 years later
After a decade of mountaineering, climbing and sailing around world, Jasper had seen first-hand the transformative power of adventure. He believes that through adventure we find our most playful, engaged and fulfilled selves.
Arksen was born
N69°13’11.3” W51°05’55.0”
During a life-changing expedition to Greenland, amidst the awe-inspiring landscapes and the haunting sounds of one of the wildest yet fragile places on Earth, Arksen was born.
A company committed to developing premium adventure machines and gear for a new generation of explorers, left underserved by legacy brands.
Adventure for a new generation
Fuelled by the same spirit that has guided Ron, Arksen has been developed with love and passion by a remarkable team and by Jasper's family. Their commitment is to build a company that starts from a simple premise; that the pursuit of adventure, in all its forms, is central to our fulfilment.
Arksen is not just about the machines we build or the places we go; it’s about the experiences we create along the way. We are a brand for the mavericks, those with a glint in their eye, and who choose to see the world differently. We act as a Compass for the Curious trying to inspire and help our community break the mould and embark of the adventures of a lifetime. We do this by ensuring that our design, engineering, craftsmanship and experiences are intertwined and committed to a circular economy. We hope that our journey, like the stories and memories we help to create, is one that never ends.
A community for the curious
We connect people who share a passion for adventure. All exploration begins with a dream, a sense of curiosity and elements of madness. The best things in life.
