I recently picked up PJ O Rourke's book, "Driving Like Crazy".....and here's what he said about the Philipino Jeep body parts business back in its heyday...This referred to the Sareo Jeepney plant, but I bet MD Juan was not any different...
" The Sareo factory was four enormous , open, dirt floored sheds. To shape body parts the workers use depressions hollowed out of the ground in roughly the desired shape. Floor panels were sawed by hand......."
Elsewhere, he mentions he could have bought a stainless jeep body for $500 in Manilla, that galvanized "owner jeep" bodies were available for $150, chassis for $170, and an entire Toyota pwered 2WD jeep could be had for $2500. At those prices you KNOW work was not quite up to ISO 9000 standards. Today's repop parts are a direct result of that industry, and unfortunately have the same good but not quite right accuracy standards inherited from the 70's when it was more of a kit car thing instead of accurate replacement body parts for restorations.
THe rest of the book is a fun, tho vulgar, read, good for a boring afternoon when you are awaiting oversize permits.... 8-)
