MDJuan Vehicles

[jpdm]

I hope their spareparts are cheap so that restorers of old jeeps can easily acquire them...

Philippine Daily Inquirer

Old WWII jeeps become nostalgic collectors' items
Agence France-Presse
First Posted 12:20pm (Mla time) 07/03/2008




MANILA, Philippines -- The rugged Willy Jeep has been given a new lease of life by a small factory in Manila reproducing the iconic World War II vehicle for a growing international market nostalgic for the past.
The company, MD Juan, exports about 95 percent of its output to collectors, mainly in the United States and Europe, who still treasure the veteran vehicle said to have been the backbone of the US army during World War II.
Plant manager Roberto Cruz says American collectors want their jeeps as authentic as possible -- complete with imperfections and outdated materials like wood and rubber instead of more durable plastic.
"The purists, they want it correct to the smallest detail," he told Agence France-Presse.
"If you make the body too nice, they don't like it. They ask, 'where is the spot weld part here?'" he said.
MD Juan moves around 1,500 units a year, most of them on order, but the engines are usually left to the buyer.
European and American collectors also prefer to have carefully-restored original jeep engines installed in their vehicles, says Cruz, adding that his company cannot motor restoration.
The few Filipino collectors are content just to install a modern Toyota or Isuzu engine in their vehicles to produce a jeep that only looks authentic from the outside, says Cruz.
"They would laugh at such jeeps in the US," he says. "We don't sell running units. If we did, whatever profit we make would be eaten up by warranty claims."
He declined to say how much he sells them for but said a fully-restored jeep sold recently on the E-Bay Internet auction site for $30,000.
"Most of the buyers are veterans who have a romance with the jeep," he says.
But there are also younger collectors who are entranced with the wartime history of the vehicle. "Everywhere America fought" there are people who remember the jeep," says Cruz. "It was the original 4X4 vehicle, the original all-terrain vehicle."
The US produced more than 600,000 jeeps during World War II and it played a crucial role in both the Pacific and European theatres ranging from simple people mover to weapons carrier.
The squat, box-like vehicle garnered a huge following for its rugged durability, low cost and widespread availability.
Allied commander and later US president Dwight Eisenhower said the jeep was crucial to the Allied victory in World War II.
Nor is it surprising that a Philippine company should specialize in replicas of these jeeps as they played a crucial role in land transport in this country.
After World War II, as a newly-independent Philippines was recovering from wartime devastation, US surplus jeeps were often the only form of automotive transport available to many Filipinos.
Enterprising Filipinos extended the bodies of the jeeps, added seats, a fixed roof and gaudy decorations to produce the jeepney, a mini-bus that is still a cornerstone of commuter transport here, as well as a symbol of the Philippines itself.
Maximiano D. Juan, the founder of MD Juan, started his company in 1966, importing jeep parts for the jeepneys. As the supply of surplus parts dried up and more jeepneys switched to using imported Japanese auto engines, he had to find a new niche.
Company vice president Raphael Juan, grandson of the founder, says the same people who once supplied his grandfather with surplus jeep parts asked if he could provide reproduction parts for their vintage jeeps.
This led the company to set up a stamping factory that eventually grew to making various parts for those wanting to restore their old jeeps.
Rapahel Juan says about 80 percent of its jeeps are exported to the United States with 20 percent going to other countries. France and the Netherlands are two other big buyers where local enthusiasts want vehicles that look just like World War II originals.
Although nostalgic World War II veterans may be passing away, the market for the jeeps does not seem to be getting any smaller.
"Recently, when we went to a jeep convention in Lodi, California we noticed there were new enthusiasts in the market who are younger," Juan said.
The company has also gone into jeep-oriented ventures, making small jeep bodies in which the hobbyist can install a lawnmower or golf cart engine to produce a jeep a child can drive.
MD Juan has also been contracted by Greenpeace to build the bodies for a fleet of electric-powered jeepneys that local governments are promoting as an environmental alternative to the smoke-belching originals.
Another project is the "tourist jeep"-- a bus-sized vehicle with all the amenities of a luxury tourist bus but with the colorful exterior of a jeepney.
Cruz says the company is hoping tour agencies, resorts and hotels will buy these tourist jeeps to add some local color to their services.
Some people have even asked if MD Juan could expand into making reproduction bodies for vintage roadsters, though Cruz says this would be too difficult.
But after some hesitation, Raphael Juan says with a smile: "We're studying the market for that."


Copyright 2008 Agence France-Presse. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[fourtheboys96]

my father used to have this green Willy jeep. the orig owner-type jeep.

[jpdm]

http://thepinoy.net/wp-content/uploa...-e-jeepney.jpg

I hope more of this will be produce by MDjeepstar. I also hope they can come up with diesel powered small and fuel efficient wrangler type owner-type jeeps....

[Monseratto]

They are well known for being the only manufacturer of WWII McArthur jeep replica body parts abroad. Being well known abroad makes their parts quite expensive locally. Maraming nag rereklamo din na masama yung quality ng gawa. Most parts do not fit properly, holes do not align or no holes at all. Some of their parts are refurbished but sometimes sold as b/new.

[jpdm]

My friend has a wrangler-type jeep made by MDJuan and its very sturdy. Its looks good with its black paint, big fenders and macho look. Kaya lang medyo malakas sa gas.

I hope MDJuan would manufacture smaller versions with 4 doors and fitted with small engines.

[jpdm]

.....Gawa sana ang MDJuan ng jeep for the AFP specially the Philippine Army, Scouts and Marine...so that the AFP will not spend to much in buying expensive humvees from the US....


Nakamura na...retro pa...

[locoroco777]

890k!? :shocked: mag hummer nalang ako ng alana motors if I have to spend that much for a copycar....

[uls]

P890,000?

magparating ka nalang ng totoong Wrangler

[donbuggy]

Putting aero style fender flares on a traditional Wrangler body does not work. The design cues do not match, they clash.

Either go aero all the way by also redesigning the body (curved windshield, curved roof line, etc.) or retain the simple but rugged look but give it some design tweaks (like Jeep did with the 2007-2010 Wrangler).

BTW, I think the local manufacturers should come up with a lightweight, fuel-efficient owner type jeep in the spirit of the Suzuki Jimny.

[locoroco777]

P890,000?

magparating ka nalang ng totoong Wrangler

mahal parin yung tunay sir...2m++ bili nalang tayo LR defender 90 diesel pa...