M37 in the Philippines ???

[Tracer]

Here is one for the M37 experts. While on a trip to the Philippines, I ran across this MV that I think is an M37 hauling a load of concrete from the harbor to an inland construction site. As you can see the truck suffered a flat rear tire, we came by a couple hours later and the crew was changing out the flat tires. By evening they were on the road and heading back to the harbor for another load of bagged concrete. The chassis looks longer than what's on an issued M37. The truck still has the Dodge flathead six engine and a Braden winch. What do we have here?

 

[G744]

Something someone stretched out to get that long flatbed on it.

Poor thing really looks sad & worn.

Over here it would just be a parts widow.

 

[nattieleather]

The Philippines are notorious for modifying off road trucks.

 

[Tracer]

Nattie, you are correct. After WW2 the US ARMY left behind a lot of equipment in the Philippines mostly Jeeps. The Philippine people were very good at modifying the Jeeps into a type of Taxi called a Jeepney. They could carry 5 or 6 people and were small enough to get around the narrow streets in post war Manila. Today there are very few of the original Jeep based Jeepneys left (first 2 pics). The modern Jeepneys have grown into vehicles that can carry up to 30 people with roof seating. They are based on Isuzu truck chassis and drive train with the bodies being completely built in the Philippines (3rd pic). Back about 2004 I saw a vintage Jeepney built on what was a 1940s White Mustang School bus.