Anyone Recognize This Asian Vehicle?

Greetings Everyone on the WWII MB here. My name is Riles and I am the proud owner of a Filipino Jeepney that was purchased in Downey California wayyyyy back in 1977 or 78 by my father. I need help identifying a few of the pieces that were used to make our Jeepney.

What I know so far about our vehicle:

It was previously owned by a US NAVY Chief Petty Officer stationed at Subic Bay NB on Luzon in the Philippines. It was manufactured by hand in the PI which is the way these things are still made today albeit they look like modern Jeep Wranglers, or a combination of a Jeep Wrangler and a Dodge bus. Their bodies can be made out of Stainless Stell or Galvanized steel. They bodies are made by hand using a sheetmetal brake, and some pannels are stamped out or rolled or wheeled. Most of the assymbley is done by hand and stick welded together, or miged in the bigger shops.

My reason for posting today is I am stuck trying to identify the grille shell/housing, and the front ends of the running boards. I did a google search under many different names and there are only a few well worn pics of a Japanese Isuzu truck that has a similar grille, but it is not "spot on."

I've been to the Philippines on our family travels and visited the Jeepney factories, and I have been to several differnet libraries around the USA, and I have found..... Nothing so far of any difinitive proof! I've been working at this for over 10 years!

So please don't tell me I'm gonna have to learn Japanese and take a trip to Japan to find my answers!

Thanks Mate!
Riles

 

Have you asked around in the G503 boards? Maybe one of the WW2 vehicle enthusiasts there can identify the grill.