Taiwan Makes American Trucks Great Again! Tour of Sheet Metal and Replacement Parts Factories
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- čas přidán 16. 05. 2024
- We've all wondered what parts manufacturing looks like overseas. With so much of our classic truck (and car) parts being produced in Taiwan, our team at Classic Truck Performance decided it was time to jump on a 14 hour flight and brave the food options to find out for ourselves.
Our trip focused on visiting factories producing reproduction sheet metal for classic cars and trucks but our adventure led us much deeper into replacement parts and automotive lifestyle products manufacturing. We were fortunate to have our good friend Paul, owner of Golden Star Classic Auto Parts, as our guide and translator as we visited Muscle Car GT, CHL Auto Parts and other factories in Taiwan.
Before our trip, we kept hearing one name pop up: Mr. GT. All conversations about sheet metal seemed to lead back to Mr. GT, and during our trip we were able to spend multiple days with the man, the myth and the legend. Mr. GT is the owner of Muscle Car GT, the largest producer of sheet metal in Taiwan. We were able to visit the main Muscle Car GT Factory and find out the backstory of Mr. GT and the process of making sheet metal.
Mr. GT started producing sheet metal for classic cars in the 80's. It started with reproduction sheet metal for early Mustang's and eventually grew into producing sheet metal for most makes and models of classic trucks and cars. We are talking thousands of parts for car models like: Chevy C10, Ford F100, Chevelle, Nova, Camaro, VW Bus, Porsche and so much more.
One of the most interesting thing we learned on the trip was the how sheet metal tooling is being made with state of the art technology. From scanning original parts from complete bodies shipped to Taiwan, to creating styrofoam moldings, to casting the parts, refining them and eventually being ready to start stamping parts. We are talking up to a few hundred thousand dollars of investment into producing tooling for something like a quarter panel. And when you walk through these factories, you see hundreds of tools used to make everything from the largest pieces to the smallest pieces of metal for our vehicles.
In fact, Mr. GT started reproducing complete body shells back in the early 2000's, and people thought he was crazy for doing so. Fast forward 20 years and it's so much more common to start a high level build with complete new reproduction sheet metal for C10's, Tri-Five's, Bronco's, Mustang's, VW Bus's, etc. And not only does that give us American's more options for complete bodies to start with, making complete body shells has also ensured that each piece of the vehicles fits together and works together.
While we were in Taiwan, Paul from Golden Star Classic Auto Parts showed us the different body shells he is building: 1955 - 1957 Chevy's, 1969 - 1972 Blazers and 1969 - 1972 Chevy C10's. We were also able to see some of the new injection molding machines Paul purchased from GM and shipped from Tennessee from Taiwan. These new machines will make grilles fro New Body Style Chevy Trucks from 1999 - 2006. Some of these machines weighed up to 40,000 per machine, which meant that Paul had to ship 15 containers to get all these machines to Taiwan, but Paul can see that the NBS will eventually be the hot truck and he will be ready to supply grilles for those trucks.
Overall, our team left Taiwan with a greater appreciation for the people, tools and companies making reproduction sheet metal for our classic cars and trucks. These business owners have invested millions of dollars into creating the tools to make sure we have options for replacement sheet metal and reproduction parts for our hobby. If it weren't for people like Mr. GT and Paul from Golden Star Classic Auto Parts our industry wouldn't have the options that we have today and we would likely have more rusted out trucks and cars lying in overgrown fields unable to be brought back to life. So to the producers and importers, we say thank you.
www.classictruckperformance.com/
goldenstarauto.com/
musclecargt.com/
The fact the molds and stamps are not scrapped and put into service is almost a godsend. The ability to correct any defects with the tools available today will ensure a long term business plan. I wish it was in the USA but at least SOMEONE sees the value in reproduction of these still cherished vehicles, even if it’s from overseas.
I'm honestly surprised someone like ford or chevy doesn't reproduce something like an old square body or bronco with modern engine, suspension, brakes & interior. Surely that would sell. People are buying restored ones for $150k plus.
@SlurpJ ,emissions and safety is why. The folks rebuilding or modernizing those old trucks are not scrutinized by the various agencies. They are essentially one offs.
At a 150k my guess is most are barely breaking even.
Thank the board members for shipping American jobs overseas.
Covid taught the world a lesson. That lesson was this. "We need to make all that stuff here."
@@davidsawyer1599 I work in the auto industry. Emissions and crash testing wouldn't be an issue. Engineers have overcome far bigger issues.
Over seas company making American classic car parts America is fucked
Much respect from Australia. I respect the pride Taiwanese people take in their work. 🇦🇺 🇹🇼
They can make nice boomerangs for you guys too
@@user-cm49 necessary tool in the outback mate.
@@tylerd55555 so is a firearm
@@user-cm49 Really hard to hurt yourself cleaning a boomerang.
@@NecromancerGarage only an i diot would clean a loaded firearm, is that why you Aussies gave up yours? And is that why you got locked down so hard during covid 🤷🏻♂️
It may not be a classic, but I was able to restore my Chevy Astro with stamped rocker panels and hood and fenders from Taiwan. It's great that businesses like this exist.
Super well done. Taiwan has been the pinnacle of manufacturing from that region. This video shows why. I also appreciate the humanity that this brings. Car guys, are car guys. World wide. Thank you for sharing.
car guys worl' wide
The fact that this exists is a genuine breath of fresh air! I can hardly imagine a brand new, 67 Mustang fastback with modern lights, brakes, suspension, steering, interior and powertrain. Just, WOW!!!
it gives a great opportunity to avoid modern, much too complex technology, because you simply repair your old car that never gave up and no crazy bills and easy to repair for DIY. Hooray
What a fantastic company !! I had no idea such factory existed in Taiwan !! May they go on forever !! 🏁🏁
5 years ago I was the only maintenance guy at a 100 press stamping company in Detroit. Our 600 ton went out & a steel line rained down hydraulic fluid. The fix? Zip tying an extension ladder to a cherry picker, putting a MIG welder in the cherry picker with every extension hose, welding the steel pipe in a puddle of hydraulic fluid on top of the press 28ft above concrete. For 15$/hr. Now I build machines @ home.🖖
just got back from Taiwan, their quality production and attention to detail is great and the labor costs are not as high as here hence they can afford to make this parts while the US has pretty much outpriced ourselves out of businesses like this, I worked with aircraft tooling for years
we priced ourselves out because of the rediculiously corrupt beurocratic redtape and high inflation rates. the feds are destroying us.
The way gm builds stuff we need these guys.
The only safe 57 cheby is a “love seat “ now you can truly like it
Industry in Taiwan does not have the same sweat shop mentality that exists in mainland China . They share a common language , but the similarity ends there . Innovation , ambition and quality are paramount.
Funny false narrative and disinformation.
ROC 🇹🇼 manufacturing in Taiwan started with sweatshop mentality too .
their tools are also incredibly high quality at a very affordable price that last a long time. Basically the difference between them and the mainlanders is that they arne't corrupt commies.
@@Mike-jv8bv
Funny fake news.
High-quality tools that's affordable are also made in Mainland.
Vietnam is Commie too.
Made in Taiwan, ROC prices became affordable due to Trump's unjust tariffs, sanctions and embargoes in 2017 ...to which Biden retained !
As a coach builder that makes panels this video got me kind of excited im not gonna lie 😂
As a Squarebody enthusiast that lives in a state which insists on SALTING it's roads, I thank you, and Bast (my '85 K30) thanks you Mr. GT!
In your awareness, experiences and wisdom why do you think States/ Provinces, Counties, Cities, towns in US, CAN insist on Salting roads, etc?
So great the original tooling was saved!!
Mr GT THANK YOU 100% 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
Didn't know I was needing a brand new 55 chevy convertible in my life!
My best friend in high school (class of '65) had a badass '55 convertible, while he was in the army in the later '60s his folks had that noisy thing hauled off by a junk yard...heart breaker.
@@markmark2080That figures, look at us now, Lord have mercy.
@@zLigHt44 "Lord have mercy"... I second that emotion
Thank you Taiwan for making these parts available.
This is a very well done documentary. Thank you, Classic Truck Performance.
Thank You!!! Mr GT!!! Great Name!
Complete classics from scratch, mind blown.
Many rhanks to all these folks on Taiwan for taking a chance on bringing these nostalgic autos back to life. I applaud each and every one. Its a crying shame there isn't any American interest in laying down the money and effort to take on this effort. Thinking in terms of decades of service and production, that takes massive amounts of forward thinking and no fear of failing. Not too much of that in this country any more. Now if they'd get busy on 73 to 77 ford pickups, Ie be looking very clise at that stuff.
we also have Horrendious regulatory red tape, this country has more lawyers and bankers than engineers, builders, and pioneers.
Nothing short of totally awesome, an incredible series of teams of craftsmen dedicated to keeping classics from over 50 years ago on the road. Total respect.
Very impressive engineering from Taiwan 🇹🇼
ROC 🇹🇼 baby !
Thank you for this fascinating story. Keep Taiwan Free!
Taiwan is Part of China.
Make Hawaii free
Awesome Video!! Thanks for sharing what you saw and thank them for me, I love the early cars and have spent my life working on them, 63 Impala, 68 Camaro, 67 Camaro, two 70 Camaro's , 69 Impala, 71 Impala, 79 Blazer, 53 Chev five window, 57 210, 57 Bel Air. Having sheet metal that fits decent is so fantastic!
Great to see the old parts brought back.
Thankyou Mr GT & all for this massive effort….Hats off x
This vid is so awesome. Alot of people pass up dream cars because they are a little rusty in a spot that they think the part is not obtainable. And he's making parts for cars that some people rather let it dissolve in the garage, than sell it because it means soo much.
Anyone who doesn't love classic cars you must be crazy man... Great vision
Taiwan saving America's classic Trucks 😂
Anything would be better than original gM parts
Although I'm not a consumer of these particular products, it's nice to see you supporting our Taiwanese brothers and sisters. As an American, I stand by Taiwan and its dependence! It's awesome that they get the tooling from American auto manufacturers. Everything should include the right to repair.
I have no doubt Taiwan is stepping their quality up. They make the world's computer chips
Of which there is ZERO correlation.
@@I_Am_Your_Problem You can at least go see it at Harbor Freight. The difference between the Made in China and Made in Taiwan tools is huge.
Wow, I gotta admit this looks like a great operation, they are even using old tooling imported from the U.S. and what they don't have, they make..... very impressive!!
This is the way forward, restore and repair the vehicles we have with modern drivetrains
Wow! I hope they keep going strong!
Great video! Alot of people from North America have an bad perspective from ‘overseas’ made
That 69-72 Blazer tub is enough to pique my curiosity.
Thank you Taiwan 🇹🇼 🇺🇸
ROC 🇹🇼
1:53 I can't believe 98-03 NBS is now old enough to be repop'd
I'm long retired from the auto body trade. Back in the day many aftermarket parts were "close but no cigar". Filing and forcing the parts into place was common. I would also add it's not just the thickness of the metal, the quality counts as well (high strength and ultra high strength steel). Original presses can be worn and don't stamp out clean lines like when it was new.
I was thinking it would suck for them if they reverse engineered a sample that had a defect that was not visible.
Great to see this operation in full swing. Gives classic car and truck enthusiasts AND manufacturers confidence in the future of our industry!
Wow that was amazing. Super impressive and I think for those who love the classics, very lucky there is this kind of love and investment into the tooling and designs by Mr GT. Seriously would love to have a 'new' 55-57 Chevy or a classic Mustang... or a VW Microbus. While maybe it would be great to have this capability to build this stuff in the US, there is no way it could be done and made affordable.
US "Regulatory Nazis" would prohibit it, or make it impossible.
I just bought 5 fuel filters for an older car I have that were previously NLA, while not a perfect reproduction, it fits in the location the OEM filter is located, I was surprised to see that it was made in Taiwan. Years back late 80's early 90's, the US bicycle industry made a move to production into Taiwan, at first there products were questionable, but as the years passed their quality improved quickly. It's unfortunate copyright laws make reproduction of some parts somewhat more difficult, but obviously there is a demand to reuse older cars, it make more ecological sense also.
with cars there is no problem with copyright or anything as long as it says replacement or reproduction on the packaging.
So great to see a creative business rebuilding classic vehicles parts and also producing jobs. I would like to see more classic models recreated. Especially classic trucks.
Life isn't about the mourning of ashes, its about the preservation of fire. These guys are preserving the fire. Great episode!
This was awesome. Thanks for posting.
How amazing Mr. GT expanded his business. Can someone tell him to go visit Africa. If someone can help them is surely Mr. GT. In Africa people drive transport truck with no floor, very bad doors and so on. They may not afford a totally reconstructed truck, but they surely can by one piece a the time. I travelled 4 times in Africa, mostly in DRC (Congo) but it’s the same story everywhere in Sub-Sahara Africa. Africans don’t throwaway anything. They mostly drive European transport trucks like Bedford. If he can bring them the parts needed to fix their trucks he would be their hero. If only China could respect people and leave Taiwan 🇹🇼 alone. I really hope the best of them. I can see now how much different they are from China. Long live Taiwan 🇹🇼
So cool! Good to know you can get whole body kits so many people will need it. When they find rust buckets. Put those on a custom frame and all your really need is the title and vin plates
Super cool and thankful for many of the parts to be able to bring these cars back.
I work daily with many of these parts
They are not perfect and many cases take many hours to correct by cutting and rewelding. Example, CHL, 73-87 rear radius at top at tailgate are incorrect as is fuel door location is 3/4” too high on the RH and left is in the correct location. A very time consuming endeavor to cut, relocate, tig and planish.
That’s an extreme example as most simply need minor cutting and some metal added for gapping as they expectations in the restoration world are many times higher than the OE.
I've never done bodywork or sheetmetal work, but I've heard about fitment issues for decades. I got a little more insight when I watched local CZcamsr DD Speed Shop showing the issues with the rear quarter on his 67 Camaro. It's crazy the lengths true car guys will go to restore a car. I don't have the willpower, motivation or money to do any of that
Thanks for helping the working man survive. Not Everyone can afford a Fifty thousand dollar machine that is half as well built and useful as the machines They replace. 👍
Cool! I live about 40 minutes North in Taipei! So much going on in this little powerhouse of a country. You guys are lucky you got here after the quakes. That was pretty sketchy.
Thanks so much for making this video!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What an amazing video. Thanks for posting and another watching from Australia.
Great vid, thanks for sharing.
Evidently clear that old is gold. The beauty of well made cars.
That is awesome! Keep the old vehicles alive!
GREAT VIDEO ROB!!!! THANKS FOR SHARING!!!!
That is so cool. Keeping the hobby alive. 😀
So now I know why there is now a gas tank replacement for my 1964 Econoline van. It's very well made, with a coat of some very tough lacquer. Thank you, guys. I wish we had that sort of energy in the US nowadays.
I bought a gas tank for a 96 Explorer. Was nicer than the Ford one, full of rust holes. Thick coat of paint, I added 2 more coats. Everything lined right up. From Taiwan. Was like $130 too, that is cheap. Its in 5 years already, looks new. Very high quality.
Nice!! Im glad they are still making all of the parts we need.
I recently bought a chrome front bumper for a 2015 Silverado and saw that it was made in Taiwan. The quality is top notch.
Mr. GT is a genius!
It would be awesome to see patch panels produced that didn't require crazy work to fit! I will try this company next time I need them for my trucks. Good video, thanks!
This is great, keep the classics alive. Wow the tooling investment is higher than I thought.
Fantastic video
I want to meet Mr.Gt.. legend in keeping the classic car parts industry.
Wow, this is wonderful!
My buddy just bought a '57 Chevy "retro rod" with modern brakes, engine, transmission and AC. After seeing this video I am SURE at least some of his Chevy panels came from Taiwan.
Another reason the U.S.should not allow the CCP to take over Taiwan.
Correct. The fact they make a ton of microprocessors including those nobody else can make is also a reason.
Nonsense .
It's the DPP that wants to take over ROC 🇹🇼 ...by abolishing it !
@@camshaftcasting1451
Fake news.
ROK and Japan and U$A does make them !
Tswan just a tool for U.S. but not a country, & will never be part of NATO same as Japan. it's run by coup
Or if I government wasn’t ran by some of those evil corrupt people on the planet we could just build them here!! We have one party and it’s ran by the Rothschild banking family.
I’m building a whole new short bed for my square body using parts from Taiwan that are marked new tooling . NPD is really close so that’s where I purchased them and pretty sure they’re made by Golden Star . We’ll see how good the fit is . 🤞
Got the whole box for my 55 Chevy truck, had it painted $ 5,000 it's nice
@@dogsense3773 More than the entire heap is worth...
Absolutely amazing! 💯
Fantastic work new old cars love them 40 years of panel beating now made easier
This dude is awesome!
Wow, Thats a brilliant story, And i thought i had too much old stuff !
Sad how fast man's taste changes..these old models are a beauty to behold. Good work.
Great video! Super impressive factory!!
Awesome. Just watched video. Have two C10 67 & 70 short beds
I was a plant maintenance technician, for Hidaka USA in the early 2000's. They made all of Hondas prototype vehicle sheet metal. Their Dublin OH plant is so neat and clean,all employees wear white work uniforms. I can attest that there is a lot of labor that goes just into making these stamping dies just right. Heck they had 2 shifts of people even using hammer&dollys just to put finishing details on some of the finished products.
We don't have anything like this in the states because of federal mandates and federal bailout. I'm not bagging their work that's amazing workmanship. I work in tool and die and to get that smooth of a panel with that few dies sets is fucking amazing. I mean they're making dies from $250,000-350,000 which is right in my head. But for some reason it costs our big three auto manufacturers millions to prototype and they use tax dollars to prototype... I sat in a job interview where this dude was bragging about how cost effective his dies were for the new Ford Aluminum body: just the tailgate he had $8 million... We need to get rid of the company that can't fail. It's not like they're building anything we actually want.
Lived there for 2 years. Late 60,s
Nicely Done
You Americans just dont know how difficult it is to restore classics when off the shelf replacement parts are available. For Aussie made vehicles for example simple decent parts for what where once very abundant cars are impossible to source today for a price that is fair. I have had to buy running driving complete cars for a single part to complete a restoration.
So cool! Thanks Taiwan🇺🇸🇹🇼♥️
Cool , much respect to them all
I'm glad to see long bed panels are still being produced by them.
Mistah GT hahaha what a legend... you could have a whole MOVIE about dat man
Awesome, most people have no idea ,great job Taiwan
Really nice! It could have been a 2 hour video 👏👏👏😍😍😍
Very impressive tooling, and quality of parts! Thanks for posting this! It is nice to see their passion, and foresight, in seeing that there was a market for this business, as a profitable venture. I wish them much success!
Wow....absolutely brilliant....wishing you all the success
Great topic and production quality
I always knew this could be done and should be done . Congrats to Muscle Car G T .
I enjoyed the video. 👍
From a different classic car group (first gen Mustang) appreciate the video. In our group it is tough to find GOOD replacement sheet metal. There is good stuff out there but it can be a crap shoot to get "stuff" that fits as it should. Have sent a lot of metal back that was just BAD. I'll be looking into these folks. Tough finding out brand name at the retail level. Thanks from Michigan, USA!
In the early 90's, I started posting Mustang doors 65-70 in Hemmings, only sold top flight doors as I was now living in AZ and knew what rusty junk was as my first supercharged Shelby was a '66 from California that lived on the east coast. I bought it in 1976 in Bucks County, PA. Even back then Mustangs were rust buckets....
Never had any serious competition for repopped doors and by early 2000's all good stuff was gone! Was lucky to sell to guys doing top flight restos at the time (Shelby, Boss 2's and 9's)👍
The first run of '65-'66 doors were lousy repops as the interior grain was wrong!
Good times back in the day..👍
thankyou for posting this video and all the links..Overseas parts look to be very good quality and I look forward to doing business with all featured in this video....
🇬🇧 I’d love one of their 55 Chevy . Fantastic work and well done for such Ingenuity.
so much computing power to make pure mechanical car 👍
Bless these people
I'm sure glad someone takes the time to keep our classics on the road or build one from the ground up totally brand new.
Impressive very good vid
At the end, this is a money saver, believe me..... Great vid....... ; )
I cannot wait to get my 86 tailgate for my Bronco. It was almost a deal breaker until i discovered this