Rhondak Jeep Cj5 Art Of Mojo Jeep Story Florida

The Art of MOJO The Art of RhondaK’s Jeep CJ5. The Jeep I used to begin my Florida Folk Art show travels. http:// www.rhondakwrites.com

This is my Jeep CJ5. I named it the MOJO. I have had it for 3 years. It has a lot of stories associated with it. On this day it was being towed away to my Plant City mechanic for a new transmission and clutch. At the time I wasn’t sure I’d sell enough work to fix it. The repair bill is A LOT of Beer:30 signs !!! The MOJO has an assigned VIN number for the State of Florida. It is “1996.” But you can tell it isn’t a 1996. It is mostly a 1987 CJ5 with a fiberglass bucket back. Under the hood it gets more complicated. The engine is a late 60s 302 and the transmission is 3 speed late 70s. Often because it is hard to explain, I call it the Frankenstein Jeep.

This is my Jeep CJ5. I named it the MOJO. I have had it for 3 years. It has a lot of stories associated with it. On this day it was being towed away to my Plant City mechanic for a new transmission and clutch. At the time I wasn’t sure I’d sell enough work to fix it. The repair bill is A LOT of Beer:30 signs!!!

The MOJO has a lot of unique features from myself and previous owners. I call it the art of MOJO. When I went to buy the MOJO, I wasn’t going to BUY it. I just wanted to look. My chainsaw carver X and I had wrecked my 1998 Black Jeep Wrangler by driving it’s cow horns ( serious—mounted on the front ) into the side of a RODEO. Really, the irony. No one was hurt, but the Wrangler died paying off MORE than I paid for it which is why I always recommend Jeeps and Landrovers for their amazing resale and insurance value. But the MOJO…I never meant to resale it. It was supposed to go live in Key West. It now lives in Siesta Key.

In parts, the MOJO has a pirate theme. When the Chainsaw X and I bought the MOJO, we didn’t notice a lot of things didn’t work. The windshield wipers. The speedometer. The gas gauge. And so on. I asked him why two mostly reasonable people missed the obvious. He said he had his dick in his eye. I totally get that. Mine was in my eye, too. The Chainsaw X and I were living on a boat at the time, so the pirate motif fit the Jeep’s function in our life…pulling boats, things, wood, tikis and more.

The front auto tag on the Jeep. Art from Advanced Auto parts. I added this.

The MOJO came with Andre the GIANT! Later when I figured out this Andre the Giant was part of a street art campaign…it was funny, I a STREET ARTIST had this in my vehicle. As a kid I LOVED ANDRE THE GIANT. And really, a Jeep like this is a giant on the street. The sticker is adhered under the chicken bar. A NECESSARY chicken bar. I did mention the 302 – right?

The MOJO has two beach stickers. Drew Brophy. I believe they are both Drew Brophy stickers. They on either side of the Jeep by the sloping sleigh sides. Son of the Sea is a business run by Drew Brophy. He’s an amazing spirit known for his surfboards, wakeboards and more. His business is family run..and family fun. Not only does Drew try to keep his art affordable, but he constantly works on new images. As a Florida Folk artist…I can respect that. Plus, a beach artist is the best artist.

The MOJO has two beach stickers. Drew Brophy.

The Sticker EVERYONE likes!! Came with the MOJO. The previous owner was a male college student. I think he designed and printed this off himself. It says it ALL. To the right are the MOJO’s light switches. As it if part fiberglass it has ongoing ground wire issues. It is hard to get all the lights working at one time. I have two light switches and wiring situations in order to deal with this. It isn’t unusual for them to catch on fire. Particularly at gas stations. The fire extinguisher is NOT decorative.

Advanced Autoparts Man Rhinestones…is what I call the Jeep’s Diamond Plate sides…and this is like man eyelashes The previous owner was a male college student. I think he designed and printed this off himself. It says it ALL. To the right are the MOJO’s light switches. As it if part fiberglass it has ongoing ground wire issues. It is hard to get all the lights working at one time. I have two light switches and wiring situations in order to deal with this. It isn’t unusual for them to catch on fire. Particularly at gas stations. The fire extinguisher is NOT decorative.

I added this sticker. I dreaded my hair after I got the CJ5. I used dreadheadhq.com products.

After I bought the CJ5…it has no doors…not top but for a bikini top…the whole experience took me to where I could live on a boat. I did so for a year on a boat I bought for a $1. I used money I made from a cover story to pay for hauling expenses, bottom paint and more. My dreads still have bottom paint in them. I am proud of this. I lived in Cortez and become an avid support of the Florida seafood economy/industry.

The CJ5’s Dash. Stripper Union sticker. Two ignitions. YES…the wiring issue again. The one in the dash is the one that works…

The Skull Gear shifter.

This is the Jeep going off on a tow truck out of Siesta Key to Plant City where it will be repaired. However, as a single girl working part time and selling art I’m not sure I can afford it much longer. I wish I could. I wish I could figure out how to make. I’m going to try. It has a spirit I love. It’s hung in there with me.

This is the Jeep that helped me begin my sign art. It helped me solidify my love for Florida for an open Jeep…is an open heart. I got me to shows. It got me to my dying father. It got me home nights I cried so hard I could see. I hope I can return the favor. RhondaK Native Florida Folk Artist, http://www.rhondakwrites.com