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Modern Classic

Each look at this retro Jeep build reveals stunning details.

SUBMITTED BY RICK BOTTOM, RICK BOTTOM DESIGNS, MENDOTA, ILL.

Due to the seamless design and ornate detailing of the “Boujeep” 2019 Jeep Wrangler, passersby often do a double-take, assuming it’s a special edition from the factory. The vehicle was showcased at KnowledgeFest Indy this past year in the Kenwood booth, demonstrating electronics by Kenwood eXcelon.

The products featured in the build include a DMX706S head unit; XR-601-1 sub amp; XR-1701P front and rear 6.5-inch component sets; XR-401-4 four-channel amplifier; XR-1202 12-inch subwoofer; CMOS-320 back-up camera; and STZRF200WD HD dash camera with GPS. The build also has a Metra dash kit and speaker pods, Raptor interconnects, an iDatalink Maestro interface module and an XS Power battery.

When Mobile Electronics magazine spoke with Bottom at KnowledgeFest Indy, he said the Jeep was bound for the next SEMA show. The vehicle, he noted, is his 43rd SEMA build since 1996. Most

importantly, he built the Jeep as a daily driver for his wife.

“We met at an audio show thirty years ago,” he said. “In the early 90s, audio was really happening. That’s how we met, and we’re still playing with cars.”

He said he loves “retro builds,” and his wife likes the color combination of white and tan. The design made for a newer vehicle with an older feel. The 98 interior pieces consist of sealed and painted plastic. Bottom noted that he spent about two hours on each small plastic piece. The custom upholstery was completed by Gary Dunow. “It was a lot of work,” Bottom added.

Each detail appears original to the vehicle. Even the hubcaps are new but designed for a 1957 Thunderbird. “We machined the center to accept an early 1970s grille medallion,” he said. “That alone was a project.”

As for the sound system, Bottom said he aimed for a “natural” sound with equipment that wouldn’t take up a lot of space. “The speakers are in stock locations, but the sound bar is heavily modified. It came with a four-inch and a tweeter. It now has a 6.5-inch and a tweeter, but it still looks factory,” he explained. “In the back, we have Class D amplifiers.” The amplifiers fit perfectly into a factory storage space, and a Jeep grille emblem was designed for the door. The cargo space floor is real white oak, painted with additional binder to let the grain show through.

“These things take so much time. It’s hard to say how long. I worked on it when I could. It was intense,” he said, adding, “I like building stuff that people can imagine in their driveways—not something that’s so outrageous you’d never really drive it.”

FROM THE PRESIDENT

The next phase of the competition features voting by industry professionals and consumers to narrow the semifinalists list down to finalists. Voting will begin Thursday, November 3, 2022.”

WINNERS’ FIRST ROUND

Who’s at the top? It’s time to vote.

In 2023 we seek to recognize and honor those in the industry who best exemplify the professionalism, business ethics, service and expertise we want consumers to think of when they do business in our industry. Candidate companies and individuals have submitted video nominations for the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards and will be narrowed to a list of finalists after a selection and voting process.

In certain award categories, finalists submit materials that are then judged by a select panel to determine a winner. In other categories, final voting tallies determine the winner. All winners are announced at a special awards ceremony, held the last day of the Mobile Electronics Association (MEA) KnowledgeFest tradeshow and conference in Las Vegas February 5, 2023.

WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES?

Each award is categorized as either retailer, vendor, or industry support role. Retailers are recognized as: Installer of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Salesperson of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Additionally, there is special recognition in the form of Retail Performance Awards and a Customer’s Choice Award.

There are Top Vendor Awards in the following categories: Autosound & Processing, Accessories & Materials, Infotainment & Multimedia, Security, Safety & Driver Assistance and Marine (formerly Powersports & Marine). Launched last year were two new categories: OEM Integration and Lighting. New for 2023 is Motorcycle & Powersports.

Additionally, the Vendor Support Tech of the Year award was introduced last year. To support both vendors and retailers, recognition also comes in the form of Distributor of the Year, Sales Representative of the Year and Rep Firm of the Year.

Judges appointed by the association reviewed videos and selected winners, comprising the Top 50 Installers, Top 50 Retailers and Top 20 Sales Professionals. The complete list of winners will be posted at the official Industry Awards website: meindustryawards.com.

Winners will also qualify as semi-finalists for the top honors of Retailer of the Year, Installer of the Year and Sales Pro of the Year. Top 50 Installers award recipients can also opt to run for 2022 Trusted Tech, an award given to professional installers who excel more from an electronics standpoint than a design standpoint.

The next phase of the competition features voting by industry professionals and consumers to narrow the semifinalists list down to finalists. These categories are joined by other categories of which industry professionals vote to select top suppliers, reps and rep firms, distributors, and expeditors, as well as the new vendor support tech award. Voting will begin Thursday, November 3, 2022.

JOIN US FOR THE INDUSTRY AWARDS IN LAS VEGAS

The process will wrap up at the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards where we’ll recognize top-performing retailers, installers, brands and industry affiliates for their work and representation of the industry. The winners will be celebrated at a special ceremony held at the conclusion of the KnowledgeFest trade show and education conference. This season, the ceremony will take place on the last day of KnowledgeFest Las Vegas held at the Paris Hotel & Convention Center February 3-5, 2023.

Though the competition is currently ongoing, we want to take this opportunity to congratulate our Top 50 and Top 20 winners. These are major accomplishments and represent your hard work and growth over the past year. It’s great to see our industry members continue to strive to be the best and set examples for their peers.

For more information on the Mobile Electronics Industry Awards, please visit meindustryawards.com.