Ramona Paddywagon Finds New Life in San Diego
By Johnny McDonald

"Black Maria," a former paddywagon, was located in Ramona in a state of disrepair. It has since been restored, top, and is used as a recruiting and fundraising vehicle for the San Diego Police Department. Above, the paddywagon in the process of restoration. Photos courtesy of Russ Eyres

A tired-looking, 1930s police paddy wagon was located about 12 years ago in a Ramona lot at Highway 67 and Dye Road. Its wood frame was rotting and a couple of wheels were missing.

After about $60,000 in restoration costs, it has been pressed back in service as a recruiting and fundraising vehicle by the San Diego Police Historical Society. It's all-steel now, has a 351 Ford engine, automatic transmission and is air-conditioned.

But the journey back was far from easy for the Black Maria, a one-time transporter of prisoners.

The term "Paddy" was a common Irish shortening of Patrick, and since Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces, the name paddy wagon stuck.

"Black Maria," a former paddywagon, was located in Ramona in a state of disrepair. It has since been restored.

Rick Carlson, president of the society, said the wagon had been purchased from Leroy Dyce of Ramona for $8,000.

"They had received a $12,000 donation from the San Diego Municipal Credit Union so they used the remaining $4,000 for restoration," Carlson said. "They sent it to the Donovan State Prison as an automotive vocational project. After five years it was in worse shape."

Maybe that's a reason why the prison discontinued its vocational program.

In desperation, it was turned over to car builder Russ Eyres in Valley Center.

Eyres is known by locals as the promoter of the annual vintage drag race at the Barona drag strip.

"I work on race cars and dragsters, but this was something different," said Eyres. "I had to work off a picture.

"It was in terrible shape after I got it from the prison. It didn't have a body. It was rotted, tin was torn off, doors were missing as well as other major pieces. It had a Model A motor that didn't work and we found that the transmission and rear end were locked up.

"They hired me to build the whole thing but I'm not a woody coach building guy. I build race cars, street rods. I'd make it look like the picture, but it would have to be of all steel construction."

He made a steel frame and wrapped steel around it. The project took another two years with a fair amount of help.

"Parts are rare and expensive." Ayes added.

The wagon had its debut last month in a police exhibit at the San Diego Auto Museum and is now scheduled for parades and other appearances.

It was one of the original motor-powered vehicles for the San Diego Police Department and used into the 1940s before being sold to the El Cajon Police Department.

After retirement, Dyce purchased it. But the restoration was too overwhelming. So, out back it went.

"I got involved with it six years ago," said Carlson, a retired 35-year homicide detective and U.S. marshal. "We've driven it in a couple parades, take it out for recruiting purposes and Legends of the Badge fundraisers."

"They're so busy driving it that I can't connect the siren," Ayres said.

There's one more problem: You see, it stands 10 1/2 feet tall and won't fit through doorways, particularly the proposed police museum site in Balboa Park.

Once again, it will have to stay outside.