1921 Ford Model T Paddy Wagon

Since the first day of production, the Ford Model T was an inexpensive and readily available automobile that would not only transform the automobile industry, but also transform the way Americans lived.

'Paddy wagon' and 'Black Maria' are slang terms for either a police car or a police vehicle used to transport large groups of people who have been arrested. These vehicles were usually painted black or a very dark blue.

The first production Model T was built on September 27, 1908, at the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan. Often called the 'Tin Lizzie' and the 'Flivver', the Model T was the proverbial poster child of the Ford Company, and one that put the company at the forefront of the American automobile industry.

By 1921, the Model T Ford held sixty percent of the new car market, as plants around produced the cars as though they were subway tokens. And during its life span, the Model T would undergo many changes, as Henry Ford realized that he must continually improve his Model T to be competitive.

From 1913 until the end of production, Ford offered the Model T chassis by itself so commercial and fleet customers could build bodies that would suit their specific needs. This 1921 Model T Paddy Wagon was built in the style of a typical 1920's era commercial vehicle.