Punkin project brings a steampunk carriage with a fairy tale vibe

Mix a little steampunk with a fairytale idea and a dream come true. What began as a simple “people mover” concept in the minds of Ramona designers Dawn Sardinas and Wylie Weldy became the foundation for the modern-day Cinderella carriage – The Punkin Project.

It all started in 2016 when the husband-and-wife team attended YOUtopia, the annual San Diego Regional Burning Man, an art and music event that was held on the La Jolla Indian Reservation. The two immediately saw a need for a better way to transport people around the festival.

“Many of the vehicles that came were low to the ground and were getting stuck, or they didn’t have enough power to move people around the campground,” Sardinas recalled. “We knew we could make something better, and the idea of a wagon was our first thought.”

Inspired by rock crawlers, off-road vehicles with big tires, Sardinas blended a country vibe with tractor tires with a touch of steampunk along with one of the most well-known fictional vehicles of all time — Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage

Local art grants and personal funds have helped bring their steampunk carriage to life. Since its conception in 2017, the carriage has gone through four phases of growth. The first phase focused on steel construction of the pumpkin-shaped carriage and seating for 10 to 14 people. The second added the rear axle and a roof adorned with an intricate, illuminated pumpkin stem. During this phase, the carriage was pulled by a 1947 Massey Harris tractor that the couple decorated with flowing pumpkin vines and leaves.

The third phase introduced the front axle and the idea that the carriage should be self-driven. During the pandemic, the carriage was fitted with a diesel engine that runs on bio-diesel fuel, marking the fourth phase of construction.

Weldy, a metal fabricator, completed most of the construction himself, but over the years, work parties have come together to assist in the creation of the carriage. The couple have collaborated with other artists and friends to plasma-cut leaves and decorative details for the carriage.

LED lighting illuminates the carriage, and the interior has an “I Dream of Jeannie” vibe, lined with upholstery fabrics in shades of orange, rust, gold, and jewel-tone fall colors. The carriage is even finished with a penny-lined floor. 

“The most challenging part was figuring out what type of tires to use on the carriage,” Sardinas said. “We wanted something that mimicked Cinderella’s carriage wheels but was rugged enough for all types of terrain. That’s when we learned about the different types of tractor tires available that could work.” 

In 2019, during the construction of the carriage, Weldy asked Sardinas for her hand in marriage, and the carriage made its first wedding appearance in 2024 at the couple’s nuptials. The Punkin Project carriage has made a variety of appearances in and around Ramona and Julian, as well as at backcountry art and music events.

The couple have shown off the carriage in parades but they can’t drive it around giving rides because it’s not street legal.

The carriage will be on display again at this year’s Ramona Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday.

The couple is eager to begin the marketing and rental phase of The Punkin Project Carriage. The public can follow the Carriage’s Facebook and Instagram pages @thepunkiproject to read more about the construction and history of the project. 

To inquire about private rental of the carriage, contact Dawn Sardinas at 619-354-0968 or by email at Thepunkinproject@gmail.com.