Diablo Rojo (Bus)

 The Diablo Rojo, or "Red Devil," is a modified school bus that has become an iconic visual symbol of Panama's culture. The Diablo Rojo is a Bluebird Co. bus imported from the United States and altered to feature bright decor, embellishments, and loud music. In the 1960s, the initially yellow school buses served as cheap transportation around the Panama Canal. Busses became the main form of transport in the country. In 1968, Panamanian military leader General Omar Torrijos led a coup that split up the large transport companies in Panama which allowed owner-operators to compete for routes. These conditions are what allowed the Diablo Rojos to thrive.

Owners of these vehicles invited artists to come and decorate their buses. These designs for these paintings feature: families, lovers, famous figures like artists and celebrities, characters from cartoons, Panamanian landmarks, and even inspirational quotes. The interiors of the busses are also heavily decorated with red leather interiors, feathers, decals, bells, lights, and more airbrushed art and text. These decorations are eye-catching to passengers and give the bus a unique identity per region. The artwork is a source of pride and as a bonus hides the age of the second-hand school bus. Commuters from strong communities along their route and their distinctly decorated bus. The Diablo Rojo also stands as a symbol of Afro-Panamanian culture. Many of the artists are of Caribbean descent, and the artworks tend to celebrate Afro-Caribbean as a form of expression. Panama has a dominant mestizo (mixed European) national identity so these moving murals boldly showcase the Afro-Caribbean identity in Panama.

These Red Devils are a driving design of their own. With airbrushing and idealized landscapes combined with hand lettering each bus has its own unique identity. The busses make use of vernacular design pulling inspiration from other local customs, signs, and pop culture to create a bus that reflects its surroundings. The buses are such an important part of Panama's national identity that they appear in a multitude of restaurants, businesses, and merchandise advertised for tourists.