LA CHORRERA, Panama (AP) — They were once bright yellow buses carrying kids to school in suburbs across the United States. Now in Panama – adorned with neon paintings, glowing lights and booming speakers – they are getting a second life.
The Red Devil buses have become a symbol of Panama’s capital city, often blowing black clouds of smoke as they roar through its bustling streets. They also act as a reminder of the Central American nations long-running connection to the U.S. Once a year, drivers and hundreds of Panamanians flock to a rural racetrack an hour outside of the capital to watch the buses transform into race cars.
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A woman stands on a bus during a Red Devils tuning exhibition in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later repurposed as public transport or for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People wait to board a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman sits inside a bus during a Red Devils exhibition show in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman stands on a bus during Red Devils running exhibition in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A Red Devil transport bus makes a stop in Colon, Panama, Friday, May 16, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A waitress serves patrons inside a Red Devil restaurant in Portobelo, Panama, Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
The driver of a Red Devil tourist bus calls for customers along the Amador Causeway in Panama City, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman sits on speakers playing music during a Red Devils bus exhibition in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Spectators watch Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Party goers ride on a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People dance inside a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now repurposed for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A cook fries fish inside a Red Devil restaurant bus in Portobelo, Panama, Saturday, May 3, 2025.The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural uses. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man illuminates with flare a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man carries a model of a bus known as a Red Devil during a show in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now repurposed for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Spectators watch Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A boy watches buses during a Red Devils tuning exhibition in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman stands on a bus during a Red Devils tuning exhibition in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later repurposed as public transport or for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People wait to board a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman sits inside a bus during a Red Devils exhibition show in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman stands on a bus during Red Devils running exhibition in Chilibre, Panama, Sunday, May 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A Red Devil transport bus makes a stop in Colon, Panama, Friday, May 16, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A waitress serves patrons inside a Red Devil restaurant in Portobelo, Panama, Saturday, May 3, 2025. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
The driver of a Red Devil tourist bus calls for customers along the Amador Causeway in Panama City, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A woman sits on speakers playing music during a Red Devils bus exhibition in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Spectators watch Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Party goers ride on a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
People dance inside a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now repurposed for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A cook fries fish inside a Red Devil restaurant bus in Portobelo, Panama, Saturday, May 3, 2025.The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural uses. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man illuminates with flare a Red Devil party bus in Panama City, Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024. The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A man carries a model of a bus known as a Red Devil during a show in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now repurposed for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
Spectators watch Red Devil buses race at a track in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, May 18, 2025. Red Devils are former U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone, later repurposed as public transport or adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
A boy watches buses during a Red Devils tuning exhibition in La Chorrera, Panama, Sunday, June 30, 2024. The Red Devils are repurposed U.S. school buses once used in the Panama Canal Zone and later as public transport, now adapted for private and cultural use. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)
