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Celebrate Selena Day by Taking a Look Back at the Film’s Most Iconic Vehicles

Today, citizens of Texas (and many others) celebrate Selena Day, which would have been Selena Quintanilla’s 46^th birthday. The Mexican-American Tejano superstar was full of talent and promise, and she was on her way to becoming one of the biggest music stars in the world. Unfortunately, her life was tragically cut short when she was attacked by her former fan club president on March 31, 1995.

Selena’s life was documented in the 1997 film Selena, which premiered 20 years ago. The film, which was more of a celebration of Selena’s young life, featured a few iconic vehicles that made quite an impression on me as a child growing up in San Antonio, Texas during the time of its release.

_{Photo: Warner Bros.}

Los Dinos’ 1958 Ford Ranch Wagon

The first major vehicle that makes an appearance in the film is that of Abraham Quintanilla (Selena’s father) and Los Dinos, the singing group he was a part of. The men travel in their light blue and white 1958 Ford Ranch Wagon to an audition that was set up for them, at a club on the beach. The owner of the club changes his mind when he sees that Los Dinos are Mexican, instead of Italian like he had originally thought. Abraham and his friends are sent away with an insulting check, so Los Dinos then travel to a Mexican club, but are subsequently booed offstage for singing “gringo” (white people) music, specifically “We Belong Together.”

_{Photo: Warner Bros.}

Big Bertha Eagle Model 01 Bus

Although it didn’t originally have power steering, heating, air conditioning, electricity, or a working bathroom, the bus that toted Selena and her family around Texas was fondly referred to as Big Bertha. Inside, the bus did include plenty of seating, a table where Selena’s brother AB would write songs with the band, a cabinet with Suzette’s secret stash of Doritos, and bunk beds. One of the funniest scenes where Big Bertha is featured is when Selena’s father Abraham sends AB to get gas in Big Bertha but AB ends up getting the huge vehicle stuck in a ditch instead.

_{Photo: Warner Bros.}

The Cholos’ 1969 Chevrolet Impala Low Rider

Directly after AB gets Big Bertha stuck in the ditch, two men in a 1969 Chevy Impala (with gold rims, an orange interior, and a golden steering wheel) drive by and come to an immediate halt when they recognize Selena on the side of the road. After reversing and pulling up to the stranded bus, they instantly became star struck with Selena and offered to help. Overestimating the power of the low rider Impala (featuring custom hood artwork of an Aztec carrying a woman), the two “cholos” fail to get Bertha out of the ditch and instead lose a bumper in the process. The owner of the car was unfazed, as he said he was proudly going to display the bumper in his garage and state that it was torn off by the bus of “Selenas” (with an S).

_{Photo: Warner Bros.}

Selena’s 1981 Porsche 911

As portrayed in the film, Selena’s father was completely against her relationship with Chris Perez in the beginning and, because of this, she decided to get married to Chris without telling anyone. That day, after the duo had made it official on April 2, 1992, the happy couple is seen driving down a Texas highway in Selena’s red 1981 Porsche 911. Their moment of joy is instantly diminished when a radio announcer breaks the news that the two had secretly eloped, which meant Selena’s father would soon know and likely become irate. The Porsche is seen later in the film as well, when Selena arrives at her father’s office to discuss finances.

Gallery: See more photos of the iconic Selena vehicles

Ben Parker

Ben never thought he’d be writing about cars for a living, but here he is, knowing more about the Kia Stinger than he’d care to admit. When he’s not devoting his time to researching engine specs and other oh-so-exciting car details, he can be found enjoying time with his wife and dogs. See more articles by Ben.