Mohan Sinha
25 Nov 2025, 17:20 GMT+10
LOS ANGELES, California: A vintage blue Volkswagen bus that became a symbol of survival after surviving a California wildfire has made its first public appearance—fully restored and looking brand new.
The bus went viral in January when an Associated Press photographer captured it standing almost untouched among the burned remains of a Malibu neighborhood during the deadly Palisades Fire. After seeing the story, Volkswagen contacted the owner, Megan Weinraub, and later discovered the vehicle had suffered hidden damage, including smoke stains, blistered paint, rust, and a heat-shattered window.
Volkswagen technicians spent months restoring the 1977 Type 2 Microbus, nicknamed Azul — Spanish for "blue." The project united VW experts and enthusiasts who helped bring the fire-scarred vehicle back to life.
"It melted — and Volkswagen saved it," Weinraub said on November 20 at the LA Auto Show, where she stood beside the bus and its previous owner, Preston Martin. She said the restoration felt like a relief after she had assumed the vehicle was beyond repair.
Weinraub and Martin last saw Azul intact just two days before the fire, after returning from a surfing trip. Now, they say they're ready to take it on the road again.
AP photographer Mark J. Terrill, who shot the viral image, was present when the owners saw the restored bus late last month.
Volkswagen transported the bus to its Oxnard facility, home to historic VW models. Technicians tracked down rare parts, improvised solutions, and worked carefully to restore the vehicle without erasing its history.
"Our goal was to bring it back to life—not change it," technician Farlan Robertson said. "We wanted it revived and returned to its former glory."
Get a daily dose of Arizona Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arizona Herald.
More InformationINDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: Eli Lilly surged into a rarefied tier of corporate giants on November 21, becoming the first pharmaceutical...
NEW YORK, New York - A significant rise in Alphabet, the Google parent, powered a rally on U.S. stock markets on Monday with all the...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: The United Arab Emirates is stepping up its global AI ambitions with a new US$1 billion plan to help expand...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Warner Bros Discovery has drawn interest from three of its biggest Hollywood rivals, receiving preliminary...
LONDON, U.K.: Daily Mail publisher DMGT has moved to consolidate its influence in Britain's conservative media landscape, agreeing...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Verizon embarked on one of the most significant restructurings in its history when it announced plans on November...
LOS ANGELES, California: A vintage blue Volkswagen bus that became a symbol of survival after surviving a California wildfire has made...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. regulators took a significant step toward closing long-criticized safety gaps in vehicle design on November...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: New research released on November 17 shows that enrollment of new international students at U.S. universities...
(Photo credit: Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Moe Odum capped a career-high 36-point effort with...
(Photo credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images) Milos Uzan scored a career-best 26 points and collected seven rebounds, five assists...
(Photo credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images) Caris LeVert had a season-high 19 points, including a pair of clutch free throws in...
