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Car and Driver
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
VW to Restore the Microbus That Survived the California Wildfires
A white-over-blue Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus that survived the Los Angeles wildfires was the star of a famous photograph. In the photo, it looked to be entirely spared, but the far side was blistered by the heat. Now, Volkswagen of America has offered to restore it back to its original glory, as a symbol of hope. After devastating wildfires tore through neighborhoods around Los Angeles, there was little hope to be found. Rich or poor, people lost their homes and possessions, and many are still waiting to be allowed to return home. But among the countless images of charred destruction, one stood out: a white-over-blue 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus, surrounded by burnt and broken buildings but seemingly untouched. Mark J. Terrill | AP AP photographer Mark J. Terrill snapped the above photo, and it instantly went viral. A vintage VW Microbus is as pure California as it comes, and for such a machine to have survived seemed like a little fragment of magic in a time when many were reeling. However, it wasn't completely untouched by the fires. It suffered significant scorching on the right side, which is hidden in the photo. Now, Volkswagen of America will be restoring this survivor to like-new condition. The '77 Bus belongs to Megan Weinraub, a resident of Malibu who designs surfboards and skateboards. She was learning to drive a manual transmission with it. Before that, it belonged to Weinraub's business partner, Preston Martin—also a surfboard maker. He lived in the van during his senior year of college to save money. His mom sewed curtains for it. This VW van is so 100 percent Californian, they should put it on a flag and fly it over the state capitol. Volkswagen Volkswagen of America needed special permission to rescue the T2—which Weinraub has dubbed 'Azul' for its blue hue–as the area was still closed to the public. From there, it was shipped to VW's Oxnard campus, where Volkswagen's historic vehicles fleet is stored and maintained. It's going to need significant mechanical work and repairs to the scorched side, but it's in the right hands. Along with offering to repair Weinraub's beloved VW, Volkswagen also donated to the California Fire Foundation earlier this year. The announcement about the restoration came on June 2, which happens to be the third International Volkswagen Bus Day on the national day calendar. Volkswagen Volkswagen T2 buses have been homes and transportation for many people over the years, not to mention a Hollywood star in films such as Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Little Miss Sunshine. It could not be more fitting that, when SoCal was hurting, a little VW Microbus provided a small miracle of hope. Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels.
Motor 1
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
VW Vows to Restore Classic Bus That Survived California Wildfires
The Palisades Fire that tore through southern California in January burned nearly 37 square miles of land and took 24 days to contain. It destroyed thousands of homes and businesses, while sparing others. Out of the chaos, a photo emerged showing a white-over-blue Volkswagen Bus that had somehow survived. The T2 didn't escape the fire unscathed, but now VW of America is working to restore the bus back to its former glory. The automaker announced today, on International Volkswagen Bus Day , that the restoration process has already started at its Oxnard Engineering Campus, about 35 miles northwest of the fire. That's where the automaker houses and maintains its historic vehicle collection. Photo by: Volkswagen The Associated Press photograph that circulated online capturing the blue Bus against a burned and charred backdrop showed off the VW's good side, which its owner, Megan Krystle Weinraub, had named 'Azul,' Spanish for blue. Weinraub told the AP at the time that she 'freaked out' and 'screamed' when she first saw the photo that showed the bus had survived. The passenger side received most of the damage. Its paint is peeling, the windshield is cracked, and there are burn marks on the door. Even the front signal light melted. But the Bus is now on the road to recovery. According to Volkswagen , the bus requires 'extensive mechanical fixes and bodywork to be fully operable,' and it should have the project completed by the end of the year. VW will share additional details about the restoration as it progresses, where we'll likely learn the full extent of the damage. Photo by: Volkswagen Hopefully it's not too bad. Judging from the photos, the classic people-mover is certainly worth saving. Read More Volkswagen News: Volkswagen Says European Buyers Want Buttons, Not Screens Buy Now: VW Promises to Keep Pre-Tariff Prices Through June Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Volkswagen Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
