A 1977 Volkswagen T2 microbus that defied the odds and survived the Palisades Fire in California has been restored to its former glory.
Unveiled at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, Volkswagen of America celebrated the classic microbus as a symbol of resilience and survival.
The Los Angeles reveal marked the Volkswagen’s first public outing since it miraculously appeared to have avoided damage while parked in a Malibu neighborhood devastated by wildfires.
Affectionately known as “Azul” by owner Megan Weinraubhe, the bright blue bus was famously photographed by Mark J. Terrill of the Associated Press in January 2025.
A symbol of hope
After Terrill’s image went viral around the world, Volkswagen of America worked with the microbus community to identify the owner of Azul.
Having liaised with Megan Weinraub, and gained permission to enter the Malibu neighborhood, Volkswagen transported the bus directly to the its Oxnard Facility.
As the home of Volkswagen of America’s extensive heritage collection, this was the perfect location to assess and repair the now-legendary T2 bus.
An inspection revealed that significant mechanical and body repairs were needed to make Azul roadworthy again. This included making use of specialists, such as the team at GE Kundensport – renowned for its restorations of historic Porsche vehicles.
“Keeping the soul intact”
“From the moment we first saw Azul, our goal was to ensure the story of the vehicle wasn’t erased by the fires, but brought back to life by restoring it, reuniting it with its owner, and returning it to the road,” said Gunnar Wynarski, vehicle technician at Volkswagen Group of America’s Oxnard Facility.
“While this special restoration project was a technical challenge, what mattered most was keeping the soul of the vehicle intact.”
Azul will be on display in the Volkswagen booth at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show until Sunday, November 30. Following that, the bus will be shown at the Petersen Automotive Museum in LA.
Along with the restoration project, Volkswagen of America also made a donation to the California Fire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to support first responders and their families across the state.
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