Palisades Fire-Surviving Microbus Gets a Makeover From Volkswagen
Originally the subject of a viral photo, the restored vehicle is now viewed as a symbol of hope…
Volkswagen of America unveiled a restored white-over-blue 1977 T2 microbus at last month’s 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show that has become an unexpected symbol of resilience after surviving the January 2025 Palisades Fire in Southern California.
The T2, referred to by many as the “magic bus,” first earned global attention through an Associated Press photograph showing it seemingly unscathed amid a Malibu neighborhood left devastated by fire.
With help from the VW enthusiast community, Volkswagen of America connected with the T2’s owner, Megan Weinraub, to assess the safety and condition of her vehicle. After receiving necessary approvals to enter the Malibu neighborhood where the vehicle was parked, Volkswagen transported the bus—affectionally referred to by Megan as “Azul”—to the Volkswagen Group of America’s Oxnard Facility, which is home to Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles.
The restoration “marks the next chapter in the rich legacy of the Microbus through the restoration of a vehicle that caught the attention of people around the world,” said Rachael Zaluzec, senior vice president of brand marketing and customer experience, VW Brand NAR. “We recognize that, for Megan, ‘Azul’ isn’t just a 1977 T2, but a part of her family. For us, this passionate restoration project has served as a symbol of resiliency, making ‘Azul’ a part of the Volkswagen family as well.”
Keeping the soul intact
After a thorough inspection, Volkswagen determined Azul required significant mechanical repairs and bodywork to be roadworthy. The vehicle team inspected, repaired or replaced every interior and exterior component while paying homage to T2s from the late 1970s.
As a complement to the restoration work completed by Volkswagen, bodywork was led by the team at GE Kundensport, renowned for its historic Porsche vehicle restorations. Specialized partners supported additional engine refurbishment details and powder-coating.
“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.”
To commemorate the project, Volkswagen collaborated with Candylab to create a limited-edition, wooden collectible version of the bus, highlighted by the custom white-over-blue color, that was available during the LA Auto Show.
“When the photo of ‘Azul’ went viral, I felt like the entire world experienced a piece of my heart. And when Volkswagen reached out to see if ‘Azul’ really survived, I was touched and couldn’t believe it. Seeing it now, I feel it’s even more of a symbol of hope than it was before,” says Weinraub.
Volkswagen continues to support ongoing fire recovery efforts through a recent monetary donation to the California Fire Foundation. Meanwhile, “Azul” will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles through Jan. 11, 2026.
