VW Vows to Restore Classic Bus That Survived California Wildfires

The bus requires “extensive mechanical fixes and bodywork to be fully operable,” according to the automaker.

Photo by: Volkswagen

By: Anthony Alaniz

Jun 2, 2025 at 12:00pm ET

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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.

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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.