Volkswagen restored Azul, the 1977 blue bus that miraculously survived the Palisades fire – Jalopnik

It’s hard to believe, but the wildfires that devastated the Pacific Palisades and Altadena area of ​​Los Angeles, California happened almost a year ago, in January 2025. The daily onslaught of dystopian news updates really made the year fly by, didn’t it? One of the greatest symbols of hope to emerge from the deadly fires was the 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 bus, which was miraculously spared from the fiery fate that conquered everything around it, thanks to a remarkable Associated Press photo that went viral. Volkswagen responded to the heartwarming story by completely restoring the bus and bringing the rolling blue beacon of hope to the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Volkswagen revived Azul, as owner Megan Krystle Weinraub called it, and brought it back to showroom condition, complete with black-and-white houndstooth fabric upholstery and beautiful fresh wood floors and cabinetry. It’s a story about hope, passion and car enthusiasm, the kind of story us car nerds can’t get enough of.

The Volkswagen microbus is an automotive icon, and one that helped elevate Southern California to its current status, so much so that Volkswagen’s current camper is called the California (even though it’s not actually sold in the United States). The two are inseparable, and Azul’s moment in the spotlight adds to the lore. Weinraub said, “When Azul’s photo went viral, I felt like the whole world was experiencing a piece of my heart. And when Volkswagen reached out to see if Azul really survived, I was moved and couldn’t believe it. Now that I see the photo, I feel like it’s even more of a symbol of hope than before.”

The Volkswagen of America factory in Oxnard, California, home to Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles, took Azul in and performed the mechanical repairs and bodywork to bring it back to life. It also inspected, repaired or replaced all of Azul’s internal and external components with assistance from GE Kundensport, a renowned Porsche restoration company.

Logan K. Carter/Jalopnik

Azul’s new look made its debut at the LA Auto Show, where I had the pleasure of seeing it and admiring the hard work that went into restoring its boxy glory. Parked next to a modern ID Buzz and in front of the photo that made it famous, Azul attracted crowds of nostalgic admirers who got to get up close and personal with the perfectly restored automotive icon. If you missed Azul at the LA Auto Show, it will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles from December 4 through January 11, 2026.