A symbol of hope: Volkswagen reveals restored T2 bus that survived California fires
Nov 20, 2025
- Volkswagen Group of America’s Oxnard Facility led restoration work on the 1977 T2 that survived the January 2025 Palisades Fire
- Volkswagen honors first responders and their families with subsequent financial contribution to the California Fire Foundation
Reston, VA —Volkswagen of America today unveiled a restored white-over-blue 1977 T2 microbus that became an unexpected symbol of resilience after surviving the January 2025 Palisades Fire in Southern California. Making its first public appearance since its story captured hearts around the world, the restored T2 is now on display at the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show for Volkswagen, marking a poignant moment for Volkswagen and its community.
The T2, referred to by many throughout this year 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 Oxnard Facility. The Oxnard facility is home to Volkswagen of America’s collection of historic vehicles, making it an ideal home base for a detailed assessment of Azul’s true condition.
“Today 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 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.”
After a thorough inspection, Volkswagen determined Azul required significant mechanical repairs and bodywork to be roadworthy.
Starting this special project earlier in the year, the vehicle team at the Oxnard facility inspected, repaired, or replaced every interior and exterior component of Azul – 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 their restorations of historic Porsche vehicles. Specialized partners supported additional engine refurbishment details and the powder coating of various parts.
“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.”
As a celebration of Bus culture and recognition of the spirit of community, Azul makes its public debut within the Volkswagen booth during the 2025 Los Angeles 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,” said Weinraub.
To commemorate the project, Volkswagen collaborated with Candylab TM to create a limited-edition, wooden collectible version of Azul, highlighted by the custom white-over-blue color. The collectible is available along with other Candylab-produced collectibles only at the Volkswagen booth during the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show, while supplies last.
Volkswagen continues to recognize the importance of supporting the California community as it continues to recover from the fires. In October, the brand pledged an additional monetary donation to the California Fire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to support first responders and their families around the state.
To make a direct donation to the California Fire Foundation, please visit its dedicated fundraising page: https://cpf.salsalabs.org/volkswagenforcff/index.html
Azul can be seen at the Volkswagen booth at the Los Angeles Auto Show starting tomorrow through Sunday, November 30. Before finally reuniting with Megan, Azul will be on display at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, December 4, 2025, through January 11, 2026.
For information on the Petersen Automotive Museum, please visit www.petersen.org, and to learn more about Azul, the restoration process, and hear from Megan, please visit https://go.vw.com/Azul-Bus.
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