After the California wildfires in January, one photo caught everyone’s attention. An Associated Press photographer took a photo of a Malibu neighborhood devastated by the Palisades Fire, and while everything from homes to trees was charred and burned, a single blue 1977 Volkswagen T2 bus stood almost undamaged on the street. The photo caught the attention of the public and Volkswagen of America, which is now working to restore the little bus to working condition for its owner.
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The current owner of the T2 bus is Megan Krystle Wienraub. She named it “Azul” after its color. According to the AP, she bought the bus from her friend and business partner Preston Martin. Martin used to live in the bus while it was being repaired, and both Wienraub and Martin are involved in building surfboards. In an interview with The Associated Press, Weinerup said he and his friends took the bus out surfing a few days before the fire. The bus is a quintessential Southern California van.
In the initial photos, it appeared to be mostly intact, but upon closer inspection, there was damage. Volkswagen, with Weinerup’s permission, began inspecting the vehicle and making repairs, and obtained city permits to enter the fire-stricken area. While one side of the bus appeared to be fine, the other side had cracks and soot in the paint from the heat. Many other parts of the fire were damaged, including melted wiring and damaged rubber parts, according to Volkswagen officials. That means a significant amount of work will have to be done by Volkswagen’s classic car restoration team at its Oxnard, California, office. This is a team that manages Volkswagen’s collection of classic cars in the United States.
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Volkswagen officials said the primary goal of the restoration is to make the bus “operable and reliable.” That goes beyond simply improving the vehicle’s performance, which also includes body work. The question is how far the restoration will go. Volkswagen is leaving it up to owner Weinrub, who hasn’t decided whether to keep the “sun-kissed patina” it had before the fire, or restore it to “gleaming showroom condition.” Either way, Volkswagen says the project is slated for completion this year, with Azul ready to hit the beach for another surf.
