VW Bus Steals the Show

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There were plenty of radical rides at the LA Auto Show this month, from brand new sports cars to classic F1 race cars. Check out Car & Driver’s “10 Coolest Cars” for a more in depth look. But we’ll save you some reading; the star of the show was a vintage VW bus.

The blue and white 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 became an unlikely symbol of resilience after it survived a California wildfires near the Pacific Palisades. An image of the VW went ‘viral’ in January when an Associated Press photographer captured it looking unharmed, yet surrounded by the devastation of a burned out Malibu neighborhood.

Volkswagen USA saw an opportunity and found the vehicle’s owner, Megan Weinraub, offering a complete restoration. While the bus had indeed ‘survived’ it had smoke damage, blistered paint, and windows cracked by the heat… not to mention the ‘pre-fire’ rust.

Volkswagen USA repainted every body panel, refurbished the interior, and even did some engine mods at its historic vehicle facility in Oxnard, California, components on Azul, on top of some select engine modifications.

Months after the restoration begam, the VW bus made its public ‘debut’ at the LA Auto Show. This may have been an opportunistic marketing ploy by Volkswagen USA, but it worked. The glistening paint and powder coating makes it look like the almost 50-year-old VW bus just rolled off the assembly line.

And that’s truly a symbol of resilience.

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