A blue, 1977 Volkswagen T2 microbus that appeared to be all that was left standing in one California neighborhood devastated by the Palisades Fire is now good as new.
The bus now wears fresh blue paint from its belt line down, new white paint up top, and genuine VW parts that have replaced half its content. It is on display at the VW exhibit at the Los Angeles Auto Show through Nov. 30.
On Jan. 9, Mark J. Terrill of The Associated Presssnapped the photoof the blue van — owner Megan Weinraub nicknamed it "Azul" — against a backdrop of charred foundations, smoke-stained trees, and freestanding chimneys near Pacific Palisades.
At least 31 peoplewere killedin the windstorm-driven Palisades and Eaton fires in Los Angeles County.
Though the microbus appeared unscathed, the vehicle in reality was a basket case and in need of more than 900 replacement parts, Volkswagen of America said in a statement on its restoration.
The Associated Press photographer captured the van's good side, but the side that faced the curb and the heat from from the overhead flames looked cooked and in need of body panel replacements,according to NBC Los Angeles.At least one window was cracked by the blaze, the station reported.
That iconic photo eventually reached VW enthusiasts and, finally, Volkswagen of America, which tracked down Weinraub, received permission to tow it from the otherwise off-limits fire zone, and trucked it to its makeover at VW's Oxnard facility, where it keeps other classics.
Body panels were handled by a Porsche specialist, while VW technicians replaced anything needed to make the microbus roadworthy, the company said.
"When the photo of Azul went viral, I felt like the entire world experienced a piece of my heart," Weinraub said in Volkswagen's statement. "Seeing it now, I feel it's even more of a symbol of hope than it was before."
Volkswagen of America said it marked the completed restoration with a donation to the nonprofit California Fire Foundation.
The van's previous owner, Preston Martin, was on-hand when the van got its closeup at the auto show, VW said. He's friends with Weinraub, and both are surfboard makers, according to the AP.
"Everything around it was toasted, just destroyed,"he told the news The Associated Pressa week after the fire. "And then here's this bright blue shiny van, sitting right there."
Weinraub said she saw the symbolism in her van early on, even as it needed some TLC.
"It was like a glimmer of light in all of the darkness," she toldNBC Los Angelesin July.
