LOS ANGELES, California: A vintage blue Volkswagen bus that became a symbol of survival after surviving a California wildfire has made its first public appearance—fully restored and looking brand new.

The bus went viral in January when an Associated Press photographer captured it standing almost untouched among the burned remains of a Malibu neighborhood during the deadly Palisades Fire. After seeing the story, Volkswagen contacted the owner, Megan Weinraub, and later discovered the vehicle had suffered hidden damage, including smoke stains, blistered paint, rust, and a heat-shattered window.

Volkswagen technicians spent months restoring the 1977 Type 2 Microbus, nicknamed Azul — Spanish for "blue." The project united VW experts and enthusiasts who helped bring the fire-scarred vehicle back to life.

"It melted — and Volkswagen saved it," Weinraub said on November 20 at the LA Auto Show, where she stood beside the bus and its previous owner, Preston Martin. She said the restoration felt like a relief after she had assumed the vehicle was beyond repair.

Weinraub and Martin last saw Azul intact just two days before the fire, after returning from a surfing trip. Now, they say they're ready to take it on the road again.

AP photographer Mark J. Terrill, who shot the viral image, was present when the owners saw the restored bus late last month.

Volkswagen transported the bus to its Oxnard facility, home to historic VW models. Technicians tracked down rare parts, improvised solutions, and worked carefully to restore the vehicle without erasing its history.

"Our goal was to bring it back to life—not change it," technician Farlan Robertson said. "We wanted it revived and returned to its former glory."