Preston Martin had resigned himself to the idea that his vintage blue Volkswagen van was lost forever after he parked it in a Malibu neighborhood, just before a ferocious fire swept through the area, leaving behind a scene of destruction. To his surprise, however, the beloved vehicle not only endured the blaze but also garnered attention when a photo snapped by an Associated Press photographer began circulating on various media platforms, providing a glimmer of joy amid the devastation.
“There is something magical about that van,” Martin, 24, expressed in an interview. “It defies logic that it survived. It should have been reduced to ashes, but here we are.” Despite the excitement, the neighborhood where the van is located remains off-limits, and neither Martin nor Megan Krystle Weinraub, his friend and business partner who purchased the vehicle last summer, have been able to assess its condition. Photos Martin has seen suggest that the van has soot on its windows.
The 1977 Volkswagen Type 2 was bought by Martin during his junior year at the University of California, Santa Barbara, somewhat impulsively. Initially, his mother, Tracey Martin from Irvine, disapproved of his decision, believing he was wasting money. Yet, Preston assured her that he would save on rent by renovating the van’s interior and using it as his residence during his senior year—a plan he executed successfully. Eventually, his mother’s attitude changed, and she began to appreciate the van, even sewing curtains for its windows.
Last summer, Martin sold the van to Weinraub, 29, who specializes in surf and skate board design under the brand name Vibrant Boards. Martin also has a business, crafting carbon fiber surfboards under the name Starlite. On January 5, the duo took the van, which Weinraub affectionately calls “Azul,” for a surfing trip. After their outing, Martin parked the vehicle on a secure spot elevated from her apartment near the Getty Villa, considering that Weinraub was still getting accustomed to driving its manual transmission.
Just two days later, the Palisades fire broke out, prompting Weinraub to evacuate with her dog Bodi and some supplies. Although she felt a sense of loss for her van, it paled in comparison to the grief experienced by those who faced the loss of homes or loved ones. All of that shifted when a neighbor sent her a picture showing the bus in the background, undamaged and still vibrant in color.
“I couldn’t believe it,” she recalled, describing her shock as she screamed out loud in disbelief from the bathroom. She quickly reached out to Martin, who shared her astonishment. His mother was overjoyed as well, responding with an emotional text that read, “I’ve never cried over a car before.” They were further amazed when the photograph found its way to television screens and online news outlets.
“We made the news,” Martin joyfully noted in an Instagram reel. Weinraub reached out to the photographer to connect after the exciting moment. Although Weinraub’s home also survived the fire, she is still unsure of when she’ll regain access to her apartment or her beloved van. Both Martin and Weinraub take comfort in the fact that the survival of the van has inspired many.
“It’s incredible how it has become a symbol of hope,” Martin remarked. “While everything around it has been completely decimated, here stands this bright blue van, shining amidst the ruins.”
