Traditional Volkswagen Beetle survives Palisades Hearth amidst destroyed properties in Pacific Palisades

PACIFIC PALISADES, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Among the many overwhelming tragedy of the Palisades Hearth, there have been many tales of rescues. On this case, it is a beloved basic Volkswagen Beetle.

Automobile Specialist Dave Kunz exhibits us how this iconic automotive survived the hearth.

The proprietor, Drew Kogon, lives in Boston however had the automotive parked at his childhood dwelling in Pacific Palisades.

As quickly as he bought phrase of the hearth, he known as his relations to attempt to reserve it.

“He contacted his dad and his brother and mentioned, ‘Is there something you are able to do to maneuver the automotive?’ They moved it to the top of the driveway,” mentioned his buddy Jeff Shein, who has been serving to Kogon with the state of affairs.

When Kogon traveled again to Southern California, they realized the Beetle was higher off leaving the realm altogether. Nonetheless, the keys had burned up inside the home.
Shein, who’s an auto engineer, was capable of assist.

“I gave him directions on the right way to break in. Tips on how to disable the ignition,” he mentioned.

Not wanting to start out it, Kogon and his brother coasted the Bug all the way down to PCH, the place it might meet a tow truck. The household dwelling was a complete loss, however they managed to get most of their invaluable possessions out, together with the Volkswagen.

Air-cooled VWs are bona fide classics. We nonetheless see a variety of them working round Southern California, and this Beetle just isn’t the one one in every of them that was lucky through the Palisades fireplace.

A blue and white second-generation VW bus survived amid the grey and black starkness of a destroyed Malibu neighborhood. An AP photographer’s picture of it went viral.

Comic and bus collector Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias posted on social media that many individuals had despatched him the picture.

“I had at least 50 individuals ship me this,” he posted on Instagram.

Kogon is grateful that his basic VW solely had an in depth name.

Shein already began engaged on the automotive. He is changing varied melted plastic gadgets and is completely satisfied to offer momentary storage for the automotive.

“It is a horrible state of affairs, however a minimum of one tiny little shiny spot occurred on this. It is a miracle,” he mentioned.