During the Los Angeles fires a Volkswagen Beetle lived through because its owner reacted fast with creative solutions. The iconic vehicle of classic car enthusiasts remained parked in front of the owners’ parent house while they stayed in Boston from one side of the country to the other.
During the oncoming fire the parents attempted to shield their car by repositioning it to the last part of their driveway. The fires got so intense that no one believed the Beetle would live through it. The owner made an immediate flight to Los Angeles because his car needed urgent help.
After the house burned down investigators learned the car keys vanished in the fire. When this happened the owner reached out to his friend Jeff Shein an automotive engineering expert for help. Shein talked him through phone instructions to get into the car while protecting it.
His friend explained how to remove power from the ignition and switch to manual drive so they could move the vehicle. After years of non-use the Beetle moved for the first time on a special towing vehicle. Despite the fire’s total destruction of its surroundings the car survived barely injured. This survival rate remains astounding given all the damage nearby. When you care deeply about your vehicle you can overcome any emergency challenge.
Other cases of resilience
Mr.Volkswagen Beetle serves as only one example among many. A wealthy car collector saved both a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing and their entire multimillion-dollar collection through early preparation and fast response actions. These inventories show cars valuable for memory and history plus establish how watching out for danger can safeguard treasures during disasters.
Besides protecting their cars owners have shared stories about vehicles that helped their drivers avoid danger. The Tesla Model Y owner credits his vehicle with helping him survive an emergency proving how current technology assists during crises.