At 86, Heino Jaanus restores vintage buses with a lifetime of love
At 86, Heino Jaanus still spends his days surrounded by buses. His lifelong passion for these vehicles has driven him to restore over 50 historic models in his Tartu workshop. For him, bringing an old bus back to life is like reviving something long forgotten.
Jaanus first worked as a bus driver but struggled to balance driving with his true interest—restoration. Over the years, he took on various roles at the bus depot, including technical support, where he repaired broken-down vehicles. Yet his heart always remained with vintage buses.
Now, he dedicates his time to meticulously restoring them to their original condition. Each day, he arrives at his workshop between 9 and 10 AM, working until 5 PM. The process, he says, feels like 'bringing something back from the dead'.
His love for buses is simple but deep. 'I'm just in love with buses,' he admits. What began as a job has become a lifelong mission—preserving history, one vehicle at a time.
Jaanus has spent decades working with buses, from driving to repairing to restoring. His workshop in Tartu now houses more than 50 fully operational vintage models. Each restored bus stands as proof of his skill and dedication to keeping these machines on the road.
