From DW REV – Cars & Mobility.

For decades, they were the lifeblood of an island.

Hand-built, brightly colored and full of personality, Malta’s iconic buses weren’t just vehicles — they were rolling works of art. Owned by their drivers and crafted by local coachbuilders, no two were ever the same.

Then, in 2011, they vanished.

Today, a handful of passionate restorers and drivers are fighting to keep this symbol of Maltese identity alive. From a 1950 Bedford named “Bajadera” to one of the island’s last traditional coachbuilders, this is the story of the buses that carried not just passengers — but a nation’s soul.

Report: Vaishali Dinakaran
Camera: Achille Abboud
Editing: Sophia Harke

00:00 What Made Maltese Buses Cultural Icons?
01:51 Why Buses Were Painted Different Colors
02:02 The Driver-Owner System
02:39 More Than Passengers — A Community
03:02 The End of the Classic Maltese B
03:24 Saving “Bajadera” From Rust
03:47 Inside Scarnif Garage
04:15 The 18-Month Restoration Process
05:49 Passing the Craft to the Next Generation
06:03 “It’s the Story of Malta”

► Liked the video? Let us know by giving us a thumbs up!
► Want to see more? Make sure to subscribe
► Check our website: https://dw.com/REV

REV – The Global Auto and Mobility Show from Deutsche Welle

#DW #DWREV