Anthony Holliday always had his eye on restoring the 1974 Bristol VRT double-decker bus pictured.
''I was looking for a project vehicle. I saw it sitting in a paddock for years. I made a few inquiries and things progressed from there,'' he said.
After researching the vehicle, the Dunedin mechanic purchased the bus, which is stored in Mosgiel, in May this year.
''I did a bit of research into the vehicle. I was quite surprised that it was the first one built and was used as a prototype model before it was sold to a UK operator. With that sort of history I felt it was a good project vehicle to have,'' he said.
Mr Holliday said he was still in the ''early stages'' of restoration.
''We are stripping the interior out and cleaning up bits and pieces. It was used [as] a mobile church prior. We want to turn it back into a bus again,'' he said.
Mr Holliday, who is also a volunteer for the Otago Heritage Bus Society, is the fourth owner of the vehicle.
''It spent all it's life in Mosgiel, for the first 15 years or so. A lot of people may recognise it.
''People said I must be mad taking on a project like this. I have assisted with car restorations over the years but have never done cars of my own. I helped the society restore one of their buses,'' he said.
Once it is restored, the double-decker bus will be used for a variety of events.
''At this stage the only thing we have planned for it, is to use it as a vehicle at truck shows and similar events but will see what other interest we get once it is finished,'' Mr Holliday said.
