“Peter Caschera was 6 years old when he rode on his first Vespa scooter, zooming through the streets of Sora in central Italy. His aunt was driving.
That experience in the homeland of Caschera’s father began a love affair with the Italian-made scooters. A decade later, Caschera got his first Vespa: a red Sears Allstate model from 1959. Four other Vespas followed.
By Wednesday, the 21-year-old Caschera had an inventory of 23 Vespas, many of which were on display at Anca’s Foreign Auto Parts, the Erie Boulevard shop co-owned by his father, Rocco. From there, Peter Caschera and his brother, Guiseppe, next month will launch the Capital Region’s only Vespa dealership: Vespa Schenectady.
“They’re so much more than something to ride. They’re pieces of art. They’re beautiful to look at,” said Peter Caschera, a Rotterdam native who will graduate Saturday from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The international business student’s senior thesis project is titled, “A Survey of Vespas Past, Present and Future in the USA.”
Even if consumers do not share Peter Caschera’s adoration for the Vespa, the brothers hope rising gasoline prices will make consumers more inclined to hop on the scooters that can get up to 80 miles per gallon.”
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Schlett, James. Schenectady Gazette 15 May 2008.