An craftsman in Karachi has made a living for himself fixing vintage Vespa scooters and exporting them to Italy and United Kingdom.

Karachi’s Muhammad Waseem told Aaj News that he first learned the craft of making old scooters new again between 1974 and 1975. He has been fixing up scooters for 35 or 36 years at this point.

He said that he was a school boy when he found an apprenticeship in Karachi’s Saddar area. He continued his education during the day and went to learn the craft in the afternoon.

In 2000, he made contact with the Italian consulate which asked him to repair some scooters. He later fixed up four more scooters to be sent to the United Kingdom.

Waseem said that the first thing he looks at in a scooter is its engine number. He said he tries to find authentic parts but they often have to be brought from abroad which can cost between Rs300,000 to Rs400,000.

He added that he gets the scooters in working condition again after sourcing as many original parts as possible. Then he gives the scooter a personal touch for each customer by painting it in a colour of their choice.

Vespa is an Italian luxury brand of scooters that was established in 1946. Once a global recognised iconic vehicle, the Vespa even featured in movies such as Roman Holiday. While they have falled out of fashion in Pakistan due to faster and more fuel efficient motorcycles, vintage Vespas are still considered a collector’s item by many.