Taken Off Market 1986 328 GTS restored by Donnie Callaway

Last year, I bought this black 328 GTS on BringATrailer with 25K miles, and promptly handed it over to Donnie Callaway for a once-over. Donnie's the same mechanic doing Matt Farah's (The Smoking Tire) restorations on his 328 and Countache.

I've put over $130,000 (not a typo) in work: redoing the suspension, brakes, valve adjustments, lowering the front seats, you name it. (The restoration work is all paid for.) The car wasn't in bad shape by any means, but it's a 35-year-old Italian, and things were just tired.

Donnie is finishing up the restoration, but unfortunately we've had a health emergency in the family, and I won't be able to enjoy the car for quite a while. As such, it's time to let it go.

I've obviously over-invested in the restoration, and I'm just looking to sell it for $150K.

You can see plenty of pictures on the last BaT auction. The car is currently at Donnie's shop in the Mojave desert outside of LA, so if there are any modifications you'd like to make to it, or to work with Donnie personally on any tweaks, you can.

 

What is $130k paid for?

 

Redoing the suspension, brakes, valve adjustments, lowering the front seats, you name it. If you're interested in purchasing the car, shoot me a message and we can talk through the details. Thanks!

 

Yep, you understand correctly. If I could have paid you $100K to avoid my father's cancer coming back out of remission, I'd have done it in a heartbeat. (sigh) Not my ideal outcome, but I need to quit work and focus on my family for a while.

 

I’ve had to deal with similar issues in my life, so I completely understand. Best of luck on your sale, looks like a nice car. Cheers

 

Thanks, I appreciate it!

 

Sorry to hear about the circumstances of the sale. Best of luck and prayers to your father and his recovery.

2cam

 

Did the interior get redone or the paint? Not saying it needed. Just trying to understand where the 6 figures went.

 

Was the car repainted? A proper paint job these days is north of $30K.

Can you post current pictures?

 

Car restoration these days cost an arm and a leg. Parts are expensive, labor more expensive. I am having a 1967 911 soft window targa restored. $220k later, it's still not done.

 

Sorry to hear about your situation; hope you find a buyer shortly. I'd not heard of Donnie Callaway before, but after a quick poke around, he sounds like quite the character who does nice work. Depending on the degree and level of restoration, can imagine $130K being a not-unreasonable number; the car is 35 years old after all.

 

No doubt about how expensive some restorations can get. But remember, the car was not a basket project when purchased! Data would solve this discussion. I'm in the market right now for this exact same config but without hard receipts, seems a bit lofty. That's all I'm saying.

 

Question. Is the bill settled with the shop? IOW, paid in full.

 

stated in the post

The restoration work is all paid for.)

 

The seats were redone with fresh Connolly leather, but the rest was all getting the mechanical and electrical back to factory quality.

 

The car was not repainted. The car is still at Donnie’s shop and I’m in Norway at the moment, but if you’re interested, you’re welcome to visit Donnie’s shop about an hour outside of LA and get a tour of it. He’s aiming to finish the work (already all paid for) by mid-September, and then I’ll pick it up, have professional photos done, and then likely list it on BaT.

 

Yes, as it says in the original post, the work is all fully paid for.

 

Sure, you’re welcome to contact me and I’d be glad to send you the receipts.

 

The title of this thread is for a 1988 328 GTS, but the BaT link you provide is that of a 1986 328 GTS.

Joe

 

You're absolutely right! Good catch, it's an 86.

 

For $130,000, I'd expect a pretty much full blown restoration (paint, full interior, engine and gearbox fully rebuilt - The works) - Not what is essentially a partial restoration.

For me, the OP has paid over the odds for what he has received.

Good luck with the sale, but I'm struggling to see someone paying $150,000 for it

 

All I can say is I have one and I really enjoy driving this car.

 

Totally understand, and like I mentioned in the original post, "I've obviously over-invested in the restoration". That's also why I'm not trying to get out of it what I put into it - someone's about to get a deal on a 328 with a *lot* of mechanical work done to it.

It's not for everyone - most folks will be perfectly content buying one with 35-year-old suspension, brakes, hoses, electrics, etc, and then just paying for the inevitable repairs that pop up as they drive. I totally understand that perspective too. I just like having cars that I can hop in and drive across the country with zero worries, and perform like they did when they rolled off the showroom floor.

 

Seems like a great deal to me .

 

Thanks, I appreciate the kind words!