A well-known Ferrari mechanic who has appeared with celebrities including Jay Leno was jailed earlier this month for trying to sell a vintage car he allegedly never owned.
Donnie Callaway, 60, restores Italian sports cars and maintains a popular social media presencewith nearly 200,000 followers who view his work on old-school vehicles and often boast about purchasing art and living a lavish lifestyle.
The alleged ‘Ferrari savant’ even appeared on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage where Jay allowed him to buy and restore a car he had dreamed of owning since childhood, but it appears he is also a career criminal and potentially a fraud.
He was arrested April 1 in Arizona on accusations that he attempted to sell a Ferrari Daytona and a Ferrari 512BB to a collector without actually owning them.
On his Instagram account, Callaway had been working on a 512BB in his most recent posts.
A well-known Ferrari mechanic who has appeared with celebrities including Jay Leno was jailed earlier this month for trying to sell a vintage car he allegedly never owned.
He was arrested April 1 in Arizona on accusations that he attempted to sell a Ferrari Daytona and a Ferrari 512BB to a collector without actually owning them. On his Instagram account, Callaway had been working on a 512BB in his most recent posts.
After an apparent sting operation organized by the potential buyer, he was arrested by county sheriffs, according to Mercury news.
He was jailed and charged with theft, trafficking in stolen property, forgery and fraud, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
Callaway is being held on $400,000 cash bail and faces an April 17 arraignment.
While their reputation is considered good among some in the mechanics community, there have been complaints about their rates, including a $130,000 job on a Ferrari 328 in 2023 that left the client saying they “should be AVOID” because of the “monstrously high” prices. “.
A anonymous instagram account began mocking Callaway, describing him as a “scam mechanic” who aims to “take your car apart and never put it back together.”
Callaway’s arrest has led to the revelation of a criminal record dating back decades.
He was convicted of robbery in 2001 and also charged with multiple counts of theft and fraud.
In 2003, he was convicted of grand larceny and possession of a controlled substance before being convicted of domestic violence in 2006.
The alleged ‘Ferrari savant’ even appeared on an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage where Jay allowed him to buy and restore a car he had dreamed of owning since he was a child, but it appears he is also a career criminal and potentially a fraud.
Callaway (pictured left) was jailed and charged with theft, trafficking in stolen goods, forgery and fraud, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.
In 2012, he was convicted once again, this time for perjury and extortion.
You’ll probably face more legal trouble (at least another lawsuit and a deposition) for selling cars you didn’t own outside of this Arizona case.
Ferrari consultant and historian Thomas Shaughnessy argued in California Superior Court that Callaway attempted to sell a Ferrari Monza that did not belong to him at a Paris auto show.
The statement may be related to a separate lawsuit Callaway is facing in the San Diego area.
A Belgian named Arthur Teerlynck sued him last August for unfair trade practices, breach of contract, fraud and violations of the California Automobile Repair Act.
He claims he overcharged to restore a 1973 Ferrari Daytona valued at $950,000, a 1961 Maserati 3500 Spyder Vignale valued at $825,000, a 1986 Ferrari 328 valued at $100,000 and a 1995 Rolls-Royce Flying Spur valued at $40,000. Dollars.
Teerlynck argues that he paid $1.46 million to Callaway for services he was not licensed to perform and also wrongly assumed control of Terrlynck’s cars and tried to hide them from him.
Perhaps most scandalous, Callaway is accused of putting parts on a $200,000 Ferrari Testarossa intended to cause the engine to fail on purpose and then posting about how damaged it was on Instagram.
Callaway likely faces more legal trouble (at least another lawsuit and a deposition) for selling cars it didn’t own outside of this Arizona case.
A Belgian named Arthur Teerlynck sued Callaway last August for unfair trade practices, breach of contract, fraud and violations of the California Automobile Repair Act.
Teerlynck is seeking fees and damages through a jury trial.
Callaway is scheduled for a trial to begin Aug. 14 and a court hearing on the status of Teerlynck’s lawsuit on May 14.
DailyMail.com has contacted a lawyer for Callaway for comment.