OUR TEAM

John Buonanno

President, COO, Tour Guide, Keeper of the Flame

You might think John wouldn't get excited when a customer's collector or late-model exotic car rolls into his family's shop, since he grew up around an endless array of fascinating automobiles. But when you stop by, you'll see just how passionate he is as he leads you through 40,000 square feet of restoration shops, repair areas and rows of vehicles from virtually every era. And if you'd ask, he'll tell you a bit about each of the 60 cars in the shop at any given time.

It's important to know that the special blend of personality, intelligence, discipline and enthusiasm John has brought to the company his father founded nearly two decades ago was forged not only by working under the watchful eye of his dad, but through his achievements as an individual. A natural competitor, leader and athlete, John took great pride in being the captain of his high school's football and lacrosse teams before being recruited by 55 colleges seeking his excellent football and leadership skills. A gifted all-state athlete that went on to become the captain of the lacrosse team at Marietta College, John also distinguished himself as a running back and corner back in the highly-competitive world of Division 3 Conference football and took great pride in being a four year letter winner.

His many achievements on the playing field were balanced with a demanding academic program and John worked hard to achieve a bachelor's degree in Business Management and and Economics from Marietta. With the many accomplishments of his college years serving as a strong foundation for the future, John soon turned his attention to his business career and quickly established himself as a top performer in the insurance and investments industry. Despite his achievements in the demanding world of corporate business, John recognized that his love for collector cars and burning desire to be an entrepreneur was far stronger than his desire to remain in the corporate world.

Today, as co-owner, President and Chief operating Officer of Black Horse Garage, John thoughtfully manages all day-to-day operations and utilizes his tireless drive, enthusiasm, creativity and business skills to ensure his growing staff of expert craftsman, project managers and support staff provide superior client service and world-class craftsmanship on every project large or small. John is assisted on a daily basis by his talented wife Dori and greatly enjoys working closely with his dad, master mechanic, and company founder, Frank Buonanno.

Email John at john@blackhorsegarage.com.



Why do you think Black Horse Garage enjoys so much repeat business and long relationships with clients?

“I believe the main reason is because our clients know they won't have any regrets or ever be taken advantage of. There's a great deal of trust involved when someone hands us the keys to their valuable pride and joy. Every one of our clients knows we'll care for their cars and do business with them in a completely trustworthy and responsible way. To say the least, that kind of integrity is very hard to find these days. Our clients also recognize the great value they get for their money here at Black Horse. Yes, there's shops out there charging lower labor rates, however the quality of their work can't compare to our craftsmanship or service. It's our mission to advise our clients in a thoughtful manner, do the right job the first time and stand behind all the work we do. My dad and I have set very high standards for our company and we're not happy unless we exceed our customers expectations and earn their trust on every project whether large or small.”

What's in store for Black Horse Garage in the days ahead?

“That's a great question. Here in our 40,000 square foot Union Avenue facility we can do more for our clients than ever before. There are great advantages and conveniences to having our mechanical shop, machine shop, engine building shop, metal shop, wood shop, body shop, restoration shops and paint booth all under one roof. Our clients are well aware of just how efficiently we work and they know their getting great value for their money. We also encourage them to stop by and see how the work on their car is progressing while the project is underway. Collector car shops that have to move project cars in and out of separate buildings or transport them to outside service providers simply cannot work efficiently or maintain quality control. There's also a lot of risk involved when a valuable collector car is moved to different locations to be worked on. That includes potential accidents, lost parts, theft and beyond. Our building is completely fenced, equipped with a sophisticated alarm and sprinkler system not to mention being built like a fortress. Our client's cars are very safe here and that gives everyone peace of mind. We also offer our clients comprehensive collector car research, acquisition, marketing, sales, appraisal, inspection and transport services. As you can see, our goal is to continually provide world-class collectors and casual weekend enthusiasts with a level of integrity-based service and convenience no other company in our industry can equal. It's all very exciting!”