Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta – #2237GT

Nose job

Motorsport has been costing an incredible amount of money for a long time, even in the lower leagues. Too often, it is more the wallet than the talent that decides. And even if we like to indulge in the idea that it used to be different, it is more the romance than the reality that sometimes makes the picture a little glorified. It was indeed the case that amateurs could also buy a Ferrari, drive it to work during the week and win a few prizes on the race track at the weekend, but even back then, Ferraris were really expensive and their owners rarely drove them to work – because they didn’t need to work. Charles D. Hayes Jr. from Kensington in the US state of Maryland was also born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He began his racing career at the end of 1958, driving an Austin-Healey 100 in 1959, but by mid-1960 he was already in possession of a Ferrari 250 TR (0714TR). And then, in 1961, he treated himself to a Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta, #2237GT.

This car had been ordered by Chinetti Motors in New York for Walt Luftman in mid-November 1960, and it arrived in the United States on the S.S. Constitution at the beginning of December. The Ferrari was painted in the unusual colour ‘Azzurro Fiat’ with a beige interior. Luftman apparently wanted to make #2237GT available to Bob Grossman, but because the Ferrari was damaged to some extent during transport, it never came to that – and Hayes was able to take over the vehicle. He immediately had it repainted in a dark red. And went on to win six SCCA races with it in 1961. Even though Hayes was then considered one of the most talented drivers in the USA, he cooled his temper at the Nassau Speed Week, as he wrote in his biography ‘Fast & Faster’. Stirling Moss, who also drove an SWB, suggested to him that they could swap the lead a few times at the beginning of the race, as a show for the audience. They did that, and after a few laps Hayes felt he could actually compete against Moss for the victory. But then Moss waved to him again – and disappeared into the distance. Hayes kept #2237GT until mid-1962, also driving a 250 GTO, before switching to the Can-Am series and ending his racing career in 1968.

The Ferrari then went to Robert Stelloh, who almost burnt the car down, which resulted in it being given a new front end. Via Bon Grossman, Paul Pappalardo, Mark Defriece; Joe Marchetti and Monte C. Shalett, the Ferrari came to Klaus Werner in the 1980s, who had the car restored to its original appearance, but had it painted in today’s ‘Blu Scuro’. Now (February 2025), the Berlinetta is for sale at RM Sotheby’s, Private Sales, without a price, of course.

There is a nice list of all the ‘short’ berlinettas here. And of course there is also the archive. And a chronological list of the early Ferrari models.