The genesis of the remarkable 250 GT California Spider took place in the final days of 1957, when Ferrari’s prominent West Coast importer John von Neumann recognized an unfulfilled niche in the American market. He envisioned a dual-purpose, open Ferrari targeted at affluent enthusiasts who craved a thoroughbred sports car that could turn heads on Hollywood Boulevard and clinch victories at the new Laguna Seca circuit with equal aplomb. This concept found a powerful ally in Luigi Chinetti, Ferrari’s official New York-based importer, whose support would prove instrumental in bringing the ambitious project to fruition.
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