--- title: John von Neumann · HICONIUM description: John von Neumann in the HICONIUM register — one file carrying their credit. canonical_url: https://hiconium.dev/people/john-von-neumann image: https://hiconium.dev/og/people/john-von-neumann.png --- > HICONIUM · Index: https://hiconium.dev/llms.txt · Every page: append `.md` or send `Accept: text/markdown`. > Path: [Home](https://hiconium.dev/) › [People](https://hiconium.dev/people) › John von Neumann > On this page: [Open 250 for California](#open-250-for-california) · [Racing as market-building](#racing-as-market-building) · [Dealer proposal, separate coachwork](#dealer-proposal-separate-coachwork) · [One file carries this name](#one-file-carries-this-name) People # John von Neumann West Coast Ferrari representative who proposed the 250 GT California Spider | Label | Value | | --- | --- | | Born | Vienna, Austria, 1921 | | Died | 2003 | | Nationality | Austrian | The record Austrian-born California importer who built Competition Motors into a Porsche and Volkswagen distributorship and, as Ferrari's West Coast representative, proposed an open 250 GT to Luigi Chinetti. Chinetti persuaded Enzo Ferrari to produce the California Spider. Born in Vienna on 16 December 1921 to a surgeon, John von Neumann fled Austria with his family after the Anschluss and later settled in New York. He enrolled at New York University in 1940, transferred to the University of Southern California, and served in a United States Army intelligence unit. After the war he married Elinor Bigelow and moved west. He worked as a salesman for Roger Barlow's International Motors, co-founded the California Sports Car Club, and opened Competition Motors in North Hollywood in 1948. At Max Hoffman's New York showroom, von Neumann bought a Porsche 356 after a single test drive and brought it to California. Porsche dates that visit to 1951. He had a 356's roof cut off and won under-1,500 cc races at Torrey Pines in 1952. Competition Motors became a Porsche and Volkswagen distributor — Porsche required the Volkswagen — and later operated from a Culver City headquarters designed by Paul R. Williams and Associates. In 1957, von Neumann added the Ferrari franchise Ferrari Representatives of California, with Richie Ginther as manager. An Autoweek account says he proposed a 250 California to Luigi Chinetti, who persuaded Enzo Ferrari to produce it. That account attributes the car's design to Pinin Farina and its construction to Scaglietti. Marcel Massini, quoted by Hemmings, says the two men wanted an open Tour de France rather than another luxurious Pinin Farina Cabriolet. The Ferrari business went to Elinor von Neumann in their 1959 divorce. Racing Sports Cars lists MG, Talbot-Lago and Porsche 356 entries under his name, and Sports Car Digest says he provided rides for Phil Hill, Ken Miles and Richie Ginther. His last race was in 1959. After the factory acquired the Volkswagen distributorship he spent more time in Europe; Jim Sitz and Art Evans write that in 1965 he bought the Ferrari franchise for Switzerland. He later lived between California and a property near Geneva. He died in 2003. ### Open 250 for California Autoweek identifies von Neumann as Ferrari's West Coast representative who proposed a 250 California to Luigi Chinetti in 1957. RM Sotheby's records the brief as a dual-use open Ferrari that could be driven to the track, raced, and driven home. ### Racing as market-building Racing Sports Cars lists MG, Talbot-Lago and Porsche 356 entries under von Neumann. Porsche says his racing helped introduce the marque to California's motorsport scene. Sports Car Digest records a cut-roof 356 winning at Torrey Pines in 1952. ### Dealer proposal, separate coachwork Autoweek says Chinetti persuaded Enzo Ferrari to produce the California Spider after von Neumann's proposal. It identifies Pinin Farina as designer and Scaglietti as constructor. Hemmings quotes Marcel Massini: they wanted an open Tour de France, not another luxurious Cabriolet. The stations 1. 1942–1946 United States Army Intelligence 2. 1947–1948 International Motors Salesman 3. 1948– Competition Motors Founder 4. 1957–1959 Ferrari Representatives of California West Coast representative The house [![Ferrari](https://hiconium.dev/images/marques/full/ferrari.svg)](https://hiconium.dev/manufacturers/ferrari) In the register ## One file carries this name - [Ferrari 250 GT California Spider West Coast representative · programme advocate He proposed to Luigi Chinetti a dual-purpose open 250 GT for California, a car that could be driven to the track and raced. Autoweek records that Chinetti then persuaded Enzo Ferrari; Pinin Farina designed the body and Scaglietti built it. 1957–1963 €12M 1957–1963 €12M Rating 98.0](https://hiconium.dev/vehicles/ferrari/250-gt-california-spider) The files above are the register's own record of this name. [The people index](https://hiconium.dev/people) holds everyone the register credits. In their words > “In January 1952 I opened the first Porsche agency in Southern California, then in 1953 I acquired the exclusive VW distributorship for Southern California and moved to a Vine Street location in Hollywood.” John von Neumann · Art Evans, Supercars.net, 2014 Sources - [sportscardigest.com](https://sportscardigest.com/john-von-neumann-passes-away/) - [autoweek.com](https://www.autoweek.com/news/a2084636/john-von-neumann-passes-away/) - [newsroom.porsche.com](https://newsroom.porsche.com/en_US/company/porsche-70-years-america-22443.html) - [hemmings.com](https://www.hemmings.com/stories/johnny-von-neumann/) - [supercars.net](https://www.supercars.net/blog/jon-von-neumann-remembered/) - [supercars.net](https://www.supercars.net/blog/remembering-johnny/) - [paulrwilliamsproject.org](https://www.paulrwilliamsproject.org/index.html.1.38.html) - [racingsportscars.com](https://www.racingsportscars.com/driver/results/John-von%20Neumann-USA.html) - [repository.si.edu](https://repository.si.edu/bitstreams/6d46dbdc-fd2f-492c-be6c-d98e04092add/download) - [autoweek.com](https://www.autoweek.com/car-life/g1722651/gallery-ferraris-petersen/) - [hemmings.com](https://www.hemmings.com/stories/days-of-ferrari-2008/) - [goodingco.com](https://www.goodingco.com/press/article/gooding-and-company-unveils-online-catalogue-for-pebble-beach-auctions/) - [mshf.com](https://www.mshf.com/John-von-Neumann-10-1607852.html) - [loveforporsche.com](https://www.loveforporsche.com/john-von-neumann-2/) - [historicracing.com](https://www.historicracing.com/driver.cfm?otd=2868) - [sportscardigest.com](https://sportscardigest.com/2024-1959-ferrari-250-gt-lwb-california-spider-competizione/) - [silodrome.com](https://silodrome.com/ferrari-250-gt-california-spider/) - [theautochannel.com](https://www.theautochannel.com/publications/magazines/forza/number10/pg58.frame) - [rmsothebys.com](https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/mo24/lots/r0010-1959-ferrari-250-gt-lwb-california-spider-by-scaglietti/)