Max Hoffman

Maximilian Edwin Hoffman (12 November 1904 in Vienna, Austria – 9 August 1981), was an Austrian-born, New York-based importer of luxury European automobiles into the United States during the 1950s.

This article is about the New York auto dealer. For the German World War I strategist, see Max Hoffmann. For the journalist associated with DW, see Max Hofmann.
Prototype Mercedes-Benz 300SL, developed at Hoffman's suggestion for the U.S. marketplace
Porsche 356 Speedster, another model suggested by Max Hoffman
BMW 507, 1958, designed by A Goertz on suggestion by Hoffman
The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Max Hoffman House, Rye, New York

Known equally for his acumen and influence, Hoffman was instrumental in development and refinement of several iconic luxury sports cars, including the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, Porsche 356 Speedster, and V-8 powered BMW 507 roadster.

Hoffman's contributions to both automobile development and sports car racing earned him induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2003.[1] Both his home in Rye, New York, and Park Avenue Jaguar showroom in Manhattan were designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Career

Hoffman's dealers made requests through him, both for existing models and new types they thought their customers would purchase in the booming post-war American market. The most famous result of Hoffman's suggestions is the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "gullwing". More than 80% of the 300SL's total production of approximately 1400 units were sold in the US, making it the first Mercedes-Benz widely successful outside its home market and thoroughly validating Hoffman's seat-of-the-pants prediction. Its success is credited with changing the company's image in America from a manufacturer of solid but staid luxury automobiles to one capable of rendering high-performance sports cars.

From 1950 until 1953, Hoffmann was the importer and distributor for Volkswagen for the eastern United States. He was also the importer and sole distributor for BMW from the mid-sixties until selling his business to BMW of North America in 1975. Alfa Romeo was also imported to the United States by Max Hoffman starting from the mid-1950s.[2] The Giulietta Spider was born by request of Max Hoffman.[3] In 1961 Alfa Romeo started importing cars to the United States.[4]

The Porsche 356 1955 "Speedster" was the result of a Hoffman suggestion that a less expensive, racier version of the standard 356 would sell well in America. With its low, raked windshield—which easily could be removed for weekend racing, bucket seats, and a minimal, folding top, it was an instant hit.

Some of the dealers, such as Lake Underwood and his team's machine engineer, Dick DeBiasse, were especially influential on Hoffman.

Personal

The Max Hoffman House was designed and furnished by Frank Lloyd Wright a few years after Hoffman had commissioned Wright to design and build his Jaguar Hoffman Auto Showroom at 430 Park Avenue in Manhattan.

In 1982 Marion O. Hoffman established the non-profit Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation Inc. in West Hartford, Connecticut, in memory of her husband. The organization donates to groups, mostly in Connecticut, that further education, medicine and the arts. In 2013 the foundation had assets of approximately $60 million.[5]

Hoffman, who had Jewish ancestry [6] was an auto racer in Europe before immigrating to the United States to avoid the Nazis .[7][8]

See also

References
  1. "Max Hoffman inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  2. "Alfa Romeo, The First 100 Years, Part Two: Mass Production". www.automotivetraveler.com. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  3. "Giulietta Spider". autoviva.com. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  4. "Alfa Romeo advertising: the 1960s". alfabb.com. Retrieved 2011-01-09.
  5. The Maximilian E. & Marion O. Hoffman Foundation, Inc. (per 2015-03-31)
  6. https://mobile.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/automobiles/18HOFFMAN.html
  7. https://www.motor1.com/news/70745/max-hoffman-the-father-of-the-european-car-in-america/
  8. http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honoree/maximilian-e-hoffman/
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