Max Hoffman facts for kids
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Maximilian Edwin Hoffman (born November 12, 1904 – died August 9, 1981) was an American businessman. He brought luxury European cars to the United States in the 1950s.
Max Hoffman was very smart and had a big impact. He helped create and improve several famous sports cars. These include the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, the Porsche 356 Speedster, and the BMW 507 roadster.
Because of his work with cars and sports car racing, Hoffman was added to the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2003. His home in Rye, New York, and his car showroom in Manhattan were designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
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Early Life
Hoffman was born on November 12, 1904, in Vienna, Austria. His father owned a business that made bicycles. Max worked there when he was young. He learned a lot about cars and later became a dealer for the French car brand Amilcar.
Career in Cars
Hoffman's car dealers often asked him for new ideas. They wanted cars that American customers would buy after World War II. One of the most famous cars that came from Hoffman's ideas was the Mercedes-Benz 300SL "Gullwing."
Most of the 300SL cars were sold in the U.S. This showed that Hoffman's ideas were right! The car's success changed how people saw Mercedes-Benz in America. It went from a company making solid, luxury cars to one known for high-performance sports cars.
During World War II, it was hard to sell cars. Hoffman used his business sense to start making jewelry from plastic. He began with only $300 and earned a lot of money. After the war, he went back to his love for fast and fancy cars.
From 1950 to 1953, Hoffman was the main person who brought Volkswagen cars to the eastern United States. He also brought BMW cars to the U.S. from the mid-1960s until 1975. Hoffman also started bringing Alfa Romeo cars to America in the mid-1950s. The Giulietta Spider car was made because Hoffman asked for it.
Hoffman was very important in making Porsche cars popular in the United States. In the mid-1950s, one-third of all Porsche cars made were sold in the U.S. by Hoffman. He wanted a cheaper, sportier version of the Porsche 356. This led to the creation of the famous Porsche 356 Speedster.
He also helped create the Porsche emblem. Ferry Porsche designed it after Hoffman asked him to. Hoffman also helped Porsche cars race in different events. This led to big wins and made the brand even more popular in the country.
Personal Life
The Max Hoffman House was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. This was a few years after Hoffman asked Wright to design his Jaguar showroom in Manhattan.
In 1982, Marion O. Hoffman started a non-profit group. It was named the Maximilian E. and Marion O. Hoffman Foundation Inc. This group gives money to support education, medicine, and the arts.
Hoffman moved to the United States before World War II. He had raced cars in Europe.
See also
- Lake Underwood
- Ferrari America
- BMW 507
