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BMW History: Max Hoffman
Without him, who knows where we would be with BMWs in the US of A. Learn the heritage of whence you came. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/au...in&oref=slogin  | | Reply » BMW History: Max Hoffman |
I'm ambivalent about Max. Yes, he brought most European car brands to the US, but reading between the lines it seems pretty clear he used his monopoly on US distribution to bully them quite a bit. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz seemed to kow-tow to him more than BMW and VW during the early post-war years, perhaps because his advice lead to more success in their cases (300SL and Speedster). In BMW's case, he forced them to make the 507 - an icon now, but an expensive failure back then, when they could ill afford one.
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My first exposure to Max Hoffman was in 1974 when I went to buy my wife a 2002. I wanted a white one with sunroof. The local dealer had a bad habit of pinstriping all cars that came in and charging extra. I did not want pinstriping and so ordered the car I wanted with a $1000 deposit. The dealer assured me that there was a boat load of cars sitting offshore and it would only take a couple of weeks. In a couple of weeks they called to pickup the car, armed with my Nephew and a big red ribbon off we went. First thing the car had pinstripes (oh we did not stop in time and the shop pinstriped it), second it had a funny sunroof that had a twist handle to operate not a crank (latest model because they had problems with the crank). All bull----, no cars were coming off any boats because BMW and Max were in the courts fighting over import rights. No cars were to be delivered or imported until settled. They had taken a stock car and sent it to LA and had a aftermarket sunroof put in. Deposit back in my pocket I went searching California, Arizona and Nevada in absolute vain, nothing available but I sure created a market.
After nearly giving up hope because all dealers said there is none and we can't even find one to dealer trade, I happened to call Vasek Pollak in Hermosa Beach. Yeah we have 7 of them like you want and we don't dealer trade because at the beach a white car with sunroof is precious and no dealing. I paid list price, they threw in a locking gas cap, sisal floor mats and a wood gear shift knob. Damn lucky to get that much. In my stupidity I had run across a 74 2002tii but worried it was too much car for my wife and I was scared of fuel injection-too new. We still have the 2002 and she drives a 87 325is now but still thinks the 2002 was her favorite. No hard feelings to Max he was a man of extreme foresight and I thank him for his part in developing the 2002.
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Karl Ludvigson did a very good piece on MH called "The Baron Of Park Avenue" in Automobile Quarterly Vol. 10 No. 2
| | Reply » BMW History: Max Hoffman |
Quote: My first exposure to Max Hoffman was in 1974 when I went to buy my wife a 2002.
All bull----, no cars were coming off any boats because BMW and Max were in the courts fighting over import rights. No cars were to be delivered or imported until settled. | Reminds me of the 1969 NY dock workers strike that had my '69 sitting somewhere waiting from Feb. 7, 1969 until May 1969. Well, at least that's how she looks by the records. I'm the 2nd owner. 
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BMW History: Max Hoffman