About Max Hoffman
Maximilian Edwin Hoffman (12 November 1904 – 9 August 1981), was an Austrian-born, New York-based importer of luxury European automobiles during the 1950s. Hoffman played important roles in the development and commercialization of several period luxury and sports cars, including the Mercedes-Benz 300SL (W198) and 190 SL (W121), Porsche 356 Speedster, and BMW 507 roadster. It is also argued that he contributed to the premium public image European cars have in North America. Hoffman's contributions to both automobile development and sports car racing earned him induction into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 2003. Both his home in Rye, New York, and Park Avenue Jaguar showroom in Manhattan were designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The charity, which donates to groups, mostly in Connecticut, that further education, medicine and the arts, had assets of approximately $60 million in 2013. Hoffman also became the U.S. importer for Alfa Romeo in the mid-1950s, becoming the impetus for the development of the highly successful Giulietta Spider.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.