1951 Hoffmann - Germany's Worst Car... Ever

Prepare yourselves for another blog post, but this time it’s about a car. Or actually, a trike…

Immediately after the Second World War, the ‘talanted’ people of Germany wanted to have a go at building their own cars. Take this example from 1951 created by a Mr A. Hoffmann, from Munich. This example was built over a two year period from 1949. The car was based on a giant triangular frame that was cannibalised from another German feat of engineering, the Goliath Pionier (Which is a very Ironic name actually, see photo below).

The Pionier was featured at the 1931 Berlin Autoshow, during the rise of the Hitler and the Nazis, making it the perfect candidate for Communist Car of the Year. The three-wheeler featured either a 197cc or 247cc single cylinder, 2-stroke petrol engine, driven to the rear wheels via a 3-speed transmission. The Goliath was considerably more successful than its opponents, due to a Germany’s poverty after World War One and was ‘mass produced’, and roughly 3000 of them were on the roads by 1934.

By the late 40’s, many had gotten bored of these things. So Mr Hoffmann stepped in. He took one of these Goliaths, removed the body, and put his own on top… Backwards… So his car was no longer rear-drive front-steer, it was the other way around, rear-steer (Single wheel too) and front-drive. Yeah, a scary prospect. Thats probably why the Reliant Robin never really caught on. The rear wheel was operated with an incredibly complex series of levers. This moves the entire cradle from side-to-side in an incredibly wide arc (Not helped by the incredibly wide front arc…) A massive kingpin is used for this. Due to how far forward it is located, there is little room on the inside for the 2 occupants, making the Hoffmann very cramped.

The body that Mr Hofmann put on this contraption was hand-beaten from Aluminium. At the time, that sounds like a mega technological leap in the world of cars, but it was all Mr Hofmann had. so it ended on his ‘car’. The car has been restored within the past 20 years, and the man who restored it, an unnamed German panel-beater, has kept the asymmetrical windshield for a reason, it adds “much wanted originally” he says, but I don’t think that anybody would want to buy it.

This example features the 247cc 2-stroke motor from the Goliath. This meaning the Hoffman produces a mighty 6^1/2HP, transferred to the rear wheel via a 3-speed transmission (with reverse too!). This could! power the Hoffmann to a top speed of 45KPH, or about 28MPH in English.

The Hoffmann also has an extremely wierd looking rear end, oddly remeniscent of the other Communist Car of the Year, the VW Beetle. Funnily enough, all of the cars electrics systems are taken from the Beetle. Such as the lights, interior electric light and other little bits. The glass for the rear 3/4 window is from a Beetle too.

For those who follow Jalopnik on YouTube, may remember this vehicle getting featured on an episode of their series, ‘Jason Drives’. This is where Jason Torchinsky, drives stuff. Specifically wierd stuff, including the Hoffmann.

Now this is the into one that was built, and now resides at the Bruce Weiner Micro Car Museum in Madison, Georgia. Luckily this car has survived. You may be wondering why I’m saying this, but this car is a prime example of what NOT to do when building a car. Wheter it’s a big famous brand of just one man in his garage. This is a list of Engineering ‘Dont’s’.

Speaking of lists, here is some of the most noticeable features of the car:

• Rear wheel steering
• Suicide doors
• A driving position that is so ingressed, you need to dislocate your body when getting in
• The engine is located on the same pivot as the rear wheel, so the engine moves with the wheel
• Mirrors that are placed so they are blocked by the A-Pillar
• A 2-stroke motor, that requires oil to be fed into the engine continuously
• Front wheels that are farther apart than the wheelbase itself
• Linear rather than H-shapped shift pattern
• A fuel filler that goes right through the center of the car
• And the list goes on and on and on

That’s all for this Blog Post, enjoy your day, however horrified you may be by the Hoffmann. Why not give me an upvote and a follow too?

Thanks all for reading, drive safe,
675LT_ftw