Otto Hoffman

Translated with Google translate, there are some poor translations:

Beyond the Great Pond
The history of DKW in the USA Part 6: Moving to the West Coast

I have to go back to the time approx. return in mid-1963. I had mentioned that after the Introduction of the ’62 models of the DKW Junior and the Auto Union
1000 sales are very slow developed, although the product in improved in many ways. Of the setbacks that the new “Oil Injection” in relation to that bring durability of the engines with it
we knew about this one time nothing yet. The economic difficulties but we met at Studebaker at a bad time and myself Mercedes-Benz had to include lei the. For the first time, people filled up here too the warehouses and from the Studebaker side could or wanted to do nothing more. For quasi discharge I would like to mention, however, that gradually at America niche car audience a certain Fatigue related to imported cars spread. Almost everyone had it European brands tried here to gain a foothold, but without that customer service enough weight to eat. The only exceptions were Volkswagen and Mercedes- Benz. Especially Volkswagen was it possible to get an excellent net, comprehensive customer service build up what then turns into constantly increasing sales figures knocked down. Almost all other euros European brands are then also, in a process that spans several years, again from the market disappeared. It was the time when the Japanese just started making the international markets for themselves to discover! And hardly anyone has them
taken seriously at the time taken. With the missing paragraph and the
It was just a stop to new imports a matter of time, how long DKW A (DKW American Inc.) still be to me to stand and I would had to own then my how for the in always professional future would look like. I didn’t originally have it superior, had intention different at brought USA stay knew but of course also of the uncertain future the Auto Union in Germany, and that a return to that time may not necessarily point L was. conferences and other meetings in the I also had the USA, among others met people from Volkswagen, Mr. Bruhns, the customer service. It was then settled that for that next year already half of mine Salary was borne by MB and me for few weeks after sub sent to Türkheim “for training”. became at which I correspond through all end departments was smuggled. After my return to New York, I was already partially involved in certain MB projects. Around the same time, mid-year 1963, the former visited us Auto Union Export Manager, Hermann Winker He was now for Quandt Group with the “Amphicar” and tried to interest us, DBNA (Daimler-Benz of North America) or DKW-A, in the USA for the sale of this unusual vehicle Barbara Nordhoff, the daughter of Director General Heinrich Nordhoff, and even Carl H. Hahn, the President customers from Volkswagen of America. In a conversation with Mr. Hoppe and I told Herr Gerth mine Intent to get in touch with the VW people “That’s out of the question,” said Herr Hoppe, “we still need you!” And for the first time, it was intimated to me that a study was being drawn up as to how Studebaker could be replaced as a distributor in order to sell on my own terms. I was definitely interested in switching to Mercedes-Benz, wanted to continue to serve DKW customers properly if possible keep going interest. The designer Trippei, already in the pre-war years the development of such an phibien-Fahrzcuges had worked and his ideas also with the people wagen-Schwimmwagen of the Second World War were used, had the license to the Quandt Group pe awarded, who then the Amphicar between 1961 and 1965 mainly produced in Berlin. Mister Winkler already had a few dealers win in the New York area can i then on his desire visited with him. There have been many complaints about the few already delivered driving witness voiced and I then explained always the same that I’m just the driver was for Mr. Winkler! Mr Hoppe and Herr Gerth undertook one

Test drive an Amphicar im Long Island Sound, but, like Mr Hoppe wrote “our relationship search vehicle overtaking one large motor boat through the high bow waves in such strong swaying, that the water comes in from above struck and we only with great need
were able to save to the nearby shore”. End of the interlude! Another visitor at that time was Mrs. Elly Beinhorn-Rosemeyer, who only recently at the age of 100 years passed away. She attended some flight craft clubs, from which their meeting I was invited. it was me a pleasure to visit you for a few days to be able to take care of them with the 1000 S and to start a conversation with her. The greatest success of Bernd Rose-Meyer, as she told me, was his 1937 Vanderbilt Cup win on Long Island. In my free time, in which we often attended chariot races, I helped still occasionally private racing drivers who have a Formula Junior withdrive a DKW engine. In the fall of 1963,  I spoke me a wealthy race driver, Malcolm Donaldson, on and asked me for help. He had one “Zink” racing car with DKW Engine acquired but was with the Mechanics of the car were unfamiliar. I helped him over the winter prepare the vehicle thoroughly ten. It was a pretty, very neat Lich manufactured vehicle, with a 850cc engine obtained from Mantzel or, which was installed as a mid-engine. That was for better accessibility vehicle with two large hoods, front and rear provided. The vehicle was already in the season of 1963 under the name “Zink Petite” ran very successfully, and the driver Bill Greer was able to win the

American championship in the Class “H-Modified” (up to 850ccm). Some trade journals drew this DKW racing dare also as that at the time “most beautiful racing vehicle”. As long as I’m still in New York in 1964was, I helped Malcolm Donaldson then in some races in the New England states he, like me remember all with a win be ended. After more than 40 years, his son recently connection with me recorded; the vehicle is now back in his possession, unfortunately totally degenerate. To my chagrin I had to hear that the once so wealthy family through host Economic failures in Difficult things and both parents no longer alive. But back to the 60s. to fang 1964 then visited us, as in the previous episode already him imagine the new Auto Union Export head of dumplings. As a result of our I then fetched talks in July 1964 the F 12 Roadster test car in the Ingolstadt plant, which I choose end of my vacation and my white tarlier “training time”, especially on new Mercedes 600, in the Daimler Benz Untertürkheim plant, as a service vehicle used. I was from DBNA before that been asked if I was relocation to the west coast be as the company in each of the zones the MBS a reliable employee workers, have a “person of trust”. wanted to. (Back then the companies still asked!). It already hinted many signs pointing to the “overthrow”, albeit appointment and special the conditions have not yet been stood. This “person of trust” in each of the zones should also have reports about the quality of each handler to the headquarters in New York
do, because Mercedes-Benz wanted to by no means in the detachment of
MBS/Studebaker all dealers to take. We, i.e. my wife and I, were very interested in the west coast and especially California better to get to know and voted one
transfer immediately. My new Place of action should be Los Angeles
and I should be right after mine stay in Germany move there hen. As a result, it was then the Roadster directly from Germany shipped to Los Angeles. On the Outcome of the test and whereabouts of the Roadster I have already tet. The agreement continued that I will continue to look around DKW customer service matters ten care. That was so- distant important because gradually also our contractually bound DKW Technicians dropped off as soon as their contract expired. My entire techniche DKW literature was also if moved to Los Angeles with gene and is even today in Mei property, in addition to my war literature from his father’s DKW Operation! In the context of (unfortunately) not today more very active DKW clubs in the I’ve been able to drive many DKWs in the USA help possessor. The oldest DKW here in the USA, by the way, there is a P 15 Roadster from 1928! After my return from German l and I prepared our move. The furniture were of course made by transported by a forwarding company, but we drove my 1962 AU 1000 S, my last service- car I bought from the company had, all over the USA. I really loved it and wanted it but reluctantly gave up, although I now also a Mercedes 220 S as company men car got.

It was September now, we were dating the time and had a really journey until … about 30 miles len the engine stalled in front of Chicago. Usually I had, with one suspected butt eaters, just a little waited and then again starts. But this time nothing worked Engine was bombproof. So tow-pen to the dealer Loeber Motors in Chicago! That was me with a DKW never happened, even with that acquired during my time in Switzerland F 7 Holka (with steel body). The dismantling showed that as a result lack of lubrication the piston ring grooves were worn out, so that the rings in the piston fiber could turn the pen. As result the piston ring ends remained in the Cannulae hang, causing the plunger were destroyed. The engine was still with the first execution of the 01-
pump (type Rl) fitted, yes then later by the R2 pump with increased claim was replaced. The was my own personal experience experience with the Rl pump. After replacing the pistons and After the repair, the journey continued he, through Salt Lake City, Utah, the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Den Zion National Park and Mount Bryce Canyon and the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Las Vegas, Nevada, which we explored extensively. then we continued through Death Valley in California to Los Angeles. Despite much nicer rides in spa-years that should be ourte drive to stay in the US! From then on, at every gas station, after that the Rl oil pump in the driving stuff was left, per tank additionally approx. 1/3 ltr. 01 added, with the result that the vehicle a total of me and a later one Owner with whom I will be in touch remained, a total of about 150,000 miles ran without repairs. I met in Pasadena near Los Angeles then also Peter Satori wicdcr, the former DKW importer for the West Coast. I knew him from his occasional visits to the factory didn’t have him in the USA then seen more. He greeted me cordially, like an old friend. Sprit in 1964 while I was a visited a dealer, was amazed me Mr. Gerth by phone with the Message that Auto Union/DKW was taken over by Volkswagen. This resulted in a completely new  situation about which I will report in the final sequence, as well as about a us through skill lost million business.

Otto Hofman