Hoffmann (automobile)

1951 Hoffmann
1951 Hoffmann
Overview
Manufacturer	Hoffmann
Production	September 1951
Model years	1951
Body and chassis
Class	Indeterminate
Body style	2-door
Layout	Engine mounted on rear wheel which steers
Powertrain
Engine	Air-cooled 200 cc (12 cu in) ILO single-cylinder 2-stroke 4.8 kW (6.5 hp)
Transmission	3-speed manual

The 1951 Hoffmann is a three-wheeled car created by Michael Hoffmann.^[1] It is considered by some^[2] to be the worst car ever made, owing to its pervasive bizarre design decisions.

Design

The car is notable for its numerous extremely unconventional and user-hostile design elements.^[3] These include:

Windows that are raised or lowered with a strap that the user pulls, and held in place with eyelets and pegs
Suicide doors and driving position that make ingress and egress nearly impossible
A fuel filler tube which goes through the cabin of the car
Front wheels that are farther apart than the length of the wheelbase
A linear rather than H-shaped shift pattern
Rear-wheel steering
An engine located on the same pivot as the rear wheel steering mechanism, so that the engine moves with the wheel when the car is steered
Rearview mirrors positioned so that they are perfectly blocked by the A-pillar

References

External links

A Jalopnik article on the car

[1] ttp://www.lanemotormuseum.org/collection/cars/item/hoffmann-1951

[2] ttp://jalopnik.com/what-its-like-to-drive-the-worst-car-ever-built-1735448480

[3] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y16ObVRvgOE

[1]

[2]

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