There?s an intimate story behind the Porsche 911 Carrerra GTS Cabriolet America Edition. Seventy-two years ago, Austrian-born importer Max Hoffman had a tête-à-tête with Ferry Porsche at the Paris Auto Show. The two men were discussing the sales potential of Porsche vehicles in America.

Hoffman founded the Hoffman Motor Company in New York in 1947 after emigrating to the USA from France in 1941 to escape the Nazi regime. After the war, his company began importing desirable European exotic cars like the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing and the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider. Hoffman was also the first to import Volkswagens and BMWs by 1953.

The first three units of the Porsche 356 arrived on U.S. shores in 1950, and Hoffman became the first to import Porsche vehicles to Uncle Sam. By 1954, Hoffman was selling more than 11 Porsche 356 models a week, far exceeding Ferry Porsche?s expectations of selling only five cars per year. It was an impressive feat, given the Porsche 356 started at about $4,000 at a time when a posh Cadillac sedan was selling for the same amount.
“There Is Something Special”

Hoffman was so successful he kick-started Porsche?s long and illustrious history in North America. Still, he had another idea: Convince Ferry Porsche into building a smaller and more affordable rendition of the 356, a back-to-basics, stripped-down sports car priced at $3,000. Porsche responded in the autumn of 1954 with the 356 America Roadster.

Equipped with ...