Pearl-white paint

[Mike Arman <armanmik@n-jcenter.com>]

Datapoint: First car I know of (remember, this is MY limited database)
painted in pearl white was the very first Jaguar XK-120 (1949 (?) vintage)
which was imported into the US by the then-importer Max Hoffman. He had it
painted mother of pearl for the NY auto show, and had all the chrome parts
gold plated. Added two or three leggy models and he absolutely stopped the
entire show - brought it to a screeching halt!! (Remember, this was 1949,
and the competition was warmed-over pre-war Chevvies and Fords.)

At a later show, he brought a tame lion for booth decoration. A few days
into the show, the "tame" lion nipped one of the above-mentioned leggy
models on her thigh (a few days at the NY auto show will do that to you - I
think the lion showed REMARKABLE forbearance) and she sued the hell out of
MH - I think they eventually settled.

Hoffman also had the import rights to VW in the early 50's. Everyone told
him the car was too ugly for words, and he (is rumored to have) sold the US
rights to two brothers named MacDonald from St. Louis for the lordly sum of
$500. (Note: this MAY be in the urban myth department - Hoffman did import
VW for a short while, but the $500 story is unsubstantiated.)

Best Regards,

Mike Arman