1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Coupé

51999roadGermany

Engine: 1.5L air-cooled flat-four, type 546, factory exchange unit
Colour: Ivory

A 1954 Porsche 356 Pre-A 1500 Coupé with Reutter coachwork, chassis 51999, representing the desirable one-piece 'bent-window' generation of Porsche's founding model. Completed at Zuffenhausen in April 1954 and shipped new to New York importer Max Hoffman for a client named Plummer — possibly the actor Christopher Plummer — the car later moved to Italy in 1988, where it received a comprehensive restoration by Vicenza-based specialist Giro Classico around 2010. It carries a factory Kardex, retains its split-case gearbox and 6V electrics, and is fitted with a correct factory-exchange 1500cc engine.

Ownership

2026-04-24Auction sale
Estimate €125,000 – €160,000
Bonhams catalogue lot →
1954 → 1954Factory delivery
Max Hoffman (Porsche dealership, New York)
partial documentation
Car was dispatched from the Zuffenhausen factory to this well-known New York importer and dealer, intended for their client Mr Plummer.
1954 →Private sale
Mr Plummer (possibly actor Christopher Plummer)
none documentation
Identified as the intended end recipient via the Hoffman dealership; US ownership period is entirely undocumented. Some sources suggest this may have been the actor Christopher Plummer.
1988 →Acquisition unknown
Italian owner who imported the car in 1988
partial documentation
Brought the car into Italy supported by customs paperwork and a letter from Porsche AG; commissioned a full restoration completed by Giro Classico of Vicenza around 2010.
2019 →Acquisition unknown
French collector
partial documentation
Arranged a professional mechanical overhaul including engine and gearbox work at JB Classic Cars in the Netherlands in 2023, supported by invoices.
Date unknownAcquisition unknown
Belgian owner (current consignor)
partial documentation
Registered the car in Belgium and obtained a clean technical inspection report; documents are on file.

Competition

No competition history extracted from the catalogue.

Maintenance & restoration

2010Restoration
Giro Classico
Comprehensive restoration returning the car to original condition, including the Telefunken dashboard radio and the early Pre-A instrument cluster; extensive photographic documentation of the work exists.
Commissioned by the Italian owner of the time; workshop located in Vicenza.
2023Engine rebuild
JB Classic Cars
Professional service combined with a full engine and gearbox overhaul; detailed invoices are on file.
Carried out in the Netherlands at the request of the French collector who owned the car at that time.

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