I’m a former client who entered an agreement to build a custom defender in 2017 with Carel Van Helsdingen and Alex Zeeman of Tophat Classics, who have offices in Holland and Tempe AZ, USA. After several years and $107,000.00 of down payments, the completed vehicle was never produced and a Tophat Classics scam was obviously afoot. I have made contact with another former client who has suffered losses of nearly $200,000.00 under the same Tophat Classics scam. We’ve retained council and wish to move forward as a class action fraud complaint/lawsuit, which significantly enhances our legal resources. If you’re a former or current client or victim of a Tophat Classics scam and wish to join our efforts, I’d love to chat over the phone. Please be in touch via DM or e-mail.



P.S.
Alex Zeeman is still in operation in Tempe, AZ USA doing business as Zeeman Automotive. Carel Van Helsdingen is still accepting new clients out of his Holland shop located at Industrieweg 16-B 1231 KH Loosdrecht, The Netherlands.


J. Carman

panetrain@gmail.com

 

Please spread the word of Tophat Classics scams and fraudulent practices. If you are a current client, unfortunately your vehicle likely does not actually exist. Tophat Classics scams work suppling clients with old images, other clients vehicle images, stock images etc... to falsely demonstrate 'progress on your build' and to solicit additional funds.

 

Just an update...We have filled our civil fraud lawsuit/complaint with the courts in Arizona for the US division of Tophat Classics and defendants Carel Van Helsdingen and Alex Zeeman, and are working on our filing a civil fraud complaint in the Netherlands towards the primary offices of Tophat Classics located at Industrieweg 16-B 1231 KH Loosdrecht, The Netherlands.

 

Good luck! I hope it works out for you and you can recover what you've lost.

 

Received a cease and desist letter from Tophat Classics. Just wanted to confirm that I stand by every statement made on this forum and the many other forms. A cease and desist letter is an attempt to put a stop to illegal activity. Every statement I have made is factual, therefore such a letter does not apply. Not only did Tophat Classics USA and Holland branch, under the direction of Carel Van Helsdingen, commit fraud, but now are attempting to silence their victims. Please feel free to reach out to me for further clarification of any of my statements.