---
title: "TopHat Classics Builds the 400 Horsepower Land Rover Defenders of Your Dreams"
description: "When price isn't an option, you might want to take a look at these works of art."
date: "2017-10-15"
modified: "2017-10-16"
authors:
  - name: "Max Goldberg"
    job_title: "Associate Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-goldberg.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/15158/tophat-classics-builds-the-400-horsepower-land-rover-defenders-of-your-dreams"
categories:
  - "Land Rover News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Defender"
  - "land rover"
  - "luxury"
  - "Off-Road"
  - "suv/crossover"
  - "TopHat Clasics"
---

# TopHat Classics Builds the 400 Horsepower Land Rover Defenders of Your Dreams

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/10/tophatclassics-hero1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

There are plenty of Defender restoration shops across the world, each of them adventurous, each of them with their own style. However, TopHat Classics in Tempe, Arizona and The Netherlands takes Land Rover Defender restoration and modification to a whole new level.

Without turning defenders into an over-the-top build, they beautifully upgrade each vehicle to perform with the best of them. Most builds receive a full engine, drivetrain, brakes, air suspension upgrade courtesy of owners Carel Von Helsdingen and Alex Zeeman. In addition, TopHat Classics drops in an [LS3 V8](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/11854/east-coast-defenders-honey-badger-is-a-corvette-powered-stick-shift-land-rover.md>) (Corvette engine) into the Defender giving it a little over 400 horsepower. Essentially, a TopHat Defender has all the luxuries of a modern SUV and the esthetic appeal of the old Defenders. The TopHat version even has heated and cooled seats, a large upgrade for the manually adjusted original seats.

Although pricing is not immediately disclosed, you can imagine these one-off beauties go for a pretty penny. Future owners can ask special requests from exclusive paint and leather schemes to handcrafted wooden cabinetry. Essentially, your Defender can be an extension of your individuality. Check out these amazing machines below.

https://youtube.com/embed/YyekfhnbSCI

## Author
Before working at *The Drive*, Max Goldberg raced the streets of Westchester in an ambulance as a licensed Emergency Medical Technician. He has boundless enthusiasm.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/maxems>)

## More

- [East Coast Defenders Will Build Your Dream Land Rover](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19306/east-coast-defenders-will-build-your-dream-land-rover.md>)
- [Land Rover Unveils Factory-Built Off-Road Kits to Upgrade Classic Defender](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/29235/land-rover-unveils-factory-built-off-road-kits-to-upgrade-classic-defender.md>)
- [The New Land Rover Defender Needs a Soft Top, So This Shop’s Giving It One](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-new-land-rover-defender-needs-a-soft-top-so-this-shops-giving-it-one.md>)
- [Make Your 2020 Land Rover Defender Look Worse With This $124,000 Camper Top](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/36014/make-your-2020-land-rover-defender-look-worse-with-this-124000-camper-top.md>)
- [D-Box Turns Your Land Rover Defender Into a (Tiny) Motorhome](<https://www.thedrive.com/gear-up/7198/d-box-turns-your-land-rover-defender-into-a-tiny-motorhome.md>)
- [Land Rover Defender from the Bond Film Spectre Pops up for Sale](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/22061/land-rover-defender-from-the-bond-film-spectre-pops-up-for-sale.md>)
- [The 2021 Land Rover Defender Reports for Work Van Duty, In Case You Wanted That](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/34496/the-2021-land-rover-defender-reports-for-work-van-duty-in-case-you-wanted-that.md>)
- [The $115,950 Land Rover Defender V8 Bond Edition Is for 007 Cosplay](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/42222/the-115950-land-rover-defender-v8-bond-edition-is-for-007-cosplay.md>)