A wave of vintage car restoration scams is sweeping the United States, leaving passionate collectors defrauded,
their prized vehicles lost or destroyed, and their finances drained. What was once a niche built on trust,
craftsmanship, and shared automotive passion has become a lucrative target for criminals and fraudsters exploiting
the deep emotional and financial investment collectors place in vintage automobiles.

An egregious example of car restoration scamming has emerged in Pierce County, Washington, where a company called
Defenders Northwest, LLC stands accused of orchestrating a high-value fraud under the guise of a Land Rover Defender restoration. The business, operated by husband-and-wife team
Brian and Michele Hall, advertised itself as a legitimate restoration and expedition outfitting company based in Gig Harbor, Washington.
Brian and Michele Hall continue to promote their purported services online, offering cars and coffee events, off-road adventures and open house lunches. However, court filings allege that the Halls took over
$200,000 from out-of-state collectors and failed to deliver a functioning vehicle—let alone a restored one.

Instead of a restored 1984 Land Rover Defender 130, the customers were shown what expert witnesses later described as a worthless, rust-ravaged shell that bore no resemblance to the original vehicle, which was operational and registered in California. The car that the Halls presented in a court-ordered inspection was missing crucial parts, including its VIN tags, and had been stripped of its identity and operational parts.

According to the plaintiffs, the Halls had agreed in 2015 to restore a Defender using a donor vehicle supplied by the collectors. For eight years, the couple allegedly strung the clients along with empty promises, fake delivery dates and vague, false “updates”. Then, in August 2022, the Halls—assisted by their attorney and alleged business associate
Shawn Harju—recorded a Chattel Lien Notice with the Pierce County Auditor’s Office, claiming over
$68,000 in unpaid charges. This sum allegedly included $20,030 in restoration labor and parts, $25,770 in storage fees, $18,717 in accrued interest, and more than $4,000 in sales tax.

But when a court-ordered inspection was finally conducted in 2023, the supposed “restored” vehicle tied to the lien was revealed to be a mismatched, half-disassembled wreck with no market value. Experts testified that it was not the original car, nor was it even roadworthy. The court later declared the lien invalid and ordered it dismissed. The plaintiffs are now pursuing reimbursement of their legal fees as they continue litigation against the Halls.

Despite the court’s findings, the Halls are continuing to fight the claims. They are represented by
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani LLP, a large national law firm retained through their garage liability insurance policy with
Liberty Mutual. Plaintiffs allege that insurance defense lawyers
Philip Lo and
Sally Kim have used procedural delays to drag out the litigation, inflating legal costs that are largely covered by insurance.

Unfortunately, the Washington Land Rover case is not isolated. Restoration fraud appears to be growing in scale and sophistication across the country.

In New York, federal prosecutors charged
Clark P. Rittersbach, the owner of
Concours Classic Motor Cars in Macedon, with wire fraud after allegedly stealing more than
$1.15 million from clients under the pretense of restoring high-end vintage vehicles. Some of Rittersbach’s victims resided overseas, signaling that this brand of fraud is not only national but international in scope.

Meanwhile,
The Healey Werks Corp, a restoration firm in Lawton, Iowa, was hit with a staggering
$7 million judgment in 2023 for breaching contracts tied to the restoration of three rare vehicles. In each case, collectors handed over classic cars and tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, only to be met with unfulfilled promises or deliberate misrepresentations.

Experts say scammers often use glossy websites, staged social media profiles, fake testimonials, and participation in car events such as rallies or “cars and coffee” gatherings to build a façade of legitimacy.

“They present an image of trustworthiness and craftsmanship,” said
Elizabeth Puckett, a journalist for Yahoo Auto who has investigated these schemes. “But behind the scenes, it’s all smoke and mirrors. Once these scammers get physical possession of your car, you’ve lost control.”

What makes these schemes particularly dangerous is the legal leverage scammers can gain once they have the vehicle. In some cases, they record fraudulent mechanic’s or chattel liens, allowing them to assert financial claims on the vehicle and delay or prevent repossession. They may inflate storage and labor charges or strategically file for bankruptcy to stall lawsuits and shield themselves from financial liability.

The Halls, in fact, sought bankruptcy protection in what victims claim was a tactic to avoid the consequences of their actions.

Federal authorities, including the
FBI, are beginning to take action. Investigators are now examining patterns of complaints in multiple states as part of a broader inquiry into fraudulent restoration practices. Legal experts argue that enforcement is long overdue and that the industry must be held to higher standards to prevent further abuses.

In the meantime, collectors are being urged to take extreme precautions. That includes thoroughly researching restoration shops, visiting their facilities in person, requesting verifiable references, reviewing business licenses and insurance policies, and avoiding large upfront payments without written contracts and clearly defined deliverables.

“Classic car restoration is a high-trust transaction by nature,” said a Washington-based attorney familiar with the case. “But it’s increasingly being weaponized by those who know the legal system well enough to manipulate it. The burden now falls on consumers to protect themselves in an industry that lacks meaningful oversight.”

As litigation against Defenders Northwest continues, and federal law enforcement ramps up its investigations, cases like this serve as a stark warning: even a shared love of classic cars can’t substitute for vigilance and due diligence.