The Spirit of Nemo, a 24-foot custom replica of Captain Nemo’s car from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, drew a reported $165,000 eBay bid in 2016. That was more than the $45,000 the film car reportedly sold for in 2015—but the distinction matters: the replica’s figure was a bid, not a confirmed sale price. Its appeal came from being a substantial custom build in its own right, not simply a copy of the movie vehicle.
What is the Spirit of Nemo?
The Spirit of Nemo is a custom automobile modeled on the vehicle driven by Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. The 2016 CarBuzz article described it as a replica, but its construction differed markedly from the production car it imitated.
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According to that article, the film vehicle was based on a Land Rover Fire Tender. The Spirit of Nemo, by contrast, was assembled using parts from two Cadillac limousines. That gives the replica a separate identity as an elaborate custom car rather than a duplicate built from the same donor platform.
How did the replica differ from the film car?
| Detail | Spirit of Nemo replica | Film car |
|---|---|---|
| Reported basis | Two Cadillac limousines, according to the 2016 CarBuzz article | Land Rover Fire Tender, according to the 2016 CarBuzz article |
| Reported length | 24 feet, according to the 2016 CarBuzz article | 22 feet, according to the 2016 CarBuzz article |
| Frame and engine | Steel I-beam frame reportedly salvaged from a dismantled bridge; 425-cubic-inch V8, according to the 2016 CarBuzz article | Not stated in the 2016 CarBuzz article |
| Historical auction figure | $165,000 bid reported on eBay at the time of the April 1, 2016 article; no completed sale at that amount was established | $45,000 reported sale in 2015, as reported by CarBuzz in 2016 |
Why might someone prefer the replica?
The replica was reportedly two feet longer than the film car, with a distinctive construction story: a bridge-salvaged steel I-beam frame, Cadillac limousine components, and a 425-cubic-inch V8. CarBuzz credited Ken Freeman of North Carolina as its builder and reported that the project took 6,500 hours. Those figures are the article’s claims; they were not independently audited in the source available here.
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That scale and fabrication help explain the provocative “better than the real thing” comparison. A film vehicle has screen history, while this replica offered a large, bespoke build with its own engineering and labor behind it. Which is more desirable depends on what a collector values; the reported bid alone does not establish that the replica was objectively superior or ultimately worth $165,000.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What do the auction numbers actually show?
CarBuzz’s April 1, 2016 article reported that the film car had sold for $45,000 in 2015 and that the Spirit of Nemo had a $165,000 eBay bid when the article ran. The first figure is described as a sale; the second is a bid. They are not equivalent evidence of completed transactions, and neither should be treated as a current valuation.
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The same article said the roofless replica could drive on the highway. That historical claim does not establish its present roadworthiness, safety certification, ownership, or availability for sale.
CarBuzz’s April 1, 2016 article, republished by motors.mega.mu, is the source for the reported specifications and auction figures.
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