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The Spirit of Nemo, a custom-built replica of Captain Nemo’s car from the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, was reported to have a $165,000 eBay bid in 2016. The film car, by contrast, reportedly sold for $45,000 in 2015. That comparison explains the “better than the real thing” hook—but a bid is not a confirmed sale, and the figures are historical, not current valuations.
What is the Spirit of Nemo?
The Spirit of Nemo is a custom-built replica of the automobile driven by Naseeruddin Shah as Captain Nemo in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. Its appeal lies less in being an exact production duplicate than in being an oversized, elaborate machine built to evoke the film’s fictional vehicle.
How the replica differs from the film car
| Feature | Film car | Spirit of Nemo replica |
|---|---|---|
| Basis or donor components | Reportedly based on a Land Rover Fire Tender | Assembled from two Cadillac limousines |
| Reported length | 22 feet | 24 feet |
| Frame and engine | Not stated in the 2016 CarBuzz article | Reportedly built on a steel I-beam frame salvaged from a dismantled bridge, with a 425-cubic-inch V8 |
These descriptions come from CarBuzz’s April 1, 2016 report, rather than an independently audited specification sheet. The two-foot length difference makes the replica a larger interpretation, not a precise reproduction.
The reported build behind the car
CarBuzz credited the build to Ken Freeman of North Carolina and reported that construction took 6,500 hours. The article also described the roofless car as capable of highway driving. Those are the report’s claims; they do not establish present roadworthiness, safety certification, or the car’s current condition.
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The unusual combination of limousine components, a bridge-salvaged I-beam frame, and a large V8 helps explain why the replica could attract attention beyond its connection to the film. CarBuzz characterized the auction advertisement as presenting it as “automotive art”; that phrase was the article’s description, not a direct quotation attributed to Freeman.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the historical prices do—and do not—show
CarBuzz reported that the original film car sold for $45,000 in 2015. In its April 1, 2016 article, it reported a $165,000 eBay bid for the Spirit of Nemo. The latter was a bid at publication time, not proof that the replica ultimately sold for that amount.
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The figures make a striking comparison, but they are not a like-for-like measure of value: they concern different cars, different transaction moments, and different statuses—a reported completed sale versus a reported bid. The article provides no basis for treating either number as a current market valuation.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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Source: CarBuzz, April 1, 2016.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
