Not all movie cars are icons, but that doesn’t make them any less cool. When The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen debuted in 2003—and promptly flopped—it was wiped from the pop culture landscape as though it had never happened. However, the film featured some of the most elaborate production design of its era, particularly when bringing to life the steam-punk technology utilized by Captain Nemo, one of the movie’s primary characters.
In addition to the famed Nautilus submarine, Nemo also drove an over-the-top supercar. And now you can too, since it’s for sale on eBay.
Everything about this car has been faithfully replicated from what was shown on screen.
Set just before the dawn of the 20th century, the League story featured an aesthetic that called to mind Old Europe with a touch of India—as seen through a lens of accelerated industrial development. All of that is represented in this behemoth six-wheeled roadster, which resembles nothing else seen on the silver screen.
Although the car borrows design cues that would be familiar to anyone with a passing familiarity of 1920s and 1930s automotive styling, underneath its fabulous sheet metal the Spirit of Nemo is riding on a pair of Cadillac limousines that donated their chassis and drivetrains. Unlike some movie cars, Nemo’s ride is drivable: all four front wheels turn in unison, there’s a big-block Cadillac engine sitting under the hood, and even the headlights work (although the seller cautions that the external lamps are too wide for street use).
The interior is deceptively simple. This is a three-ton car controlled from the cockpit.
If you don’t feel like driving it, the Spirit of Nemo comes with its own trailer and winch—which you might need when hauling the 6,000-pound car up a ramp. In fact, the trailer might be the best way to get this thing around, since it’s 24 feet long and features a gallery’s worth of hand-crafted art. Intended to serve as a rolling masterpiece best appreciated at car shows and cruise nights, the seller explains that you shouldn’t entertain thoughts about using the Spirit of Nemo as a grand tourer.
The owner states that the side lamps have to be detached before driving, because they make the car too wide for modern roads.
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the Nemo is the fact that it’s not the actual original car built for the film. That’s right. Someone loved an obscure film like League of Extraordinary Gentlemen so much that they poured untold amounts of cash into bringing this vehicle into reality. Buy it, and you can say that you own a copy of the last car Sean Connery ever rode in on camera before retiring from movies forever.
