The Nautilus Car: How "Outstanding Gentlemen" Saved the World

The 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen features an extraordinary car, which amazed viewers with its unique design and unusual abilities.


The car named "Nautilus Car" became a bright "character", a decoration of the film. "Heroine" embodies the theme of adventure, combines technology and mysticism.

General information and exterior

The Nautilus Car is based on the legendary cigar-shaped submarine of Captain Nemo from the novels of Jules Verne. The streamlined body is made of fiberglass. The silhouette resembles the original Nautilus. However, unlike its literary predecessor, the "movie hero" was not intended for underwater travel, but for movement on land.


It is curious and commendable how responsibly the filmmakers approached the creation of a vehicle for the motley company of "outstanding gentlemen". The British studio Retromotoring developed a fully functional design from scratch. The engineers borrowed the extended chassis and main auto components from the Range Rover LSE.

Roadster dimensions:

✅ Length - 6700 mm
✅ Width - 2740 mm
✅ Wheels – 6 pcs. 24 inches each

Judging by the length of the front hood, driving the Nautilus is not an easy task. And, let's add, illegal: the car, which was made in a limited edition of one unit, is stored in the museum of the Prop Store company, which sells films. The car was shown to the public twice: in Essen, Germany, and in London, the capital of Great Britain.


The white paintwork of the body imitates noble cracked Chinese porcelain. The body panels are covered with decorative elements in the Victorian style. Since Captain Nemo, invented by Jules Verne, was the offspring of an Indian raja, the styling includes mythical creatures of this people.

The front fenders are decorated with cast metal overlays in the form of the god of wisdom and prosperity Ganesh with an elephant head. The credit for the knowledge and careful attitude to Indian culture is attributed to the film's production designer Carol Speer.

Specifications and interior

According to the fantastic plot of the film, the machine is equipped with a powerful steam engine. In reality, three pairs of rollers were rotated by a gasoline engine of the same Range Rover.


What is known about the power unit:

✅ Volume - 4,2 l
✅ Number of cylinders - 8 with V8 configuration
✅ Speed ​​– 150-160 km/h

On the screen, the car demonstrates miracles of cross-country ability. In reality, the car sits so low to the ground that the developers came up with a hydraulic mechanism for transportation on vans.

The salon of the Nautilus Car is spacious and elegant. It is furnished with soft armchairs, maps, books. In the center there was a table on which lay navigation instruments and artifacts. The upholstery is made in beige tones. On the dashboard, door cards there is an abundance of ornamentation, curls, in which chimeras and Hindu deities are visible.


When the gentlemen needed to defend or attack, out of nowhere, a rotating turret with searchlights and machine guns appeared in the car. The designers did not forget to make a removable hard roof.

Role in the film and cultural heritage

The Nautilus Car played an important role in the fantasy action movie's plot. The car served as a means of transportation and headquarters for a group of heroes assembled to fight the evil genius Phantom.

The League used the Roadster to travel the world and carry out their missions. The vehicle provided safe shelter for the players, and its abilities helped them overcome obstacles and defeat enemies.

In the film's climax, the Nautilus Car battled the giant Phantom robot. During the battle, the car was damaged, but bravely held on until the heroes defeated Evil and saved the world.


The car became a cult symbol of the film "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen". The stunning design and cool capabilities won the hearts of viewers and made the car one of the most memorable in the history of cinema.

The concept of an amphibious vehicle with navigational instruments and weapons influenced subsequent works of science fiction and fantasy. The Nautilus Car also inspired numerous models and action figures, attesting to its enduring popularity.

Here I involuntarily remembered another film, also about "gentlemen". Our Soviet ones, however, are simpler transport was - a cement truck...