Captain America | Coupé Design by Daniel Simon

As Lead Vehicle Designer on the 2011 Marvel feature film 'Captain America: The First Avenger' I was asked to create an imposing yet classic car for Red Skull, the famed villain. Enjoy the clip above showcasing the final design, and the images below giving a glimpse at the development.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

The car to be was explained in the film script as the fastest road car of its time. Not due to aerodynamics but incredible power – a supercharged, 16 cylinder engine.

This key sketch illustrates the long wheelbase, lifted chassis, twin rear wheels, modern integrated rear fenders, and sloped rear deck. Over the course of the further design development, more automotive elements from the 1940′s era were introduced – such as long sideboards, exposed exhaust pipes and straighter cross sections – to give the car a believable and classic 40′s look as opposed to the originally intended utility look.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

After agreeing on the above key sketch, we continued exclusively in 3D. The design was pushed towards less utitilarian and a more classic road look.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

I modeled the Coupe in Auotdesk Alias and kept modifying it continuously to new requirements. Examples of those changes are the chassis used, adding a third seat due to a changed script, and trying different rear ends for pure stylistic reasons.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

Together with Director Joe Johnston and Production Designer Rick Heinrichs, we researched Coupés of the 40ies to define the style for this vehicle. At first, I envisioned an extreme car shaped like a 1937 Auto Union Type C streamliner, but I soon understood the film’s director was looking for something classic and upright. A style-blend of a Mercedes 540K, a Mercedes G4 off-roader plus some hints of Bentley and Duesenberg turned out to be the perfect language.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

At Marvel Studios with production designer Rick Heinrichs and director Joe Johnston - who designed the original X-Wing Starfighter for Star Wars back in the day.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

Final adjustments on the 3D CAD model by hand before manufacturing.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

The Coupe during construction in England. Due to its ridiculous size, a truck chassis and a V8 dragster engine was used. All body panels were machined directly from CAD design data. The team did a fantastic job.

Screen capture Blu-Ray Making Of.

The finish car during filming in England. Mission accomplished.

© 2009 MARVEL STUDIOS / Lead Vehicle Design: Daniel Simon
www.danielsimon.com

With the superbly crafted real car at the world premiere on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles. Time to celebrate.

My recent efforts were all focused on my new book series 'The Timeless Racer'. Learn more about Episode 1 on my website or here on amazon. Don't forget to rate and review my books there.