Jim Glickenhaus’ Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG) is hard at work finishing its first volume production car, the SCG 004. But the 004 isn’t the company’s sole focus. Meet the Baja Boot, a throwback off-roader designed for modern times.
As many of you may know, the original pair of Baja Boots were purpose-built, GM-powered desert racers designed in 1967 by Vic Hickey, and financed by Hurst Shifters. Steve McQueen bought both the following year so he could go racing at the Stardust 711, and at the Baja 1000 in 1969. Jim Glickenhaus bought one of them back in 2010.
But while the original Boot is a nice toy parked next to Glickenhaus’s many Lolas and Ferraris, SCG’s version takes the off-roading to a whole new level, powered by a 5.6-liter V8. It only exists on a computer screen for the time being, but SCG has solid plans with this one.
With the preliminary design study done and the agreements signed with OEM suppliers regarding major components, SCG is already looking into the possibility of entering factory and customer race trucks in the Baja 1000 in 2019. The two-door Boot will start at $250,000, while a four-door can be yours for $275,000. But it doesn’t stop there.
While the track-only SCG 003 Competizione is powered by a twin-turbo Honda V6, road-going 003s hide a BMW-based, Italian-developed, equally turbocharged 4.4-liter V8. There’s a big question mark regarding the SCG 004’s powerplant, but Glickenhaus says they have “several exciting road- and race-engine prospects.”
What’s certain is that the base specifications for the SCG 004 have not changed. SCG claims a weight figure of around 2600 lbs, three seats McLaren F1-style, a 690-hp base engine with optional performance upgrades, a six-speed manual, with an optional sequential gearbox, and tinted carbon, if you want to spend even more.
Right now, SCG’s $400,000 “volume model” is at the final stages of tool-making and prototyping with suppliers, and a team of 24 working on its development. In the meantime, SCG will be keen to start building its first six 004 prototypes, three of which have been pre-sold to customers already. As always, Glickenhaus has huge ambitions for the future, including that SCG can produce “at least 15 more [cars] in 2019, and hopefully 30 in 2020.”