Jim Glickenhaus Is Creating a Modern Take on Steve McQueen's Baja Boot
Update 7/16/18: This article has been updated with the Boot's power output, as well as SCG's plans to race it in the 2019 Baja 1000.
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 650-horsepower 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 planning on using its first real example to compete in the Baja 1000 in 2019. Because SCG plans on making the Boot street-legal, the team wants to drive the truck to and from the event. There is one customer slot open for this endeavor, with full training and race support available. 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.
Not only does SCG dream about setting a world altitude driving record with an "Expedition" edition of its Boot, Glickenhaus himself also intends to do the grandest tour of them all. And he doesn't want to go alone:
"We would like to extend a formal invitation to Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley, Land Rover, Volvo, Jaguar, Ford, GM, Dodge, Audi, Porsche, Alfa, Maserati, Jeep, Mercedes and any and all other Manufacturers of SUVs to join us with their offerings, driving West from NY, amphibiously across the Bering Sea, down the Road of Bones, across the Trans Siberian Highway through Beijing, Moscow, St. Petersburg and then on to Paris for a nice dinner on us. We plan to leave Times Square Summer 2020..."
Wait. Does he know something about Ferrari's SUV we don't?
Glickenhaus is also pushing forward with the development of a GT3/GTE version of SCG 004, which he intend to race at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2019. The SCG 003C won't miss this year's N24 either.
Speaking of the SCG 003, the company was granted low-volume manufacturer status in the US last year, and as a result, the first road-going Stradale version is out there, doing its shakedown laps.
A post shared by Jeff Westphal (@westphalracing) on Feb 18, 2018 at 9:25am PST
What's more, after its production was moved to the US from Italy, SCG sold one road-legal 003 Competizione Stradale, plus three track-only 003 Competiziones. Glickenhaus told us it has three further 003s ordered for 2018/2019, including a race car conversion to a CS. Not bad from a startup charging $2.2 million a pop.
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."
Update: the SCG 004 will have a 690 horsepower twin-turbo V6 out of the Nissan GTR, both in road and race trim.
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."
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