Skip to main content
The initial render of the red-with-white-stripes SCG 008 kit car buggy
Trends

The SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy Is a Build-Your-Own Boot

The first desert-hopping dune buggies were made from VW Beetles. But today, the lightweight off-road racer formula has gotten a bit more extreme. From stripped-down Singer Safari 911s to the Ariel Nomad, there’s a wide variety of vehicles ready to take on Baja. That list also includes the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG) Boot, which already …
by Matthew Skwarczek
Published on
3 min read

The first desert-hopping dune buggies were made from VW Beetles. But today, the lightweight off-road racer formula has gotten a bit more extreme. From stripped-down Singer Safari 911s to the Ariel Nomad, there’s a wide variety of vehicles ready to take on Baja. That list also includes the Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus (SCG) Boot, which already raced there. Only now, there’s a kit car version available: the SCG 008, aka the ‘004 Mini Boot.’

Glickenhaus previously teased a ‘Mini Boot’ version of the Baja-racing SCG Boot

The side 3/4 view of the red-and-black SCG Boot going down a rocky desert hill
SCG Boot side 3/4 | Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus

A tribute to the Baja racer championed by Steve McQueen, the SCG Boot is a genuine street-legal racing SUV. It made its debut in 2019, whereupon it beat the other big name racing in its class, the Ford Bronco R. And in 2020, the SCG Boot won its class again, once more beating the Bronco, Hagerty reports.

Shortly thereafter, Glickenhaus hinted that SCG was working on a slightly less extreme off-roader, Hagerty reports. This hypothetical ‘Mini Boot’ drew inspiration from another famous racer, the Porsche 959, Autoblog reports. And while it wouldn’t offer quite the same level of performance as the Boot, it would still be qualified to take on the likes of Baja and the Paris-Dakar.

The initial render of the red-with-white-stripes SCG 008 kit car buggy
SCG 008 initial render | Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus

At the time, the SCG ‘Mini Boot’ existed only as a teaser image. The American manufacturer’s website even describes it as “an April Fools joke.” But now, it’s official: SCG is making the 008 a reality.

The SCG 008 is indeed a mini, kit-car Boot

Technically, the SUV’s full name is ‘SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy,’ Motor1 reports. But in the interest of saving time, we’ll just call it ‘SCG 008.’

Visually, the updated SCG 008 images aren’t terribly different from the initial renders, Autoblog reports. The SUV is still essentially a Boot-style chromoly-steel tube-frame chassis with a composite body inspired by the SCG 004 supercar. But the rally-style light pod is now mounted on top of the body, the spare tires aren’t mounted on the roof, and there’s no rear spoiler, Muscle Cars & Trucks reports.

Initially, SCG claimed the 008 would come standard with rear-wheel drive, with 4WD as an option, MotorTrend reports. And as of this writing, that appears to still be the case. Being a kit car, SCG can’t sell the 004 Mini Boot with an engine, as it’s not a replica. And it’s unlikely the 008 will accommodate the Boot’s engine, a 650-hp 6.2-liter supercharged V8, Top Gear reports. That being said, both Muscle Cars & Trucks and Autoblog report that buyers could fit the SCG 008 with a smaller GM V8.

The rear 3/4 view of a render of the red SCG 008 showing its rear-mounted spare tires
SCG 008 render rear 3/4 | Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus

But, while we don’t know specifically which engines SCG will offer in the 008, we do have some other technical specs. The 3500-lb ‘buggy’ rides on 17” wheels wrapped in either DOT-approved tires or 37” BFGoodrich race tires connected to Fox coil-over shocks. And though it’s only 72” tall, it has 18” of ground clearance, 20” of front travel, and 21” of rear travel. Plus, the SCG 008 is still a road-legal car, complete with a DOT-approved windshield, lights, turn signals, mirrors, and seatbelts/harnesses.

How much will it cost?

As of this writing, SCG hasn’t released pricing or availability details for the 008.

However, Jalopnik reports that Glickenhaus was previously targeting a starting price of $130,000. Also, the company plans to start testing “before April 1, 2021.” And the buggy will race in this year’s Baja 1000, Autoblog reports.

Let’s just see, then, if SCG’s ‘Mini Boot’ has the same capabilities as its big brother.

Follow more updates from MotorBiscuit on our Facebook page.

Related

Kartcross Is the Craziest Racing Series You’ve Never Heard Of

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
MotorBiscuit Staff Writer, Producer - Sedans & Coupes

Matthew Skwarczek

Matthew Skwarczek started blogging in 2015 and focuses his writing on motorcycles and engineering science. A graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned his Master’s in Chemical Engineering, Matthew served as an applications engineer for BASF before joining MotorBiscuit in 2019.

In Matthew’s words, the visceral nature of riding requires you to be in the moment. Combined with his fascination in the analytics surrounding the building and designing of cars and bikes, both modern and classic, you’ll find his voice blends functionality and phenomena. He rides motorcycles and bicycles often, photographing them as well.

Matthew has contributed to Oppositelock and is now an alumnus. He plays Dungeons & Dragons and reads sci-fi and fantasy in his spare time, and appreciates the works of Peter Egan, Sam Smith, Brandon Sanderson, and Alex Goy.