Lucas Bell 
Around this time last year, MC&T shared a report with our readers about a new project in the works at Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus. Initially deemed the Mini Boot, this off-road buggy aimed to combine the best parts of the track-ready SCG 004 and the Baja-winning SCG Boot into one package. And while such an idea may seem a bit silly, the initial renderings were rad enough to silence even the staunchest of critics. Now though, SCG boss James Glickenhaus has shared a new set of renderings on his personal Facebook page, and he has given the off-road machine a proper name. Meet the SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy.
Off-road racing fans are surely familiar with the work of Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, as their Boot racer has managed to beat the Ford Bronco two years in a row at the Baja 1000. If the name of this new project is any indicator of what is to come, we can expect some serious performance out of the 008 Baja Dakar Buggy as well. The car has been designed to compete in the Paris-to-Dakar Buggy Class, as well in Class 10 at the Baja 1000. There are plans to offer both a 2WD and 4×4 variant, in order to comply with Dakar class restrictions.
While the concept may have started out as an April Fools joke, this SCG is shaping up to be anything but a laughing matter.
Compared to the earlier renderings, the latest images of the SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy are a bit less extreme. The light pod has been moved up onto the front hood, while the roof-mounted spare tires now sit in a designated storage area in the rear. There is also no longer a giant rear spoiler, which is something we can get behind.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy is the fact that it is a street-legal kit car. SCG wanted to find a way to bring their products to customers at a lower price point, and found that the kit car path made the most sense in this regard. For this reason, customers will have to independently source a powertrain for the buggy. That said, Glickenhaus has not been shy about suggesting the LS3 V8 from Chevrolet Performance.
The torquey V8 should have no problem motivating the compact off-roader, which is slated to weigh in at only 3,500 pounds. That’s an impressive curb weight when you consider it carries around four 37-inch BFG race tires. You can even knock more weight off of that total if you choose to pony up for a full carbon body as well.
The SCG 008 Baja Dakar Buggy isn’t exactly a cheap offering despite its kit car status however. SCG has said in the past that they want to list the car at $130,000, excluding the price of the powertrain. Should you opt for the Connect and Cruise LS3 V8 and T56 gearbox combo from Chevrolet Performance, you’ll be adding more than $15,000 on top of that base price. Not exactly a budget option, but it is still significantly cheaper than the $258,750 base price of a two-door SCG Boot. Either way, you’ll be hard pressed to find a cooler off-road buggy at any price point.
