Holzer 3000 Baja
Manufacturer: Holzer Motoren Werke AG
Nationality: Germany
First assembled: November 27, 2053
Birthplace: Sinzheim, BaWü, Germany
Engine: 3.7 L Twin-turbo W6
HP: 591 BHP
0-60: 4.3 Seconds
Top speed: 165.00 MPH
Holzer's legendary 3000 sportscar earned its status for a litany of reasons. There's simply how long the nameplate has been around, with entire generations of fans having come and gone in it's even-lengthening lifespan. There's how refined the nameplate has become over time, with Holzer using everything at its disposal to ensure a sublime driving experience unlike anything out there. It's also the practicality and versatility the nameplate has continued to provide, something other sportscars struggle with to this day. To a more debatable extent, there's the design, which while Holzer faithful see it as timeless and elegant, others see it as tired and in desperate need of something radically new. One thing that absolutely isn't up for debate is how adaptable the nameplate has been. Multiple platforms in the 3000's history have done just about everything a car can do. It's been a comfortable grand tourer, a lazer-focused track machine, a technological testbed, to a purebread road-racing legend. With its primary intention as a more livable sportscar, one probably wouldn't think of the 3000 as something fit for going off-road. They'd be very, very wrong. The 3000 history has seen just as much sand and mud as its seen tarmac, and its a piece of its history that Holzer is anything but ashamed of. If anything, the 3000's surprising off-roading prowess is seen as a bit of a badge of honor among the company itself and their fanbase.
Holzer's adventures off the pavement began when they entered the 1975 World Rally Championship. At this time the original platform of the 3000, the model number "501", was still in production after over a decade. It would not win the overall WRC championship of that year, losing to Italian rivals Stella-Nicola, but that's not what's important. What is important is when the championship arrived in Kenya for the infamous Safari Rally. Active since the 50s, the Safari Rally was historically regarded by then as one of the harshest on the calendar and has arguably only gotten tougher. The sheer variety in terrain from fine powder to rough valley roads could shake up even the most experienced drivers, and it would only get worse with rain, turning most of these road into deep, thick mud. Kenya's various wildlife made for an interesting hazard as well, with modern teams needing air support to warn drivers ahead of time if any four-legged spectators could cause trouble. Cars for this event were specifically strengthened for this event, featuring beefier tires, increased right height, bullbars, bright rally lights to warn the aforementioned wildlife, and even snorkels for deeper water crossings. Safari was well-known for being one of the fastest rallies, but drivers that were more cautious and reliable usually came out on top. Which is how Holzer came out on top in the '75 Safari Rally. The 3000 rally car proved to be surprisingly hardy against the brutal Kenyan terrain, and was one of the few cars to even reach the finish line. Holzer even had the distinction of being the only team to finish without any major mechanical issues. This stunning performance gave higher-ups at Holzer some interesting ambitions, and in 1983 a special iteration of the 3000 would find itself at the infamous Dakar Rally. One of the toughest rally raid events on earth, it was certainly something else to see a small european sportscar as a serious entrant. Holzer made sure the 3000 was ready, though. Extremely modded suspension, an experimental four-wheel drive system prepped for an upcoming roadcar, and a toughened W6 engine ensured the 3000 was ready for nothing short of outright war. It paid off, with the 3 cars Holzer entered taking 1st, 2nd, and 5th overall. Bolstered by this high-profile win, Holzer would take this 3000 to other rally raid-style events, most notably becoming a common sight at the Baja 1000 in North America. The 3000 was now a staple nameplate in motorsports, both on and off road.
With such a history in rallying like the 3000's, many owners would take to modifying their cars for off-road use. A lift kit and roof rack are some of the most popular modifications for vintage 3000s, and its virtually guaranteed a Holzer is going to appear whenever a classic rally is being held. Some Holzer purists abhor this trend of "Baja" 3000s, but considering Holzer's own history its undeniably in the spirit of what the 3000 is about and what its capabilities are. Its to the point where some more high-profile tuning companies take vintage 3000s and completely remake them with bespoke components, leaving very little of the original car by the end. The thing that made all these "Baja 3000s" special was that despite their extensive modifications, they were commonly street-legal. For the longest time, Holzer themselves never did anything similar with later 3000 models, nor even racing them in off-roading events. The "Baja 3000" was strictly an enthusiast creation for decades. It wasn't until the early 21st century that Holzer both properly acknowledged its history and the certain subset of enthusiasts it created by making the Baja 3000 official during the nameplate's "526" model years. Seriously, Holzer called this trim the 3000 Baja, and it did a great job honoring the past. Noticeably lifted ride height on all-terrain rally tires, front and rear brush guards, a roof rack, all great for taking the 3000 back off the pavement. Sure, there were tuning companies that could make the 3000 more extreme, but Holzer's official interpretation had the advantage of balancing great off-roading capability with the daily usability the 3000 nameplate was famous for. Another thing this official 3000 Baja had was exclusivity. 1,500 ever where, produced for only 1 year. To this very day 3000 Bajas catch quite the pricetag on second hand markets and auction circles, and the Baja name is now considered a legacy name. It wouldn't appear in later models after the "526" years, at least not until the middle of the 21st century when the 3000 was right in the middle of its "553" model. In 2052 a 553-model 3000 test mule was spotted on Holzer's proving grounds in Sinzheim, Germany. Beefier tires, a lifted ride height and front/rear brush guards were obvious tells of just what this car was for despite the heavy testing camouflage on it. In spring of 2053, the 70th anniversary of Holzer's victory in Dakar, the secrecy stopped and the 3000 Baja made a triumphant return. Holzer promised that this iteration of the nameplate wasn't just better than the prior iteration in every way, but one of the best off-road performance cars to be produced at the time. From the specs they were showing off at the new 3000 Baja's unveiling, it sure seemed like Holzer knew what they were saying.
The latest 3000 Baja is based on the Monaco S trim level, right down to the same powertrain; the turbocharged 3.7 L W6. Holzer's bread and butter, this powertrain has nearly a century's worth of refinement behind it, and in the Baja it even gets a boost. While the Monaco S tops out at 553 HP, the Baja is boosted to nearly 600 HP. Does that make the Baja faster? Not exactly. The Monaco S has a 0-60 of under 4 seconds, while the Baja is over. The Monaco S has a top speed nearing 200 MPH, but the Baja is limited to just 165. Sounds like a downgrade on paper, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While the Monaco S is limited to paved surfaces, the Baja can hit its speeds virtually anywhere. Ride height for the Baja is by standard at 6 inches, but can be raised upwards to 9 at the flip of a switch. Combined with titanium front and rear skid plates and chunky off-road tires, the Baja is the most rugged 3000 variant ever conceived right off the bat, and it doesn't even stop there. To really get an idea of the kind of terrain the new Baja is meant to handle, look at the front corner. Those flaps sticking out at the sides aren't pieces of aero. They're basically mudflaps, meant to stop muddy water from splashing up towards the windshield and obscuring visibility. They also help keep the roof-mounted rally lights clean, so that the Baja can operate in dark conditions or foggy weather. Inside the Baja is an interior that still meets up with the standards for Holzer's refinement, but it's certainly not as luxurious or practical. The comfy leather seats from the Monaco S are replaced with race-spec bucket seats. The rear seats are also gone entirely to not just save weight, but make room for a roll cage. One of the most notable visual alterations for the Baja is with the rear window. Specifically the lack of one, as that's where the full spare wheel is mounted. Rear visibility for the driver of a Baja is now entirely handled by a backup camera. Just above that spare tire on the Baja's roof is the roof rack, along with some very important equipment for anyone planning to take their Baja on a particularly extreme rally raid. Every Baja comes standard with a large fluid canister, recovery boards, and a large travel box. In this box is a foldable shovel, collapsible ladder, a fold-out 2-person tent, flares, an electronic GPS beacon, and a basic survival kit including items like a first aid kit, fire starters, and rations. With this latest Baja, Holzer was determined to really bring the rally raid experience to their roadcar lineup in every regard.
Right when the latest 3000 Baja was unveiled, Holzer opened up preorders. In little under 4 hours, the $275,000 Baja sold out entirely. Holzer stated that the Baja was going to be a limited model like other models before it that bore the name, only being produced in 2053 with a total production number of 1,983 cars to ever leave the plant in Sinzheim. Many Bajas disappointingly ended up as collectors items, never seeing a surface more treacherous than a few potholes. Some however would find their way off the streets and into the wilds. One privateer racing team even went as far as to do something Holzer didn't; take the Baja racing. In the 2054 Baja 1000 in California, a race-prepped 3000 Baja was entered in the Class 3 division. Besides some class-mandatory mods to allow it to compete, the 3000 Baja was basically stock, as it left the Sinzheim plant. And it was still competitive against other heavily-modified vehicles, scoring 2nd place in the class having only lost to a Thunderhead Fenrir compact 4x4. Not quite the heights Holzer is known for, but still a great result that shows just how much off-road racing is in the brand's DNA, now and hopefully long into the future.
Holzer 3000 Baja
Manufacturer: Holzer Motoren Werke AG
Nationality: Germany
First assembled: November 27, 2053
Birthplace: Sinzheim, BaWü, Germany
Engine: 3.7 L Twin-turbo W6
HP: 591 BHP
0-60: 4.3 Seconds
Top speed: 165.00 MPH
Holzer's legendary 3000 sportscar earned its status for a litany of reasons. There's simply how long the nameplate has been around, with entire generations of fans having come and gone in it's even-lengthening lifespan. There's how refined the nameplate has become over time, with Holzer using everything at its disposal to ensure a sublime driving experience unlike anything out there. It's also the practicality and versatility the nameplate has continued to provide, something other sportscars struggle with to this day. To a more debatable extent, there's the design, which while Holzer faithful see it as timeless and elegant, others see it as tired and in desperate need of something radically new. One thing that absolutely isn't up for debate is how adaptable the nameplate has been. Multiple platforms in the 3000's history have done just about everything a car can do. It's been a comfortable grand tourer, a lazer-focused track machine, a technological testbed, to a purebread road-racing legend. With its primary intention as a more livable sportscar, one probably wouldn't think of the 3000 as something fit for going off-road. They'd be very, very wrong. The 3000 history has seen just as much sand and mud as its seen tarmac, and its a piece of its history that Holzer is anything but ashamed of. If anything, the 3000's surprising off-roading prowess is seen as a bit of a badge of honor among the company itself and their fanbase.
Holzer's adventures off the pavement began when they entered the 1975 World Rally Championship. At this time the original platform of the 3000, the model number "501", was still in production after over a decade. It would not win the overall WRC championship of that year, losing to Italian rivals Stella-Nicola, but that's not what's important. What is important is when the championship arrived in Kenya for the infamous Safari Rally. Active since the 50s, the Safari Rally was historically regarded by then as one of the harshest on the calendar and has arguably only gotten tougher. The sheer variety in terrain from fine powder to rough valley roads could shake up even the most experienced drivers, and it would only get worse with rain, turning most of these road into deep, thick mud. Kenya's various wildlife made for an interesting hazard as well, with modern teams needing air support to warn drivers ahead of time if any four-legged spectators could cause trouble. Cars for this event were specifically strengthened for this event, featuring beefier tires, increased right height, bullbars, bright rally lights to warn the aforementioned wildlife, and even snorkels for deeper water crossings. Safari was well-known for being one of the fastest rallies, but drivers that were more cautious and reliable usually came out on top. Which is how Holzer came out on top in the '75 Safari Rally. The 3000 rally car proved to be surprisingly hardy against the brutal Kenyan terrain, and was one of the few cars to even reach the finish line. Holzer even had the distinction of being the only team to finish without any major mechanical issues. This stunning performance gave higher-ups at Holzer some interesting ambitions, and in 1983 a special iteration of the 3000 would find itself at the infamous Dakar Rally. One of the toughest rally raid events on earth, it was certainly something else to see a small european sportscar as a serious entrant. Holzer made sure the 3000 was ready, though. Extremely modded suspension, an experimental four-wheel drive system prepped for an upcoming roadcar, and a toughened W6 engine ensured the 3000 was ready for nothing short of outright war. It paid off, with the 3 cars Holzer entered taking 1st, 2nd, and 5th overall. Bolstered by this high-profile win, Holzer would take this 3000 to other rally raid-style events, most notably becoming a common sight at the Baja 1000 in North America. The 3000 was now a staple nameplate in motorsports, both on and off road.
With such a history in rallying like the 3000's, many owners would take to modifying their cars for off-road use. A lift kit and roof rack are some of the most popular modifications for vintage 3000s, and its virtually guaranteed a Holzer is going to appear whenever a classic rally is being held. Some Holzer purists abhor this trend of "Baja" 3000s, but considering Holzer's own history its undeniably in the spirit of what the 3000 is about and what its capabilities are. Its to the point where some more high-profile tuning companies take vintage 3000s and completely remake them with bespoke components, leaving very little of the original car by the end. The thing that made all these "Baja 3000s" special was that despite their extensive modifications, they were commonly street-legal. For the longest time, Holzer themselves never did anything similar with later 3000 models, nor even racing them in off-roading events. The "Baja 3000" was strictly an enthusiast creation for decades. It wasn't until the early 21st century that Holzer both properly acknowledged its history and the certain subset of enthusiasts it created by making the Baja 3000 official during the nameplate's "526" model years. Seriously, Holzer called this trim the 3000 Baja, and it did a great job honoring the past. Noticeably lifted ride height on all-terrain rally tires, front and rear brush guards, a roof rack, all great for taking the 3000 back off the pavement. Sure, there were tuning companies that could make the 3000 more extreme, but Holzer's official interpretation had the advantage of balancing great off-roading capability with the daily usability the 3000 nameplate was famous for. Another thing this official 3000 Baja had was exclusivity. 1,500 ever where, produced for only 1 year. To this very day 3000 Bajas catch quite the pricetag on second hand markets and auction circles, and the Baja name is now considered a legacy name. It wouldn't appear in later models after the "526" years, at least not until the middle of the 21st century when the 3000 was right in the middle of its "553" model. In 2052 a 553-model 3000 test mule was spotted on Holzer's proving grounds in Sinzheim, Germany. Beefier tires, a lifted ride height and front/rear brush guards were obvious tells of just what this car was for despite the heavy testing camouflage on it. In spring of 2053, the 70th anniversary of Holzer's victory in Dakar, the secrecy stopped and the 3000 Baja made a triumphant return. Holzer promised that this iteration of the nameplate wasn't just better than the prior iteration in every way, but one of the best off-road performance cars to be produced at the time. From the specs they were showing off at the new 3000 Baja's unveiling, it sure seemed like Holzer knew what they were saying.
The latest 3000 Baja is based on the Monaco S trim level, right down to the same powertrain; the turbocharged 3.7 L W6. Holzer's bread and butter, this powertrain has nearly a century's worth of refinement behind it, and in the Baja it even gets a boost. While the Monaco S tops out at 553 HP, the Baja is boosted to nearly 600 HP. Does that make the Baja faster? Not exactly. The Monaco S has a 0-60 of under 4 seconds, while the Baja is over. The Monaco S has a top speed nearing 200 MPH, but the Baja is limited to just 165. Sounds like a downgrade on paper, but that couldn't be further from the truth. While the Monaco S is limited to paved surfaces, the Baja can hit its speeds virtually anywhere. Ride height for the Baja is by standard at 6 inches, but can be raised upwards to 9 at the flip of a switch. Combined with titanium front and rear skid plates and chunky off-road tires, the Baja is the most rugged 3000 variant ever conceived right off the bat, and it doesn't even stop there. To really get an idea of the kind of terrain the new Baja is meant to handle, look at the front corner. Those flaps sticking out at the sides aren't pieces of aero. They're basically mudflaps, meant to stop muddy water from splashing up towards the windshield and obscuring visibility. They also help keep the roof-mounted rally lights clean, so that the Baja can operate in dark conditions or foggy weather. Inside the Baja is an interior that still meets up with the standards for Holzer's refinement, but it's certainly not as luxurious or practical. The comfy leather seats from the Monaco S are replaced with race-spec bucket seats. The rear seats are also gone entirely to not just save weight, but make room for a roll cage. One of the most notable visual alterations for the Baja is with the rear window. Specifically the lack of one, as that's where the full spare wheel is mounted. Rear visibility for the driver of a Baja is now entirely handled by a backup camera. Just above that spare tire on the Baja's roof is the roof rack, along with some very important equipment for anyone planning to take their Baja on a particularly extreme rally raid. Every Baja comes standard with a large fluid canister, recovery boards, and a large travel box. In this box is a foldable shovel, collapsible ladder, a fold-out 2-person tent, flares, an electronic GPS beacon, and a basic survival kit including items like a first aid kit, fire starters, and rations. With this latest Baja, Holzer was determined to really bring the rally raid experience to their roadcar lineup in every regard.
Right when the latest 3000 Baja was unveiled, Holzer opened up preorders. In little under 4 hours, the $275,000 Baja sold out entirely. Holzer stated that the Baja was going to be a limited model like other models before it that bore the name, only being produced in 2053 with a total production number of 1,983 cars to ever leave the plant in Sinzheim. Many Bajas disappointingly ended up as collectors items, never seeing a surface more treacherous than a few potholes. Some however would find their way off the streets and into the wilds. One privateer racing team even went as far as to do something Holzer didn't; take the Baja racing. In the 2054 Baja 1000 in California, a race-prepped 3000 Baja was entered in the Class 3 division. Besides some class-mandatory mods to allow it to compete, the 3000 Baja was basically stock, as it left the Sinzheim plant. And it was still competitive against other heavily-modified vehicles, scoring 2nd place in the class having only lost to a Thunderhead Fenrir compact 4x4. Not quite the heights Holzer is known for, but still a great result that shows just how much off-road racing is in the brand's DNA, now and hopefully long into the future.