Erica Welch of Camby, Indiana, once owned a 2021 Dodge Charger Scat Pack, but parking it for the winter grew old fast. At one time she’d owned a lifted, four-wheel-drive Corvette, and that sparked an idea. Why not create something with the Scat Pack’s spirit but ready for snow? The result: an ex-law-enforcement, all-wheel-drive, lifted 2017 Dodge Charger Pursuit rolling on 33s.

Acquiring A Wreck With Potential

When Erica and her husband came across the decommissioned 2017 Dodge Charger Pursuit AWD, it was a wreck—literally. After duty with a law enforcement agency, the car had been “retired” to a training facility, where, among other things, it was used for PIT-maneuver practice. Nearly every body panel was scarred, the bulletproof glass was cracked, and a bent rear control arm left it undrivable. Still, Erica and her husband—owners of Bulletproof Garage—saw potential where others saw scrap.

New Body Panels Galore

The pair went to work on the Charger Pursuit. Ultimately, they replaced the bent control arm, along with all four doors (fitted with factory ballistic panels), the trunk lid, and the rear bumper cover. They also swapped out the taillights, driver-side fender, and headlights. The crumpled factory hood was replaced with an aftermarket Hellcat-style hood featuring functional scoops, and a spoiler was added out back. They also sourced bullet proof glass to replace the cracked glass. However, Erica wanted the car to resemble a “wasteland” police vehicle similar to those found in the Twisted Metal video game (note the “Twisted” license plate). For that reason, some damaged body parts were deliberately retained.

3-Inch Lift, 33s, Creative Cutting

To help give the Charger more ground clearance, Erica added a 3-inch spacer kit from Universal Car Lifts to its heavy-duty independent front and rear suspension. Bigger tires called for bolder surgery, so the fenders were radiused about 3 inches, and material was carved from the rocker panels and rear doors. The extra space made room for 275/70R18LT (33-inch) Toyo Open Country A/T II tires wrapped around 9.5-inch-wide XD wheels.

5.7-Liter HEMI, Five-Speed Auto, BW 44-40 Transfer Case

The Charger Pursuit is powered by a 5.7-liter HEMI V8. According to Stellantis press material from 2017, it produces 370 horsepower and 395 pound-feet of torque and includes severe-duty engine cooling. Erica left the engine untouched but added aftermarket mid-pipes and resonators to give it more growl. Power runs through the factory five-speed AutoStick automatic transmission to a BorgWarner 44-40 transfer case. The front and rear differentials are stock, with 3.07:1 gears. Pursuit-package heavy-duty four-wheel disc brakes rein in the Charger’s forward momentum. It also features Pursuit-package performance steering with a cooler.

Vinyl Flooring And A Column Shifter

When Erica purchased the Charger Pursuit the interior was in good condition. However, the rear seat was AWOL, so a used seat was acquired from a salvage yard and installed. It’s also worth noting that the car has a column shifter and off-road-friendly vinyl flooring.

Driven Daily

Erica’s least favorite modification is the ratchet strap holding the truck lid closed. Other than that, she’s pleased with the outcome of the car. In fact, Erica drives “Twisted” daily. So far, she’s put 25,000 miles on the car since completion.

One of Erica’s past vehicles was this 4WD Chevy Corvette. It was part of the inspiration for the buildup of the Dodge Charger Pursuit. (Photo: Erica Welch)