The Dodge Charger was offered in many different configurations during the generation that ran from 2015 through 2023, but there were a few combinations that were never offered. The Widebody package that was available on the R/T Scat Pack and standard on all SRT® Hellcat models starting in 2021 was never offered on any models with the 5.7-liter HEMI® or the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine. The all-wheel-drive system was only offered on Pentastar models for civilian use and the police-issue Dodge Charger Pursuit was the only model available with the combination of HEMI engine power and all-wheel-drive. In short, the average consumer couldn’t walk into their local Dodge dealership and buy a Dodge Charger with the Widebody package, a HEMI V8 engine and all-wheel-drive, but at Roadkill Nights 2024, there was a white Dodge Charger Widebody with a V8 and all-wheel-drive.
When this car was first brought to my attention, I thought that someone had added all-wheel-drive and the components of the Widebody package to a Dodge Charger R/T, but the build is even more interesting than that. This car is owned by Steven Pupa and what appears in passing to be a Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody without badges is actually a 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit with the 5.7-liter HEMI engine, all-wheel-drive, some SRT suspension components, interior from a Chrysler 300S and the body bits from an SRT Hellcat – making this one of the most unique “police cars” you will ever see.
When Steven Pupa first bought this 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit, it was a decommissioned state police car, painted all white and equipped with the 5.7-liter HEMI engine and the police-specific all-wheel-drive option, as well as the duty-ready wheels, brakes, suspension and interior components. At first, his plan was to replace the front and rear fascia with those items from an SRT or Scat Pack model, but when his wife mentioned that she liked the widebody look – he decided to go that route.
“I found a guy with an auction car he bought for driveline so I grabbed some body parts from him then found more from local auto recyclers. It ended up getting different front fenders, both bumpers, rear doors, hood, rocker covers and the rear quarters had to be modified,” said Pupa. “Then the wheels are ‘normal’ RWD wheels 20×9 with 275x40x20 rubber. The front sit just about right, but for the rear I ended up putting a 1-inch spacer to bump them out (but I think I’m going to grab some 11-in-wide wheels for the rear and see how those look).”
Next, he turned his attention to the interior, where he planned to replace all of the Dodge Charger Pursuit seats with sportier, more comfortable units from a Chrysler 300S. However, he quickly learned that the wiring of the police car was different from that of the civilian Chrysler, creating an issue for the power seat function. To maintain his power-adjustable driver’s seat, Pupa ended up using the original seat frames of the Charger Pursuit, but he added the foam cushioning from the 300C and some custom red-and-black seat skins. For the rear seat, he was able to directly swap the fixed police bench for the folding Chrysler bench, but he added custom red-and-black skins so that they matched the front.
In addition to the civilian rear seat and modified front seats, Pupa’s Dodge Charger was also outfitted with an array of items that made for a better daily driver while adding some sporty style. A civilian center console that incorporates the shifter, heated/cooled cupholders and rear HVAC vents was installed, as was a flat-bottom steering wheel with shift paddles, leather-wrapped door panels with proper handles for the rear and the 8.4-inch Uconnect® infotainment system.
Finally, Steven Pupa added some items that improved every aspect of performance of his unique Dodge Charger Pursuit. At first, he added long tube headers and the valved 2.75-inch exhaust system from a Scat Pack, but he recently ran into a lifter issue that will require him to open up the engine. While it is apart, he will be adding a 6.4 camshaft and intake manifold to further improve the power output. The police rear suspenison setup was replaced with Bilstein shocks and SRT springs, and the factory police-spec calipers have been mated with drilled and slotted rotors – but he does plan to install SRT Brembo brakes in the near future.
After Pupa explained all of the items that he changed in creating this unique Dodge Charger Pursuit, we asked if there were any aspects of the build that were more difficult than he initially expected. He pointed out the rear quarter panel modifications and the seat wiring issues mentioned above, but he also dealt with the car going into limp mode, which was solved by new ABS tone rings.
In closing, Steven Pupa wanted to thank his wife and family for “putting up with my crazy hobby and giving me the ideas to run wild with.” Many people buy decommissioned police cars for daily drivers, but Pupa has converted this Dodge Charger Pursuit HEMI/AWD cop car into one of the most unique Widebody Chargers we have ever seen and he did so using almost all factory parts from other models.
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