No-one builds a Corvette with more fervor, commitment and attention to detail than Rich Lagasse, as this 1963 Split Window coupe demonstrates. This is the third car of this type he has built and, by any measure, the best in his self-described “Pro-Classic” series of personalized Corvettes. Like his earlier efforts, this rolling object d’art, dubbed “Split Personality”, is the result of the accumulated talents and efforts of family and friends in the hobby which required 4 years from design to completion and over 12,000 hours of their efforts out of a total of 15,000 hours of labor. The theme for this car was to combine the original styling of the first Z06 model offered with the latest Corvette technology.

Based on an original C2 coupe, the car is built on a SRIII Motorsports tube frame which was hand-smoothed by Lagasse and epoxy primed and painted by Corvette Center in Newington, CT. Every piece of the C5 front- and C4 rear suspension was smoothed, polished and then chrome-plated, including numerous custom components. Baer EradiSpeed rotors and Michelin Pilot Sport radials combine with custom polished aluminum wheels and Z06 bake calipers to complete the rolling stock.

The driveline combines a 550-plus HP LS7 427 engine, polished 6-speed Tremec T-56 transmission and Dana 44 third member with 3.90 gears, every piece hand finished to gleaming perfection. Special engine bay features include a custom Be Cool radiator and expansion tank, a custom dry sump tank and a custom Rochester-fuel-injection-style intake cover - the perfect finishing touch tying the modern power-plant to its period roots.

Interior Motives in Manchester, CT stitched the two-tone Grey leather interior, which was designed by Lagasse to emphasize the 1963 model’s basic design while incorporating subtle modern elements like C5 seats, unique gauges by Classic Instruments, power windows, Vintage Air, rear-view camera/monitor and a multi-speaker sound system. Amongst dozens of one-off designs throughout the car, and typical of the amount of thought put into the project, is the specially-designed “Split Personality” headrest embroidery inspired by the factory “Z06” insignias.

“Split Personality” made its debut at the 2008 Detroit Autorama, where it contended for the coveted Ridler Award and eventually received four awards: First in Class, Outstanding Sports Car, Outstanding Paint and the CASI Cup for Best in Show. Since then the car has won a total of 52 awards and prizes, including numerous Best of Shows and individual awards for Outstanding Sports Car, Paint, Undercarriage, Engine and Detail. It was also the International Show Car Association Full Sports Class National Champion. It has been the cover feature car in several magazines, most memorably as the subject of an 8-part series of articles in Corvette Fever magazine beginning in the February 2007 issue and culminating in a February 2009 feature story.

The “Split Personality” 1963 Corvette is possibly the most decorated and popular custom Corvette ever, and for good reason: it was a labor of love, one that has rewarded its creators and inspired its admirers, and that will long stand as the highest example of the custom automobile as art form.