7 of Our Favorite Exhaust Systems
When executed just right, a proper exhaust is the cherry on top of the perfect automotive sundae—it stands out in its own right, but it also completes the package. And it’s not just the sound, glorious though it may be. The visual—and sometimes the artistry—that a good set of pipes can add sometimes does more to define a car than any bit of thoughtfully penned bodywork.
We got to thinking about the sights and sounds that captivate us most, and this list was the result. We could have gone on for days, though, and we bet you have some favorites, too, so give our submissions a read, then tell us your favorite exhaust—for whatever reasons you choose—in the comments!
Ford GT40
I’m going to go with the Ford GT40’s “bundle of snakes” exhaust. When you stop to consider the precision with which such a system had to be fabricated, your mind kind of melts a bit. If you’ve never YouTubed one of these things at full honk, do yourself a favor and click play below. — Nate Petroelje
Gurney Eagle
The first time I ever saw a Gurney Eagle was at Gooding’s Pebble Beach auction in 2013. The car was on display in the lobby area of the tent, and I remember being flabbergasted at the intricacies of the exhaust pipes coming out of that Gurney-Weslake V-12. I’d never seen anything like it, and all I could think of was spaghetti twirled up on a fork. — Stefan Lombard
Outlaw Dirt Sprint Car
No question, there are some lovely-to-look-at exhausts here, but I’m more moved by the sound an engine makes through that exhaust, and that’s a tough call. On several occasions I’ve been lucky enough to be at a racetrack when vintage Ferrari Formula 1 cars were making an exhibition run, and the Ferrari 412 T2’s fabric-tearing sound from its 3.0-liter V-12 is just otherworldly. But I’m picking something far less sophisticated: An exhaust note made by simple unmuffled headers fed by a 410-cubic-inch V-8 engine in an outlaw dirt sprint car. One car is loud; 24 sprint cars, representing about 21,600 horsepower, is thunder. The biggest sanctioning body for sprint cars is the World of Outlaws, which runs about 90 races a year, in a season that, in 2024, starts on February 7 and ends on November 9.
Due to local zoning laws, the WoO requires mufflers for 22 of the races. Since my hearing is shot already (Kids! Don’t do drugs, but DO wear earplugs!), I’ll take the unmuffled races, and the unmistakable smell of methanol in the evening. — Steven Cole Smith
Drag Headers
The best exhaust systems are the ones that end after the headers.
I couldn’t have said it much better than SCS. A 410 engine belching out of unmuffled Schoenfeld headers is tops.
But a close second are drag headers. Zoomies or fenderwell are my favorite on old drag cars. That cackle. That’s the noise I’d like to hear out of the trumpets as I approach heaven’s gate. Oh, and the visual appearance of four pipes directing exhaust up and over fat slicks, or peaking around the lip of a fender. Get outta here! — Cameron Neveu
Mercedes SLR McLaren and 1987–93 Mustang LX
My favorite exhaust in terms of looks is the side exit exhaust of the 2003–10 Mercedes SLR McLaren, because of that insane amount of space between the front wheel and the cowl and the subtle little twin pipes peeking under that area. The flat belly pan likely made this a mandatory location, but that only adds to the appeal. But when it comes to looks and sounds, for me there’s nothing like a 1987-93 Mustang LX with its signature chrome double-barreled shotgun tailpipes, and that small block Ford rumble. I could look and listen to that exhaust all day. — Sajeev Mehta
Shelby Mustang GT350
I grew up on V-8s in a GM family. That said, the first time I heard the idle and subsequent roar of a 289 in an early Shelby GT350, I knew Ford had done something right.
It wasn’t till I was older that I learned all about how firing order, crank design, and exhaust setup influenced the amazing sounds that come from our favorite engines. That 289 was what I remember as my earliest favorite so that’s what I picked for this response, but like Steven Cole Smith said, there are so many great sounds out there that it’s a really tough call. — Eddy Eckart
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Mazda 787B.
1969 ZL-1 starting up on Sunday morning at Corvettes @ Carlisle in 1992.
Lots of opinions on this one! Anyone old enough to remember the wail of the NOVI V-8’s at Indy? On Memorial days in the late ‘fifties, we went to our very rustic cabin and listened to the Big Race on the old Philco radio; I was a NOVI fan from that era onward!
Speaking of sprint car headers: too loud in urban areas! We bought a house in ’75 (CalVet loan with two-grand down) about two blocks across the local fair grounds parking lot; there was a group of locals with unwinged sprints that raced on Friday nites that weren’t too racous, and we went often to watch. We even sponsored a hobby (’57 Chevy BA HT, no less! Sorry — but it was a clapped out super-stock already) and pitted regularly for a few years. But then: John Padgen, of the Sacramento Mile brought the so-called World of Outlaws to town for a long, very loud season every year, and all we wanted to do was move away!’
They did a decibel check with fully-baffled Super-Trapps before the races began, then took out all the sound-muffling baffles to race, of course! Thirty-three starters on a clay quarter-mile: the racket was ear-splitting, and the promoters cared nada for the residents complaints. Even a successful lawsuit accomplished nothing, because no one enforced it. They could have relocated, like the local bike MX-outlaw kart track did, to ag land, but refused. So, I’m not enraptured by sprint car exhaust any more. We did move 7 miles away, and some weekends can still hear it, if the wind’s right.
I like race cars, and an old skool cackler is a happy, nostalgic sound to me, but noise for the sake of commercial pro circuit racers who have no community investment, no thanks!
Oh, did anyone mention a good ole’ flathead with twice-pipes breathing through steel-pack cans? Music!
I’ve always loved the Ferrari 312 Formula 1 cars with the flat 12 boxer engines and 12 white spaghetti pipes exiting the engine.
The VWs did have a totally identifiable sound but at times they could be very “ringy” so I would replace those thin factory pipes with the wider “flare tips” that had a fiberglass core and a little deeper rumble. They added at minimum a full 3 horsepower to those beasts!
917 – I was at Monterey when they were celebrating Le Mans. Under the tent, for the exhibition run with some of the greatest entries of all time, the crowd gathered around the 917 for start up. I was right behind the engine. When the thing fired up pandimonium broke out with the small crowd cheering. Never forget that experience. Any radial engine from WW2.
Thursday nights in Napa, shoe box Chevys with home built 302s (327 with 283 crank) turning 8000+ RPM. Most with glass packs and some with cutouts. You could hear them all across town, followed shortly by sirens.
For street cars, the Healey 3000 and the ’65-’66 Plymouth Formula S Barracude.
Glad someone finally mentioned the trapezoidal exhaust setup on the 273 Formula S Barracuda’s and Dodge Darts . Very musical on acceleration and like a bowl of rice crispies on the overrun or downshift .
No shout-out for the Porsche 911?
I followed a late ’80s 911 through heavy traffic on I75 in Atlanta once – the driver clearly knew their manual transmission well, and was constantly upshifting and downshifting (as was I) – and that exhaust – a sweet, sweet symphony! Makes a Mustang sound like a high school concert band, in comparison.
I raced a 81 RX-7, half the HP must have gone to noise. The only noisier is a Porsche with straight exhaust.
My vote goes to the 7-Liter Ferrari that Herbert Mueller drove in the Can-Am series. At Road America, Elkhart Lake WI, he was obvious while you were in the paddock and he was out in the “Back 40” in the carousel !
THAT was a scream that could raise the dead in a thunderstorm !
ONLY Can-Am car that startled me when it fired up, and I worked TECH for many, many years for SCCA !
I like the sound of the Mustang Gt Active Performance Exhaust on the Sport+ setting!
Humm…… BRM V16. Fantasy.
My old ‘88 Alfa Romeo verte C6
Reality.
Wow! You guys don’t make it easy.
Since I am a little prejudiced, because I have owned my ‘86 Mustang GT with a mildly built 302, for over 36 years, I lean toward the Fox Body Mustang.
However, the GT 40 and the Gurney Weslake V-12 definitely will top my prejudice, with the V-12 coming out on top…but only slightly over the GT 40.
A Wright 3350 on start-up is hard to beat. Don’t stand behind it though.
Great! Was wondering if someone else was considering round engines.