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FIVE CLASSIC FACTORY DUAL EXHAUST SYSTEMS

Jerry Admin

Dual exhaust systems weren’t much of a factor with regular production cars until Ford introduced the flathead V-8 in March 1932.

That’s when the performance guys added dual exhausts to make the old flattie breathe better–and up the horsepower in the process.

The dual exhaust was an add-on in the lower-priced field where every dollar counted, but eventually Detroit added factory dual exhausts to make the bigger OHV V-8s live up the big displacement—here are five cool examples.

Jerry Sutherland

The 1957 Buick came with a factory dual exhaust system in the higher-end, higher-powered 364 cubic inch V-8.

The unique part of the exhaust is how it exited through the bumper like a jet exhaust—the perfect location for the jet age 1950s era. Everything was cool on the big Buick, but that added touch with the exhaust outlet set the tone for this big, bad Buick.

The 1961 Chrysler New Yorker station wagon with the 413 cubic inch big block was another good example of a rare factory dual exhaust system.

Station wagons typically didn’t have dual exhausts for a few reasons. The long roofs were notorious for sucking in exhaust through the back window, so another exhaust outlet wasn’t a great idea. They had wind deflectors for wagons and side dump exits, but very few wagons came with dual exhausts—the ’61 Chrysler was one of them.

The 1964 Pontiac GTO was an instant legend when it debuted—it was the perfect car at the perfect time.

There’s a large list of reasons why the ’64 GTO was so cool—ranging from the big-block in a smaller car formula to the GTO name itself. This car was a street brawler from the start, so the exhaust splitter out both sides told you the Goat wasn’t a sleeper. Anything less would have taken the GTO back to Pontiac Tempest status. 

The next example of a great dual exhaust system is found on the 1968 Shelby Mustang.

The Shelby was one of the finest examples of a Mustang, so the dual exhaust outlets had to fit the mood of this muscled-up pony car. They definitely fit the mood because the exhaust exited through the rear valence and gave the exhaust outlets just enough prominence to get your attention. But they weren’t so over the top they stole the show from the rest of the ’68 Shelby.   

The fifth example is the 1970 Dodge Challenger RT.         

The Challenger was late to the pony car party, so it had to carry its own brand to get attention at the Dodge dealerships across North America. They had a lot going for them with things like 426 hemi options and the T/A model, but one of the nicest touches was the quad exhaust outlets in the rear bumper. They told you everything you needed to know about whether the Challenger was really a challenger in the real world.

Deep down inside every car guy wants a dual exhaust system. They’re far more common in 2025, but they were rare in the classic era of the 50s and 60s.

It could have been the rumble—it could have been the visuals of two exhausts—it could have been both reasons. Dual exhausts were just that cool.     

Jerry Sutherland

By: Jerry Sutherland

Jerry Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer with a primary focus on the collector car hobby. His work has been published in many outlets and publications, including the National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Ottawa Citizen, Montreal Gazette, Saskatoon StarPhoenix, Regina Leader-Post,  Vancouver Sun and The Truth About Cars. He is also a regular contributor to Auto Roundup Publications.

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