There is something about a car’s exhaust that really does it for me. The sound, the look, and the smell… There is nothing else like it.
The sound.
The characteristics that are defined by an engine’s configuration and the way it’s tuned are unleashed through the exhaust. It tells us if we are listening to a cobbled together time bomb, or a finely engineered work of art. We can detect ambition, purpose, and sheer power from the sound that a vehicle emits, and, if it sounds “right,” it excites me to the point of hypnotism.
“I will do whatever it takes to be around the sound of you, and I will do even more to be in control of your sound.”
It really starts before leaving the parking space… The explosion of action that takes place when starting a car indicates the nature of what we’re driving before we ever turn a wheel once we hear the exhaust note. Some come to life with the freneticism of a prize fighter, while others wake slowly and powerfully like a bear waking from hibernating all winter. Some sing, some howl, some bark, and some shriek. It is an initial excitement that never gets old. Once underway, there are changes associated with the tachometer and its sweep up or down the gauge, and sometimes these changes bring wonderful surprises (think Honda VTEC, or getting “on the cam” in cars with aggressive camshafts that smooth out as revs rise). Driving only heightens the appeal of a good sounding exhaust, for backfiring on deceleration, blipping when heeling and toeing, winding out to redline, or simply cruising in a gear (or two) too low are all joys that can be savored while in command from the driver’s seat. There are so many machines that get it “right” that it is virtually impossible for anyone who enjoys automobiles to not find some sort of pleasure while watching cars go by on a busy street. Just think of the lively fours (Mazda Miata, 1st generation Cooper S), sweet sixes (BMW e34 M5, Infiniti G37), brawny eights (any American 289+ ci between 1965 and 1973), unexpected tens (Dodge/SRT Viper, Audi R8 LMS), and glorious twelves (Aston Martin Vantage, Ferrari Daytona) you’ve had the opportunity to hear at random points in your life, and even those of you who don’t consider yourselves purveyors of automobiles have to admit that some vehicles make sounds that cause reactions–good, spontaneous, and irresistable reactions.
The look.
I wish I could explain why finely machined tips are so sexy to me. Why must that 1970 Cutlass have duals that look as powerful as the 350 Rocket that rumble under the hood before it’s deemed “finished?” On the other hand, why can the same car smash through neighborhoods in a coat of primer and still be desirable to the masses so long as the duals holler when the driver mashes the gas? I guess it started with the side pipes on my Hot Wheels–I remember how excited I was when I first saw them in real life. Or, when I first noticed a black crinkle coated Ansa exhaust with polished tips and red paint inside of those angled tips poking out the back of a Super Beetle. The first time I saw a Jaguar E-Type with four pipes lined up together coming out the back of its gorgeous rump I almost made my father crash with my loud, uncontrolled excitement barely containing itself in his back seat. I remember the first time I saw a Supertrapp hanging off the side of FZR 1000, and how surprised I was the first time I saw one peeking out of the back of a Datsun 510. The curvy eroticism that dwells at the rear of 60s Formula one cars is enough to make a person stay awake at night, with words like “mandrel bent,” “stainless,” “polished,” and “ceramic coated” floating through his (or her) head.
Even on the O.E. (original equipment) side, an exhaust system is a great opportunity for a manufacturer to determine what they want a given car to stand for. Those four exhaust tips out of BMW’s M3s and M5s at the turn of the century (e46 and e39) let consumers and competitors alike know that the German company was proud of their cars‘ prowess, and that they were taking all comers. Since then, many other brands have adopted this look (to the point that it is commonplace now), but those two Bimmers blazed a trail that the public apparently likes. It feels good to know this attraction isn’t unique to me, even though I’d still savor it even if it was.
The smell.
I admit that it’s pretty unhealthy to stand around and inhale exhaust all day (or night), but for the right machines, I will do just that. Again, I am not alone in this, for hordes of people go to car shows, race tracks, and spontaneous, unsanctioned gatherings all over the world to enjoy automobilia and the associated odors that come with it. The byproduct of watching these machines motivate is the smell of exhaust. Most of the time we fans don’t pay much attention to how used we get to the smell that goes with the lifestyle, but it is a factor that is always there. After riding a motorcycle triple digit speeds, when the rider gets to his or her destination people that approach recognize the smell of speed. After getting out of a vintage car, its passengers have a distinct smell attached to their clothes and lingering in their nostrils that makes the event even more memorable. When standing next to a brand new engine as it fires and is tuned for the first time, there is a smell that lets the onlooker know that this is a special moment. This part of the exhaust experience is overlooked by many, but enjoyed by all. It wouldn’t penetrate as deeply if we couldn’t smell it, you smell me?
So, the next time you think about your favorite vehicle, think about what attributes help it climb to the top of your personal list. I’d be surprised if something related to the exhaust isn’t a major factor in your judging criteria, but if it isn’t, perhaps you should take another listen, look, or smell.
