Many Corvette accessories shine, but nothing stands out like a custom Corsa Exhaust. Made specifically for Vettes by Vette freaks, Corsa Exhausts are the perfect mate to the beefy GM iron beneath that sexy hood. Follow along with the story of the best Corvette exhausts—and one of the best Corvette accessories—ever made.

It all started in 1989 in Berea, Ohio, a town more recently known for a famous run-in between a gritty, mustachioed investigative reporter and a lonely Ohio State Buckeyes fan at a public library. And while the computer banks of Berea’s libraries may be a bit scandalous, things are considerably more savory down the road at Corsa’s facilities. In fact, some of the best pipes made come out of Corsa’s clean house, and not just for autos.

In the marine world, Corsa exhausts are king. So, when it came time to make a plunge into the four-wheeled market, Corsa went after the automotive equivalent of a thundering American speedboat: the Corvette. Starting with the C4 generation, Corsa hand-crafted stainless steel exhausts that not only tickled enthusiasts, they turned the heads in GM’s performance shop. This earned Corsa exhausts a lofty place among the Corvette accessories adopted under the General’s label. And, it earned Corsa a place underneath the first of several Indy 500 pace cars. But, how would a specialized product made by a small producer of pipes earn such mainstream distinction?

The answer is technology. A drawback to nearly all exhaust systems made before Corsa debuted was the interior resonance or drone that assaults the ears at certain RPMs. Corsa developed a fully tuned chambered muffler with individually welded deflectors that cancel the drone. But, these deflectors still allowed the high-volume flow that a Vette’s engine requires to maximize performance. Instantly, Corsa had a patent on the best-flowing, best-sounding Corvette exhaust on the market.

The technology behind Corsa’s revolutionary muffler core wouldn’t be anything without the quality manufacturing every set of Corsa pipes receives. They start with 304 stainless steel, the highest grade available for corrosion resistance. Next, the pipes are hydroformed into shape for a restriction-free exhaust path. And, each part of the kit is hand-welded to ensure quality. Combine that with an experienced, precision fit, and the complete Corsa exhaust gave its resonance-canceling technology every opportunity to succeed.

Corvettes have been the sharpest looking car on the road for quite some time now. And the drive toward performance parts is something almost universally held by Vette owners. There may be intricate twin intakes, advanced headers, and even suspension components that get those last few neck hairs to stand at attention. But, nothing to come around in the last 30 years of Corvette accessories has changed Vette performance quite like Corsa’s exhausts. While they have taken the formula from those old Indy pace cars and applied it to virtually any popular car, truck or SUV on the road today, there’ll always be a soft spot for the Corvette beaming from one big Berea warehouse.