When you own an older performance car like an early Chevy Corvette, and you need to replace the exhaust, finding an OE or original equipment exhaust system can be challenging. Buying the vintage Chevy Corvette exhaust system online is sometimes an option if you were to look for the parts and are confident in what you need. 

Original Equipment Used Parts

When searching for parts for a vintage car, it can be challenging to find anything original still on the market. However, sometimes you can search out used parts that are OE parts but have been on a car before.

In some situations, there are collectors that buy parts for the cars they have and are willing to part with something like a Chevy Corvette exhaust system for your vintage car that is in nearly new condition. Buying parts this way is sometimes risky because if there is a variation in the parts you need from one year to the next, you could end up with exhaust parts that do not fit properly. 

It is critical to check each piece of the system you are purchasing to ensure it will fit your model year Corvette before purchasing. Often finding these parts for sale requires some searching through vintage car classifieds, car club connections, or a vintage car collectors forum or bulletin board service online. If you find what you need for your car, it is often best to look at them in person, but there are times when the location makes that difficult, and you may have to rely on pictures and information from the seller. 

New Old Stock

Sometimes if you are looking for vintage Chevy Corvette exhaust system parts, you will run across some parts referred to as NOS or new old stock. NOS parts are original equipment parts made by the manufacturer for your car but got left on the shelf of a dealer and forgotten or sold and never used. 

NOS parts are some of the most desirable parts for a vintage car, so the price can be a bit high if you run across them. Since the parts are still new, replacing the aging parts on your Corvette with them is like turning back time and buying new parts for your vintage machine many years later. 

Reproduction Parts

If you cannot find original vintage Chevy Corvette exhaust system parts, reproduction parts from a third-party company are often the next best choice. The parts will look and fit the same, but there can be minor design differences in the exhaust system. 

If you are trying to keep your car all original, this option is often the last resort, but for some vintage car owners, using a reproduction part and having a running vehicle is often a better option than spending months with a car you can't drive because you are holding out for an OE part.