Yes, volks, it's all in those twin chrome tailpipes.  My buddy calls them "whistle-pipes".  I love it, too!
  It is definitely endearing to all who experience it firsthand, and spawns many happy memories of the 'olden days' when times were simpler, and somehow more fun.
  Some other folks call it 'fweem'.

Mike B.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Zeitgeist 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 6:42 PM
  Subject: Re: That wonderful ignature VW "chrip"!

  I'm pretty sure it was the two little chrome tailpipes fitted to the stock
  muffler.  I smile every time I hear it...quite infrequently these days :(

  On Fri, Mar 13, 2009 at 3:14 PM, Matt Drew <t3vanagon@gmail.com> wrote:

  > You know, that is a GREAT question!
  > I first heard it in mom's '74 Super Beetle and have always just accepted
  > that "it's a VW thing", and never put much more thought into it than that.
  >
  > You can always tell a VW (ok, OLDER VW) by its sound before anything else.
  >
  >
  >
  > Something I've always wondered about...what creates that signature VW
  > > "chirp" coming from the engine?
  > >
  >

  --
  Casey
  '87 300TD
  '94 100CSQ Avant
  '89 Bluestar