VW Beetle Exhaust

If there is one thing every Beetle owner (and pretty much every air-cooled owner) loves it is the engine and the sound it makes. That flat 4 has always been something to enjoy in many ways but the sound is a big part of the package. For some people, the sound is something to be enjoyed as loud as possible, for others the standard systems sound just perfect. Whatever side of the fence you fall on we have the exhaust systems, parts, and fittings you need to upgrade, replace or repair your classic Beetle exhaust. 

If you are after something loud and proud and looking for an aftermarket system or maybe just a back box with some shiny new tips we have everything you need. We stock a range of aftermarket Beetle exhausts to choose from. We have quad pipe Monza tip exhausts from EMPI, Vintage Speed stainless systems as well as Pea Shooter Exhausts and so much more.  

However, you may be looking for something much more standard or stock. If you are doing a full restoration and want to keep everything original then we have standard systems for all the different engine sizes and versions. 

As well as full systems and pipes we also stock a huge range of exhaust kits and fittings as well as heat exchanger tubes, exhaust sections and more. So if you are just looking for a single section of a set of clips, bolts or other small exhaust parts then simply filter the results on the page and you will find what you need. 

The standard Beetle exhaust system is relatively simple. It consists of an inlet manifold (the pipes that connect the silencer to the engine), the silencer itself, and the tailpipes. However, the exact design of the silencer and manifold changed slightly over the years, so it is important to check which type of VW exhaust system your car requires... FIRSTLY, check your engine size and whether it is a single port or twin port version.

If you are unsure which engine size you have, you should check the code on your engine crankcase and consult the chart below:

1200SP           D          8/65>               34BHP
1300SP           F           8/65 - 7/70      40BHP
1300TP           AB        8/70 - 7/73      44BHP
1300TP           AR*      8/73 - 7/75      44BHP
1500SP           H          8/65 - 7/70      40BHP
1500SP           L           8/66 - 7/70      40BHP
1600SP           B           8/68 - 8/70     40BHP
1600TP           AD        8/70 - 7/73     50BHP
1600TP           AE         8/70 - 12/72   50BHP
1600TP           AF         8/70 - 9/92     46BHP
1600TP           AH        8/71 - 7/74     47BHP
1600TP           AJ         8/74 - 1/80     50BHP
1600TP           AK        8/72 - 7/74     47BHP
1600TP           AS        8/73 - 1/80     50BHP

IMPORTANT: Please check your engine code before ordering, many Beetles do not have their original engines, so using your car's production year or log book as a guide is not advisable.

There are two main types of Aftermarket VW Beetle Exhaust Silencer. We stock a huge range to choose from, if in doubt please call!

A high flow silencer, composed of a heavy gauge steel casing containing a perforated central steel core tightly wrapped in high density fibre glass. This creates virtually no back pressure, therefore you lose less power but they are very noisy.

An oval shaped silencer containing perforated tubes. Quiet packs offer very good sound absorption with low back pressure. A Turbo/Mondo muffler is a larger version of a Quiet pack.

The black paint finish on exhaust is designed only to protect the exhaust during transportation to the customer. This is not high temperature paint. Due to the extreme conditions exhaust parts operate under, we are unable to guarantee the finish of chrome plated parts.

Metallic Ceramic Coating has recently been introduced and is a space age, high gloss silver finish that offers high impact protection. It is heat fused at 650 degrees F creating a virtually impenetrable barrier against external corrosion and damage. This coating also lowers the temperature of components, which in turn increases power.

All exhausts are supplied with fibre gaskets. It is worthwhile purchasing a pair of tailpipe fitting kits (£2.95 each - 111-298-051) when you buy any exhaust/header as these contain the clamps and hardware to complete the job. If you are using your heat exchangers and replacing a standard silencer with an aftermarket exhaust, please ask your sales person for advice on re-connecting the air pipes.

If you own a 1974 onwards 1300cc Beetle with the engine number beginning "AR" you can only fit an original style exhaust, unless you change your twin hotspot inlet manifold to the more common single hotspot inlet manifold.

Headers are 4 into 1 manifolds which offer a power increase when compared to standard or all in one exhaust systems. Merged headers are designed for racing purposes and have larger pipe work and a longer collector (the point where the 4 tubes merge) for increased power.

Headers are manufactured from cold rolled steel tubing with mandrel formed bends for maximum gas speed. All normal headers include carburettor pre-heat pipe connections for single carbs, merged headers do not. Tip: Check that the pre-heat pipes are drilled out properly before fitting an aftermarket header/exhaust. You may need to drill these yourself.

We supply EMPI exhausts as both Combo systems and some individual parts. Bugpack exhaust system are supplied as individual parts only.

These header systems are not interchangable with any other brands, so you will only be able to fit a matching silencer to the correct header.

These use 1 3/8" diameter pipe work and a triangular flange.

These use 1 1/2" pipe and a flange with curved sides. These offer slightly more power.

These are available with 1 1/2", 1 5/8", and 1 3/4" piping and use small triangular flanges.

SSP offer a huge range of aftermarket VW exhaust systems to suit any style of VW - from buggies and trikes to cal lookers and street cars. However, there are a large number of variables to consider when ordering a non-standard VW exhaust, including: ground and bodywork clearance, size, style, noise rating and coatings. In addition you will need to decide upon an appropriate 'header' - the pipework that connects your silencer to the exhaust manifold.