1991 ASTON MARTIN VIRAGE COUPE

1991 ASTON MARTIN VIRAGE COUPE
Sold for US$ 46,200 Including Commission
Bonhams Auction, Amelia Island, Florida 2015
VIN. SCFCAM2S5NBL50303
Engine no. 89/50303/M
5,340cc DOHC V8 Engine
Electronic Fuel Injection
335bhp at 5,300rpm
5-Speed Manual Transmission
4-Wheel Independent Suspension
4-Wheel Disc Brakes
*Desirable five-speed manual example
*Highly equipped, US-delivery Virage
*Limited-production, hand built supercar
*Extreme luxury and performance for its era
*Evocative and distinctively 1990s sharp edge styling
THE ASTON MARTIN VIRAGE
Introduced at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show, the Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the 20-plus year old V8 model line. The new sports car was entirely hand built with bodywork in aluminum, and sported a fresh and modern design penned by a duo of design tutors from the Royal College of Art, John Heffernan and Ken Greenley. William Town's sharp-edged Lagonda Saloon had dated quickly, but the Heffernan/Greenley Virage shape was a more timeless design, which successfully blended traditional Aston Martin styling cues, such as the grille shape and front fender vents, into a sleek fastback devoid of excessive exterior decoration.
Power was plentiful from the 32-valve DOHC V8. "Acceleration just never seems to run out", claimed Sports Car International in a road test. Just 1,050 Aston Martin Virages were produced, a rather low production number when compared to contemporary Aston Martin models.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
With its quarter-million dollar price tag when new, the Virage was then and remains a rare sight Stateside, and it is estimated that just sixty or so examples made their way to the US from new. The fine example offered here was completed at the Newport Pagnell Aston Martin Lagonda Limited Works in June of 1991, and was equipped for the US market with the desirable five-speed ZF transmission. Like many limited-production cars imported to the US during the 1980s and 1990s, this Virage carries a 'world-market' VIN attached at the Aston Martin factory during production, and then another VIN in the doorjamb assigned to the car upon arrival in the US.
Purchased new by an enthusiast based in the Midwest, the red Virage would remain in his ownership for more than 13 years, while accruing just over 17,000 miles. The second owner acquired the car in 2005, and would add just a few thousand miles to the odometer before the car joined the consignor's impressive collection in Florida in 2009.
Today, this hand-built, limited-production Aston Martin presents beautifully throughout, with a nice and tidy interior and sharp exterior. According to the consignor, the car's digital odometer is inaccurately reading over 60,000 miles, a common issue with these cars, but the car's actual mileage is believed to be less than 25,000 miles from new. Regardless, the Virage remains one of the most charismatic sports cars of its era, and here is a rare opportunity to acquire one of Aston Martin's modern classics.
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Robert Myrick Photography