Aston Martin Other (1991)
for sale
Price: US $35,000.00
Price: US $35,000.00
This Aston Martin Virage is
the last carrier of the true magic of hand-built Aston Martins. And this
particular one, with it's 5.3 liter V8 engine and stainless-steel
straight-through-exhaust pipes, is also the last one that sounds like it.
From the only ca. 365 coupes
built just 54 are over here in the United States. So it is unlikely you meet
another one on the open road. A very rare car indeed. It just oozes
coolness. And the wall of appreciation that the car is getting from bystanders
is amazing. .
Every screw and bolt has been
touch by a passionate craftsman, every panel has been beaten into shape by the
hands of a skilled artisan. It's as if the consciousness of the men who put
this car together entered the machine and if you are near it you can feel that.
This is why the car cost
around a quarter million dollars when new. An incredible opportunity
to own a piece of very rare Aston Martin history at a fraction of the price.
Values are bound to rise and have risen continuously over the last
couple of years. This Virage is the last Aston-secret.
It looks amazingly good from
every angle. Especially with all the modern Astons looking the same these days.
While the shape is incredibly understated, this car has enormous road
presence. This is a big car. The design aged fantastically like an
expensive wine and people not familiar with the model have a hard time dating
it. Back in 1991 it had a number of advanced design-features that
are common only toady, such as flush fitted glass all around, integrated
bumpers, integrated rear spoiler (not even visible from most angles)
and minimal amount of shut lines.
This is a GT in the most
literal sense of the word, not a sports car but a grand cruiser with
plenty of power on tab (around 340 BHP in its current configuration) that
can push past 155 MPH. It comfortably seats two grown ups and two
children.
The interior is like a
first class cabin featuring wood, acres of the finest leather and an Alcantara
headlining. I call it a zero altitude lear jet.
I am a long time Aston Martin
enthusiast, owner and AMOC member (Aston Martin Owners Club). I used to run a
righthand-drive 1989 Aston V8 Vantage when I lived in London in the early
2000s, that I sold when I moved to New York. Over here I looked for a long time
for a lefthand replacement to finally find this beautiful Virage that I bought
from the Vintage Aston Martin authority on the East Coast: Autosport
Designs. The color combination of Chichester Blue and Magnolia hide is
just absolutely exquisite and so very Aston. And the
noise it makes is just unbelievable.
This is an original California
car and as such it came with the original 16 Aston aluminum wheels, chromed for the California market. Those original wheels (with fairly new
tires) are included in the sale, as is the original rear muffler that was
replaced by the straight-through pipes.
The original Californian
owner used to ship the car yearly to Autosport Designs on the East Coast for
servicing. And Autosport has been doing the service for me. This is also where
the car is currently located and can be inspected. Autosport is very
familiar with the car and with Virages in general. Probably 30-40 of
the 54 US cars went trough their hands over the years. Due to being
an original California car there is very little corrosion. The only place
that may need some attendance in the future is the passenger side door
sill. The areas around the window frames look excellent as does the rest of the
car.
I put the 18 Fikse
wheels and low profile tires (basically still new) on the car that not only
dramatically enhance the look but also the driving dynamics. The wheels
have no scratch. The sport exhaust and the rear-muffler weight-loss, give
a sportier and more alive feel on the paddle. In addition to the above the car
recently received a new potentiometer, a new fuel pump. The troublesome
vacuum pipes have already been upgraded in the early 2000s. I also had the
runners of the drivers seat extended for a more comfortable seating
position (I am 6”5').
The on-board-computer which
was groundbreaking at the time is not working anymore. Many Virages have
this problem and at the moment there is nobody in the world who can fix
these. The only Aston Martin Technician in the UK who was able to do that
retired a few years ago. However, I know form the Aston Martin factory that
they are working on a re-issue, to be ready any day now. The on-board computer shows
the mileage or in this case not. Again, a number of Virages have this problem.
I bought the care from Autosport Designs, who certified at the time that
it had run 25, 000 miles. I put no more than 5, 000 miles on it, most likely much
less - see detail below.
This is a fantastic, original
preservation car that drives and sounds great. I have stored it in a climate
controlled bubble, heated in winter and cooled in the summer. I drove this car
only in good weather however regularly, which is important. These cars do
not like to sit (Which means that very low mileage cars that were stored long
term are actually less desirable). In my ownership the car was never parked
longer than for about 3 or 4 weeks. I drove this car mainly to AMOC club events
and other car events around Westchester, Connecticut, Long Island and
did occasional trips to Lime Rock Park. This car has not let me down once.
It starts every time and drives everywhere.
This is a much loved and well
cared for car that will make its new owner very happy and proud.
ABOUT THE ASTON MARTIN VIRAGE IN
GENERAL:
The
Virage
was Aston Martin’s
replacement for the decades-old V8 models, introduced at the Birmingham Motorshow, in 1988. This V8-powered car was intended as the company's top model, with
the 6-cylinder 1994 DB7 slotted below it. Although the DB7 switched to a V12
engine and claimed the performance crown, this V8 model remained the exclusive, expensive, and hand-built king of Astons. It was replaced in 2000 with the
Vanquish. When compared to the preceding V8, the design was fresh and more
modern. It looked more like a Lagonda than the V8 it replaced. Indeed, the
chassis was an evolution of the Lagonda's, with a de Dion tube rear suspension, located by triangulated radius rods and a Watts linkage, and a double wishbone
unit at the front. The
Virage was a large car with an all-aluminum body, and the 32-valve 5.3 L
V8 engine's 364 lb·ft torque elevated its performance to near super car
levels. Acceleration just never seems to run out, claimed “Sports
Car International” on a first test. They also praised the eager and
quicker revving nature of the 335 BHP engine with its Callaway-designed
heads and Weber-Marinelli fuel injection. Nothing sounds quite like an
Aston V8, they concluded. The 3, 946 lb car could reach 158 mph.
The automatic could reach 60 mph from standing in about 6.5 seconds.
Overview Production
1989–1995
365 produced
Body and chassis
2-door 2+2 coupé
Powertrain
Engine:
5.3 L V8
Transmission
Automatic:
3-speed
Dimensions
Wheelbase:
2, 610 mm (102.8 in)
Length:
4, 735 mm (186.4 in)
Width:
1, 855 mm (73.0 in)
update: 2016-08-11
Condition: | Used | Year: | 1991 |
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): | SCFCAM2S3MBL50069 | Mileage: | 30,000 |
Transmission: | Automatic | Make: | Aston Martin |
Body Type: | Coupe | Model: | Other |
Warranty: | Vehicle does NOT have an existing warranty | Engine: | 5.3 Liter V8 |
Vehicle Title: | Clear | Drive Type: | RWD |
Options: | CD Player, Leather Seats | Power Options: | Air Conditioning, Power Locks, Power Windows, Power Seats |
Exterior Color: | Blue | Fuel Type: | Gasoline |
Interior Color: | Magnolia | For Sale By: | Private Seller |
Number of Cylinders: | 8 |