Saleofcar.com :Aston

Aston Martin Other (1991)
for sale

Price: US $35,000.00

Description:

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}