Lot 374: 1990 Aston Martin Virage Coupé

‘We wanted a car that was a new form. Fresh, exciting, purposeful but unquestionably Aston Martin,’ explained Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Victor Gauntlett on the Virage’s arrival, while stressing: ‘It was important that, although new in virtually every way, the Virage was of evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, design. It has to be a car that could stand in line with every post-war Aston Martin and be the self-evident successor to that tradition.’
Launched at the International Motor Show, Birmingham, in October 1988, the sensational newcomer restated its Aston Martin V8 forerunner’s muscular looks in the modern idiom, contriving to be slightly narrower yet providing increased interior space. The car was still no lightweight, but with 330bhp on tap courtesy of the trusty V8 engine’s new 32-valve top end, was good enough for a top speed approaching 160mph and a 0-60mph time of under seven seconds.
With prices of the Aston Martin V8 range following those of the ‘DB’ sixes ever upwards, there has never been a more opportune time to acquire a good example of the successor Virage. This well presented automatic transmission model comes with service invoices dating back to 1997, when the fuel pump was replaced and new front discs and pads installed at 34,000 miles (the current odometer reading is circa 38,000). In 1998 the car benefited from a major service at the Newport Pagnell factory, where the windscreen was replaced; fuel system overhauled; engine bay under-sealed; sills repaired and under-sealed; and the fuel injection, ignition and valve timing readjusted. More recently, in 2005, the interior was refurbished and re-carpeted; the alternator rebuilt; the wheels renovated and four new tyres fitted. Finished in Buckingham Green with green-piped Oatmeal interior, the car benefits from the fitting of a Clifford alarm/immobiliser and is offered with invoices for the aforementioned servicing, a quantity of expired MoT certificates, Swansea V5 registration document and fresh MoT.