One to Buy: Works Service-restored Manual 1990 Aston Martin Virage
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Launched at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1988, the Virage was the first truly new model from Aston Martin since the four-door Lagonda back in 1976.
Created to take the firm into the 1990s – another era of ever-tightening safety and emissions legislation – the Virage debuted a year after Ford had taken a major shareholding in Aston Martin which was subsequently followed by a complete takeover in 1991.
Virage production began during the spring of 1989. It was initially offered in 330bhp Coupe trim with a choice of either a ZF five-speed manual or Chrysler three-speed auto, the majority of customers opting for the latter.
So keen were buyers to get their hands on the new machine (the Virage was launched in the midst of the red hot late 1980s collector car boom) that two years of production had sold out before the first customer even took delivery.
Just 411 examples of the Virage were produced in Coupe form by the time production came to an end in the mid 1990s plus another 233 in open-top Volante trim.
Of these, relatively few were originally specified with the five-speed ZF ‘box, a superb example of which is currently on offer at the Classic Throttle Shop showroom in North Sydney.
Originally delivered via Aston Martin main agent Marshall in Cambridge during March 1990, this particular car was configured in Buckinghamshire Green with Parchment leather upholstery, green piping and matching green carpet.
A three owner example that has covered a little over 30,000 miles from new, it is offered with a fully documented service history and in 2019 was the subject of a comprehensive restoration at Aston Martin Works Service in Newport Pagnell which has resulted in arguably one of the best Virages in existence.
