One to Buy: Works Service-restored Manual 1990 Aston Martin Virage
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.
Reprinted below is Classic Throttle Shop’s description:
Buckinghamshire Green
5 Speed Manual
30,688 miles
AU $139,995
Tradition and Aston Martin are inseparable, two sides of the same coin, synonymous. This brand embodies quintessential British heritage while boldly embracing modern design. It's a supercar from the 20th century meticulously crafted using traditional techniques.
Aston Martin has been the guardian of this illustrious tradition, boasting a prestigious lineup of motoring legends in its history. Figures like Sir David Brown, Stirling Moss, John Wyer, Roy Salvadori, and Carroll Shelby set impeccable standards that contributed to Aston Martin's reputation for exceptional road and track vehicles.
The V8 series exemplified the harmony between mechanical prowess and aesthetics, ultimately giving birth to the ultimate supercar, the Vantage. This lineage paved the way for the Virage, the most worthy successor. With its inherently English elegance, the Virage's striking shape underwent gradual refinement in the wind tunnel, resulting in the most aerodynamically efficient car ever produced by Aston Martin. Fuelled by the powerful engine of tradition, it featured a new all-aluminum V8 with four valves per cylinder and a dedicated fuel-injection system by Weber-Marelli, churning out over 330 bhp.
The Virage was lovingly handcrafted at Newport Pagnell, with each chassis comprising 40 sheets of premium British steel, meticulously cut, pressed, welded, and finished by skilled artisans. Doors, boot-lids, and bonnets were rolled, while wings and sills were hand-hammered and welded together to eliminate the need for fillers.
Just as the metalworkers and engineers were experts in their craft, so were the interior craftsmen. They insisted on using only the finest materials. The Virage featured up to 9 hides of superior Connolly leather for the seats and doors, 17 square yards of exquisite Wilton carpeting, and lustrous burr walnut for the dashboard. All these components were painstakingly stitched, fitted, and polished by hand.
Another remarkable aspect of the Virage was its ability to seamlessly incorporate contemporary technology, with dashboard instrumentation, an information centre, and driver comfort enhancements like memory heated electric seats, climate control, and an innovative security system.
We are thrilled to introduce one of the first manual right-hand drive (RHD) Virages ever built. Delivered on March 26, 1990, in the delightful combination of Buckinghamshire Green exterior and Parchment interior, this Virage was originally supplied by Aston Martin in Marshall Cambridge.
Over the years, it is believed to have had only three owners, with Aston Martin Newport Pagnell being one of them. In 2019, the works division of Aston Martin Newport Pagnell undertook a comprehensive restoration to bring the car up to its current impeccable standard.
Many members of the works team and the service manager regard this Virage as the best-prepared one in existence.
Included with the car are a spare set of keys, a leather Virage wallet with owner's manuals, an Aston Martin Assured Provenance portfolio, and a separate portfolio with a comprehensive collection of receipts spanning its entire ownership history.
