Highlights

A fascinating example of the Virage having been in the same family since 2005
Dry stored and completely unused since 2009
In need of recommissioning, given its history, but offering “great bones”
Complete with a make and model appropriate registration number

The Appeal

The Virage was first shown to the public at the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show. The car had big boots to fill as the replacement to Aston Martin’s V8 models. The Virage boasted a distinctly more modern design than its predecessor, courtesy of John Heffernan and Ken Greenley. The Virage became the first new Aston Martin for nearly 20 years and represented a significant step forward in terms of refinement and GT car credentials.

This car has been in dry storage since around the time of its last MOT in 2009. The car was driven into storage at that point, with no known mechanical issues at that stage. It benefits from a very low, original mileage and offers an exciting opportunity to recommission it for road use and to relish and enjoy for many years to come.

The History and Paperwork

This Virage was supplied new in March 1990 via main dealers Reg Vardy
The Virage rolled out of the Newport Pagnell factory as a manual car
Between 1990 and 2005 the Virage was owned and enjoyed by six keepers
Records show that the car was converted to an automatic in June 1994
This work was undertaken by Aston Martin’s own workshop
The Virage was bought into its current ownership in 2005
The Virage had covered around 29,000 miles at this stage
The current owner has only added around 1,000 miles in his ownership
By 2009 the car had been put into storage due to a lack of time to use and enjoy it
The car hasn’t been run, or even started since then
The car is complete with a great deal of provenance providing paperwork
This includes the V5 in the name of the current owner
There are numerous earlier MOTs in hard copy on-hand
A sales invoice from the sale to the current owner in 2005 is included
There are then many invoices present documenting services and maintenance
Two original keys are included together with fobs for the alarm system
An original Virage sales brochure is also present

The Interior

The Virage’s cabin is finished in lovely magnolia leather with blue piping
Accents of burr walnut veneer and stitched blue leather also feature
The car features an Alcantara pleated headlining in mid-tan

The interior of the Virage was a considerably better designed, fitted and finished affair than its V8 predecessor could offer. This cabin really gives you the immediate impression that a high-speed road trip across Europe is not just possible but, indeed, highly desirable. The Virage’s cabin had taken tangible and positives steps into Rolls Royce territory.

Despite our car’s recent history, it has lost none of the appeal and sophistication for which the Virage is noted. Of course, it is grubby in places and the odd bits of trim are lose but it remains obvious that significant improvements could be made easily and at relatively modest cost. The interior appears complete, and the only area of actual wear noted is to two small area of carpet in the rear and front, nearside footwells.

The deeply bolstered front seats are stitched into vertical box pleats and the panels are delineated by blue leather piping. Seat adjustment is electric with the 8-way controls mounted in the door cards. Leather headrest pads are also fitted for extra comfort. The rear seats look immaculate and are arranged into two separate buckets separated by a storage locker and topped with low, wide headrests.

The bluff dashboard consists of a blue leather stitched top roll and a magnolia leather lower section. Ahead of the driver the two sections are dissected by a panel of burr walnut veneer. The white on black gauges are located in a hooded binnacle ahead of the driver. These are directly behind the two spoke, blue leather Aston Martin steering wheel.

In the centre of the dashboard sits a digital trip computer unit. Below this is a panel of push / push switches, heating and ventilation controls and a 40-watt stereo head unit.

The pleated headlining is finished in suede look Alcantara in a mid-tan hue. This looks to be in a great underlying condition if a little grubby in places. The door cards are finished in a combination of magnolia leather and burr walnut veneer panels. The carpets are finished in a deep blue and are protected with carpet over-mats edge bound in magnolia leather.

The well-shaped boot is trimmed in its original blue carpet and is also home to the Alpine CD changer unit. A complete and well-stocked tool kit is present in a flock-lined hard case. The original jack and wheel brace are also included.

The Exterior

The Virage is noted as being finished in “Rolls Royce Royal Blue” in factory records
Like the interior, the exterior appears to be highly original, and period correct
Inevitably there are some areas of surface corrosion and minor scratches and scuffs

Part of the fun of appreciating 1990’s low volume, hand built British cars is trying to spot the parts that arrived via the parts bins of volume manufacturers. In the Virage’s case, the astute may spot the headlamps from the Audi 200 and the Volkswagen Scirocco taillights. This aside, the Virage strikes an imposing demeanour and remains a real head-turner amongst today’s anodyne automotive offerings.

As is also the way of the bespoke, hand manufacturer of cars, purchasers could specify colours from other marques and, hence, this Virage is finished in Rolls Royce Royal Blue which is a metallic colour. It suits the car very well, further enhancing the sophistication and elegance of the design. Obviously after ten or more years in storage, the Virage’s exterior is not without its faults. Areas of surface corrosion, scratching and other minor blemishes are all noted and photographed for your review. Given the car’s very low mileage and diligent storage, however, it is thought and hoped that these are relatively minor imperfections.

The car sits on its original 16-inch, five-hole Aston Martin light alloy wheels. These look to be in very good condition overall, with their presentation no doubt aided by the high side profile of the 90’s tyres keeping the rims out of harm’s way. The tyres will certainly need replacing on the basis of their age alone. Cabin glass and light lenses all appear clear, un-fogged and original. All the requisite marque and model badges seem to be present and correct.

The Mechanics

The Virage is fitted with the well-respected 5,340cc Aston Martin V8 engine
Power is fed to the rear wheels via an automatic gearbox
Given the car’s history it is envisaged that a full mechanical recommissioning will be needed

The owner confirms that the Virage was driven into storage in 2009 and no known mechanical issues were present at that time. Inevitably, any performance car that has stood unused and un-started for 14 years will require a professional and methodical recommissioning before use.

Both the under-bonnet presentation and the underside condition of the car look to be entirely appropriate for a car having covered so few miles. A diligent clean and detailing would greatly benefit both areas, but no areas of concern were noted.

Summary

The Virage, like most Aston Martin’s of the period, started life as a rare car. Only 411 were built between 1989 and 2000, after all. Sadly quite a few have disappeared since, especially when values bottomed out around 10 years ago. Today only around a tenth of the original number are thought to remain in use. This helps makes the Virage an increasingly valuable and sought after luxury sports GT car today.

This example is surely an exciting and rare ownership prospect. Over a decade in storage inevitably makes for a slightly dowdy presentation, but this car has much going for it. Firstly, it has covered only a shade over 30,000 miles in its 33-year history. It has been diligently maintained with no regard to cost during its active period. Given this, there is a strong likelihood of this Aston Martin being relatively easily recommissioned and put back into service.

If that is the case, what a desirable, enjoyable and valuable example it will likely be.

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