Lot 132 - 1993 Aston Martin Virage

The Virage was Aston Martin's replacement for the decades old V8 models and was introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988. This V8 powered car was intended as the company's top model with their six-cylinder, 1994 DB7 slotted below it but this V8 model (by then in Vantage form) remained the exclusive, expensive and handbuilt king of Astons. The Virage was a large, heavy car despite its all aluminium body but the 32 valve, 5.3 litre V8 engines elevated its performance to sports 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 engine with its Callaway-designed heads and Weber Marelli fuel injection. ‘Nothing sounds quite like an Aston V8’, they concluded.

Owned by a fastidious collector for the past 16 years this lovely example is presented in British Racing Green with a contrasting cream leather interior and green piping with all leather dashboard and cream suede headlining. First registered in October 1993 with just four owners from new, this Aston Martin has been with our vendor since 2004 and our vendor indicates he has maintained it to the highest possible standard. Contained within the history file is photographic history showing both side sills have been replaced and £3,700 spent on new 18” alloy wheels in 2017, all shod with excellent Pirelli tyres, the original factory alloys are also included in the sale and are in very good condition. Boasting an upgraded stainless steel sports exhaust system and uprated adjustable suspension which provides anti-dive/improved road handling, we are informed this car now drives and handles much better than a standard car. During our vendors tenure the interior was completely removed, including the seats, door cards and carpets and the leather was stripped and repaired. The result is, we are informed, a superb interior with soft supple leather seats. Also present in the comprehensive history file are invoices for over £40,000 spent on updating and careful maintenance coupled to an MoT test certificate valid until January 2021. These British bulldog sports cars still have the performance many modern sports cars dream of and the looks many wish they had! At a fraction of its original cost, this represents fine value for such a thoroughbred.

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