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Aston Martin Virage - underrated beauty?

Name: Aston Martin Virage 1990
Brand: Aston Martin

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Created on September 12, 2019

Text:

Bruno von Rotz

Photos:

Daniel Reinhard

Aston Martin / Werk

Daniel Reinhard

Aston Martin / Werk

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - elegance written all over its face

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - just over 4.7 meters long and just over 1.8 meters wide

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - sleek aluminum bodywork

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - large window area for good all-round visibility

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - wedge-shaped lines

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - a 2+2-seater, but one that is better used as a two-seater

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - flat front, broadband headlights characterize the face of the model

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - wide and flat, like no Aston before it

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the DeDion rear axle was already used in the Astons of the sixties

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - demands a lot of presence on the road

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - more at home on wide than narrow roads

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - good to drive without being a racing car

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - whoever arrived with it back then was a made man (or woman)

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - almost timeless design

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - massive - just over 1.85 m wide

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - lots of Connolly leather, some wood in the cockpit

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - all information needs are satisfied here

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Speedometer up to 320 km/h, there was plenty of room for improvement

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the instruments of the predecessors were even more stylish

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - five-speed gearbox with 1st gear on the left at the rear

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - a little on-board computer was also allowed

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - many buttons from the Ford spare parts warehouse

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - nicely wrapped up

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - elegant door openers in a wooden environment

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - electric seat adjustment

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Seat positions can be saved

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Pompadour bags

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - finest Connolly leather

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the 5.3-liter engine fills the engine compartment well

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the four-valve modification of the 5.3-liter V8 engine

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the V8 delivers over 300 hp

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - clearly labeled engine

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - here someone takes responsibility for the functionality of the engine

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Chassis badge

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Aston Martin sign on the front

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - aerodynamic precision work

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Virage sign

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Rear-view mirror from Citroën CX

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - wide rear lights

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Rear lights and Virage badge

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Virage sign on the rear

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Aston sign on the rear

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - dynamic test drive at Silverstone

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - Green in green

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - approaching

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - beautiful license plate

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - the test car as a right-hand drive version

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - pre-production version, the engine still looks unfinished

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Aston Martin Virage (1990) - with Avon Turbospeed of 255 mm width

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Aston Martin Virage (1992) - largely built by hand

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Aston Martin Virage Volante (1995) - available to buy from 1991

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Summary

When the Aston Martin Virage was launched in 1988, its predecessor could already look back on a history of over 20 years. With new styling and improved technology, but also enormously high prices, the coupé took on the competition from Ferrari and other sports car brands. Despite its initial success, the number of units produced remained modest, and today the Virage is one of the lesser-known models from the manufacturer in Newport Pagnell. Perhaps the Granturismo is even completely underestimated? This driving report focuses on an early coupé and shows it in current and historical images. Of course, there is also a sound sample.

This article contains the following chapters

New cooks
More straightforward, lighter and larger
More powerful
Successful model?
The largest prototype store in the UK
Fast-paced Granturismo
More power and more air
Always new special variants
Pinstripe suit or racing overalls?
Rarity
Further information

Estimated reading time: 10min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Aston Martin had not had a completely new sports car model series for over twenty years when the Virage model was introduced in 1988. In 1967, the Aston Martin DBS appeared, which developed into the V8 Vantage via various variations and, alongside the wedge-shaped Lagonda saloon, formed the complete range of the manufacturer in Newport Pagnell at the end of the 1980s. In October 1988, however, a new sports car called the Virage was announced, which did not deny its origins, but nevertheless looked very different from its predecessor. Victor Gauntlett, who had become rich in the oil business, had already joined Aston Martin in 1981 and initially concentrated on pulling the indebted company out of the mire.

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