It is unusual but sometimes I actually get to see in person some of the cars for sale on our site. Usually, I am happily surprised at the condition of the car as many are much better than I expected them to be.
The Pick of the Day is one of those cars, a 1992 Aston Martin Virage advertised on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Virage is the last old-style Aston Martin, sharing the 4-cam Tadek Merek V8 engine with the DBS V8, the V8, and V8 Vantage cars of the 1960s through the 1980s. This is a magical engine with ample power and torque and a sinister sound emitted by its exhaust.
Power is provided by a legendary sporting car engines, and in this Virage, the 5,340cc V8 generates 335 horsepower, which provides the coupe with the capability of reaching a 155-mph top speed.
The Virage is not all about the engine, though. These handmade cars are bodied in aluminum with an interior containing enough wood and leather to give any Porsche, BMW or Mercedes a serious inferiority complex.
The Virage is the last true limited-production Aston Martin, with just 411 cars built and 54 brought into the U.S. It also was the last Aston Martin model conceived and designed before the takeover of the British company by Ford, and it is destined to increase in value as have the other pre-Ford-built Astons.
This example looks at least as good in person as the photos convey, with perfect paint and interior, and no needs that I could see.
This Virage is finished in gorgeous Suffolk Red with a tan leather interior, according to the seller, who adds that that more than $20,000 has been spent on recent service work by an Aston Martin specialist.
Of note is that this Virage, unlike most, is equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox, which might not sound like such a big deal until you consider that but only 13 U.S.- spec Virages were so equipped that year. The manual transmission also would add immeasurably to the driving experience.
I am asked all the time by potential buyers which future classics are the best bets as a combination of investment and sheer enjoyment, and the Virage, especially with a 5-speed is at the top of my list.
I am frankly surprised that these cars are still as good a value as they are today. In 1992, the Virage cost a staggering $250,000, making this car’s asking price of only $79,900 look like a tremendous value.
Plus, the Aston comes with all its original books, tools, records, first-aid kit, radio, and everything else that a discriminating collector could want in a high-value collector car.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Absolutely beautiful car.
5000 pounds, wow. The NASCAR boys would love that rear suspension. Truck arm with a watts link. I’m sure they call it something else ;).
Where do you see it weighing 5000 pounds? More like 4,000.
This car always reminded me of a Ford RS2000. I would love to have one of these. As the DB’s have gone into Ferrari prices, these have been pulled up with them tho and will be in the almost unobtanium price range soon.