1994 | Aston Martin Virage Volante

Introduced at the October 1988 Birmingham Motor Show to almost universal acclaim, the Virage was the first new Aston Martin for eighteen years. A satisfying blend of muscularity and understatement, its sleek aluminium silhouette was the work of John Hefferman and Ken Greenley. Based around a modified version of its Lagonda sibling's sheet-steel platform chassis, the newcomer benefited from revised wishbone independent front suspension, a lightened de Dion rear axle, four-wheel disc brakes and power-assisted rack and pinion steering. Suitably reworked by Callaway Engineering of Connecticut, USA (using 'four-valve' cylinder heads, hydraulic tappets and Weber electronic fuel injection), its 5340cc 'quad-cam' V8 engine not only satisfied forthcoming emissions legislation but also developed some 330bhp and 350lbft of torque. Allied to a choice of either three-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmissions.

The official factory '6.3 litre Cosmetic' cars are powered by a 5.3 litre engine sporting more generous wheelarches, sills and air dams. The Volante, to compensate for the lack of roof stiffness, added extra strengthening underneath making the car no lightweight. Nevertheless, it was still limited to an impressive 150mph. The soft-top was a beautifully made electrically powered structure incorporating a glass rear window and complete with heated demisting elements, transmission was a full three-speed automatic unit superseded by a new four-speed, dual-mode (normal/sport) unit in 1993. The complete Widebody package also features OZ split-rim wheels with Goodyear Eagle tyres to the front and wider rear Pirelli P-Zeros to the rear and large, ventilated disc brakes all around and a rear boot spoiler.

The hand-built example here is believed to be one of two examples finished in Litchfield metallic black with a Mushroom hide interior with contrasting piping and a dark mohair hood with the desirable and rarer four speed auto box and, equally as rare, Aston Martin sports exhaust system with modified front and rear grilles. The fabulous and renowned 'bullet proof' Tadek Marek designed V8 coupled with the four speed box is a combination which allows the Virage to cruise at 70mph turning over at circa 2000rpm. Purchased new by Mr Van Luven through Aston Martin Mayfair on 24th February 1994 who immediately booked the car into Newport Pagnell on 14th March 1994 to complete vehicle enhancements including sports exhaust, 18 OZ inch wheels, flared wheel arch kit but excluding boot lid spoiler, AML telephone installation programmed to his personal number and speaker grilles colour coded, this is all found in the original order letter to the serviced reception manager for which the enhancements were detailed at an extra £14,419.61+ VAT. Mr Van Luven later also specified a black grille and front head rest pads with black over mats and just a year later specified the telephone to be removed and the centre armrest retrimmed, again at Newport Pagnell. In the first six year the car was expressly serviced and maintained by Aston Martin Stratstone, Mayfair or Newport Pagnell which accounted for 11 service stamps and up to 28,775 miles, after which the annual mileage declined and a mixture of some of the country's leading specialists and main dealers took over.

Presented in a desirable colourway, this example is in fabulous order throughout, a look through the two full bound history files shows that anything requiring attention has always been attended to right up to this year, indeed it has just left Trinity Engineering for a refresh and checkup and our vendor tells us that The Aston Workshop described it as one of the best examples they have worked on, this was after our vendor had just returned from his second trip to LeMans in the Virage. Our vendor describes it as the sweetest running Virage on the road, such is his fondness. Indeed, our vendor has owned this car twice, between 2009 and 2016, purchasing the car again in 2022. He quoted “Aston Workshop had it for sale for £150,000 and when I called about it they said it was the best that they'd seen, this was before my second ownership, once purchased the first thing I did was send it to Vantage engineering to have it checked over/serviced, they also set about working on it for me including designing new front dampers and tweaking the front suspension so that it handled better when cornering after which I fitted a new set of Pirelli's”.

Boasting original lambswool over mats, cushioned headrests, new custom dampers to enable enhanced roadholding through corners, one of the best history files we have been supplied with, an Aston Martin Heritage Certificate and original order invoices and correspondence with Mayfair and Newport Pagnell, this is a fantastic opportunity to own a car that has had the necessary investment spent throughout its life but importantly of late, also worth noting this incarnation did not have the original troublesome computer/digital brain and display that often had a failure issues when a battery went flat.

Believed to be one of just 26 Widebody examples, make no mistake, there are some Virage Volante's out there that are cheaper… but they may require £50,000 and still not be able to hold a candle to 60114. Viewing is highly recommended as this is a vehicle not to be missed. Consigned by Mathew Priddy

Lot details
Year: 1994
Make: Aston Martin
Model: Virage Volante 'Cosmetic Widebody' (5.3 litre)
Registration: G26 AML
Chassis No: SCFDAM2C2PBR60114
Engine No: 89/60114/A
Odometer: 47,950


* Full matching engine, gearbox and chassis

* Rare Litchfield metallic black

* Stunning history file

* Factory build correspondence from new