Pick of the Day: 1991 Aston Martin Virage

In the world of classic Aston Martins, there are very few (if any) models around for less than $100,000. These include such legendary cars as the DB4 thru the DB6 and the later V8 and V8 Vantage models. All were built by hand at Newport Pagnell and are very special.

The last of these classic Astons was called the Virage. This was an effort by Aston Martin, after having built essentially the same car from 1967 thru the late 1980s as the DBS and V8, to build a more modern car. The Virage was introduced at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988 and though having a new body and a chassis modified from the Lagonda, the Virage was still powered by the legendary Tadek Marek-designed four-cam 32-valve 5.3-liter V8 producing 335 horsepower and 364 lb-ft of torque. This allowed the Virage to accelerate from 0-60 in 6.5 seconds with an automatic transmission and achieve a top speed of 158 MPH. The Virage was the top model for Aston, even after the launch of the DB7 Vantage, selling for more than $225,000 when new. These cars are quite rare with a total of 1,050 Aston Martin Virages built during 1989-2000 when it was replaced by the Vanquish.

The Pick of the Day is one of these rare cars, a 1991 Aston Martin Virage finished in Cannock Black paint with a Connolly leather interior in Magnolia with black piping. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in St. Ann, Mo. (Click the link to view the listing)

This Virage is described by the seller as being in spectacular condition. They further state that this car has only covered 21,482 miles from new and is one of only 54 models sent to the U.S. It is equipped with an automatic but, before you all say that is a deal-killer, keep in mind that the automatic-equipped Virage is quicker to 60 than the manual-equipped version by almost a full second, and that the Virage was always intended to be a touring car and not a sports car. As such, the automatic fits the bill for a GT car.

The seller adds more information about the vehicle, including that it has had its troublesome Vehicle Information Center rebuilt with new circuitry in 2015 by Aston Martin, and this was the first Virage to be fitted with the updated module. The car also includes all books, tools, extensive service history and correspondence letters from Aston Martin about the original order for the car. It is ready for the road.

So, if you are looking for a car that qualifies for not only a great many shows but also one that could handle many tours and maybe be the star of any RADwood event, this is the car to buy.

There is something incredibly gratifying about owning and driving an Aston Martin and, at $49,900, it is an inexpensive way into the world of classic Aston Martin ownership.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.