1993 Aston Martin Virage

Convertible
Chassis number: SCFDAM2C8PBL60047
Engine number: 89/60047/A

At the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988, Aston Martin introduced the replacement for the long-running V-8 models, and the Vantage V-8 in particular. It was called the Virage and its body was hand-formed in aluminum. It was graceful and less angular than the prior design of its predecessors and thoroughly modern. It was more powerful, with 330 horsepower from the 5.3-liter engine which was now equipped with Weber-Marelli fuel injection and a new head featuring four valves per cylinder engineered by performance specialists Callaway in Connecticut.

The Virages first appeared in the United States in the summer of 1990. Two years later, they were joined by the cabriolet Volante versions which was soon followed by a Vantage edition. The Aston Martin Virage Volante gave its customers the option of a 6.3-liter engine, available for both the Virage coupe and Volante.

The Volante was mechanically similar to its closed cousin, though with slightly lower final drive gearing to aid acceleration through the gears. An automatic transmission was standard on the Volante. The original three-speed unit was superseded in 1993 by a new four-speed dual-model (normal/sport) unit. A five-speed manual gearbox was available as optional equipment.

Aston Martin offered their existing customers the 6.3-liter conversion for the 5,340cc V8-engined Virage and Virage Volante that had been developed by RS Williams. This work included enlarged wheel arches, bigger air dam, and revised sill covers. This wide body design was produced by the factory itself during production, which allowed customers a chance to retain their original 5.3-liter engine but modify the body of their Virage to appear as the 6.3.

When the '6.3' was first released, it offered 456 horsepower and 460 foot-lbs of torque. Zero-to-sixty mph was achieved in 5.5 seconds and had a top speed of 174 mph - depending on the axle ratio. This boost in power required serious chassis modifications along with other improvements. The 6.3 was given a sports suspension, 18-inch diameter alloy wheels shod with Goodyear 285/45ZR18 tyres, and double vented and cross-drilled 14-inch front disc brakes.

These were exclusive automobiles due to the low production numbers and steep price tags. The Virage was the most luxurious Aston Martin produced to date, highlighted by the hand-stitched leather cosseting in the interior. There was mirrored walnut veneers, suede sun visors, and a pleated suede headliner. Other luxury amenities included the onboard computer, power memory seats, and passive restraint.

This particular Aston Martin Virage Volante 'Wide-Body' example is a very rare sight, as it may have been the only one '6.3' sold to North America. Its construction was completed in March of 1993 and was subsequently titled in Florida in March of 1993. It is one of only 20 Virage Volantes built to U.S. specification. It is finished in its original colors of Winchester Blue paint over blue leather, with a dark blue soft fabric hood. Currently, it has just 7,160 miles on its odometer.

by Dan Vaughan

Aston Martin used the 1988 Birmingham Motor Show to introduce the Virage which served as a replacement for its V8 models. It was more similar in design to the Lagonda than the V8 model it was replacing, with less angular lines and a modern, clean and graceful curves. The chassis was an evolution of the Lagonda's, with double wishbones in the front, and a de Dion tube setup located by triangulated radius rods and a Watts linkage in the back. The all-aluminum body hide the front-mounted 32-valve, 5.3-liter V8 engine which delivered 365 foot-lbs of torque and 330 horsepower. It had Callaway-designed heads and a Weber-Marelli fuel injection system, helping it go from zero-to-sixty mph in 6.5 seconds and reach a top speed nearly 160 mph.

As was common practice for Aston Martin, many of the items on the car were sourced from other companies. The headlights were from the Audi 200 and the taillights came from the Volkswagen Scirocco. General Motors, Jaguar, and Ford provided the steering column, climate control panel, wing mirrors and dash switches.

The Virage was the most luxurious Aston Martin produced to date. The interior had high-quality, hand-stitched leather for the upholstery, with a pleated suede headliner and suede sunvisors, along with mirrored walnut veneers. Amenities included an onboard computer, power memory seats and passive restraint.

The majority of cars were fitted with the Chrysler three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission. Around forty-percent of the cars were fitted with the five-speed ZF Friedrichshafen manual. The three-speed unit was replaced in 1993 by a four-speed automatic. Near the end of the Virage's production run, a six-speed manual became optional.

The preceding Volante V8 model had been a popular choice for many buyers, so it was little surprise when Aston Martin introduced a soft-top equivalent. The two-seater convertible version, call the Virage Volante, was introduced at the 1990 Birmingham Motor Show. A year later, at the Geneva Motor Show, a 2+2 convertible version was shown. The production examples arrived in 1992 and had the 2+2 configuration. Production continued until 1996 with either 224 or 233 examples produced. The open Volante was heavier than the closed coupe, tipping the scales at over two tons. The weight increase was due to the need to strengthen the body to compensate for the lack of a roof, plus the components needed for the power-operated convertible hood. The electrically powered top had a glass rear window with heated de-misting elements. The open Volante received a slightly lower final drive gearing and its top speed was slightly less than the coupe, yet still capable of 150 mph. An automatic transmission was standard while the five-speed manual was optional.

While the twin-supercharged Vantage was still being developed, Aston Martin offered its customers a 6.3-liter conversion for the 5,340cc V8-engined Virage and Virage Volante that had been developed by R.S. Williams. The '6.3' initially produced 456 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 460 lb/ft of torque. This resulted in a zero-to-sixty mph time of 5.5 seconds and top speed of nearly 175 mph. To accommodate the increase in power, modifications were made to strengthen the chassis, a sports suspension installed, and larger 18-inch diameter alloy wheels with Goodyear 285/45ZR18 tire helped get the power to the road. Double vented and cross-drilled 14-inch disc brakes were installed on the front wheels. The '6.3' with the 'wide body' configuration had flared wheel arches and new front, side and rear valances.

Many of the Virage Volantes retained the original 5.3-liter engine but with the upgraded bodywork, often referred to as the 'Wide Body.'

In 1996, the name of the Virage was changed to the V8 Coupe. Production continued to 2000 with 1,050 examples produced. It was replaced by the Vanquish, and in 2005 the V8 Vantage re-appeared on a new entry-level model. A new Virage model was introduced in 2011 at the Geneva Motor Show, but was discontinued in 2012 as it had many similarities to other models in the Aston Martin lineup.

by Dan Vaughan

Convertible
Chassis number: SCFDAM2C0PBL60074

This Aston Martin Virage Volante has the 'Wide Body' bodykit which includes enlarged wheel arches, larger front air dam and a bolt-on rear spoiler. It has the 5.3-liter engine and is one of 20 Virage Volantes that were sold directly to the North American market.

The car's original owner was Guess Jeans founder Georges Marciano and was delivered through Rolls-Royce of Beverly Hills. It was ordered with a red exterior with a white top which is the same configuration it currently wears. The car was sold in June of 1997 with 1,280 miles on the odometer to its current owner. Over the past twelve years it has accumulated 2,000 additional miles, with the odometer currently showing 4,700 miles.

by Dan Vaughan

An extremely impressive machine, which no one can deny, the Virage had a hand built body that oozed exclusivity. Aston Martin's replacement for the out-dated V8 models, the Virage was originally unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show in 1988. The Virage was joined by the very high-performance Vantage in 1993 and the standard car was renamed V8 in 1996. Introduced to the market in 1990, the Aston Martin Virage was available as a 2 door, 4- seater Coupe and a total of 370 units were produced during its three year production run. 1,050 of all Virage related models had been produced by the end of the 2000 model year. Intended to be the branch out model, the new V8 model, the Virage was intended to be a new 'world car' for Aston Martin, which meant that it could be sold in all markets without any huge updates or modifications to either the body or the engine.

Until the summer of 1990, the Virage was not available in the U.S. and it wasn't until 1992 that the Virage Volante convertible was available also in the U.S. The Virage Vantage was never officially offered for sale in the U.S., and no 1995 models were ever imported to the U.S. and 1996 was the final year of availability for the Virage in the U.S.

Aston Marton had high hopes that this V8-powered vehicle would be the company's top model with the 6-cylinder 1994 DB7 placed in the slot directly below it. The V8 model, by then in Vantage form remained the most pricey, exclusive hand-built leader of Aston's, even though the DB7 switched to a V12 engine and held the lead in performance.

The original 5.3 liter V8 engine would be utilized but with a new 32 valve version that was fitted with Weber fuel injection which elevated its performance close to a sports cars levels. The Virage featured a very modern and ‘vintage style' design resembling a Lagonda more than the V8 that it was replacing. The Virage had an all new body though it used the traditional Aston alloy panels joined onto a steel frame/chassis. The chassis was an evolution of the Lagonda's, though it didn't featured the de Dion tube rear suspension, rather a bulky aluminum A-frame design. Needing a replacement under warranty for the first few vehicles, the independent rear suspension sat on an 'A' frame carrier.

Much like many earlier Aston models, many of the less important parts and pieces of the Virage came from a variety of other companies to keep costs low. The streamlined headlights came from the Audi 200, while the taillights were imported from the Volkswagen Scirocco. The climate control panel, dash switches and the steering column were taken from Jaguar, GM and Ford. Very shortly after the Virage was introduced, Ford purchased both Jaguar and Aston Martin.

A large, very heavy car, weighing around 3,950 lbs, the 1990 Aston Martin Virage sat on a wheelbase of 102.8 inches, had an overall length of 186.4 inches and priced new from $150,000 to $258,648. The very exclusive Virage had amazingly svelte styling and could achieve 0-60 mph in just 6 seconds and had a top speed of 158 mp. According the Sports Car International on a first test 'Acceleration just never seems to run out', and 'Nothing sounds quite like an Aston V8'. .

Unfortunately the Aston Martin Virage was not made as well as hoped, and a variety of quality, design faults and new emission laws, coupled with a world-wide recession in the early 90's, doomed the beautiful car. A variety of different versions were speedily developed from the Virage coupe including a 2+2 Volante, high performance '6.3 liter' conversions, and two and four door 'Shooting Brakes' by the factory. In 1994, only 9 models were made into a special 'Virage LE' Limited Edition. These exclusive nine models featured unique paint, trim, front grille and analogue instruments that were brought over from the Virage Volante. Original Virage Coupes featured arduous trip computer units and electronic dashes.

In 1992 the Virage Volante convertible was introduced as a 2-seat vehicle, though all production examples showcased 2+2 seating. Before the series ended production in 1996, an estimated 224 to 233 examples had been created. A shooting brake (estate) version was also offered in very limited supply in 1992. This Virage was only produced in-house by the company's Works Service, and only four estimated models were ever produced. Another just as rare production by Aston Works Service was the Lagonda Saloon. These long-wheelbase 4-door Virages were only constructed as a special customer order and only four of these models were ever produced. The last Virage Variant was the exclusive V8 Vantage in 2000, and only nine of these ultra hig-performance models were ever produced.

In January of 1992, Aston Martin introduced a conversion service which transformed the vehicle into a Virage 6.3. This conversion included a 6.3 L V8 that was derived from the AMR1 racing vehicle being converted. The engine in the model produced 500 hp at 6000 rpm and 480 ft/lb of torque at 5800 rpm which clocked the top speed at 175 mph. The 6.3 Virage also featured 18 inch wheels and 14 inch ventilated disc brakes, which were the largest that were used in a passenger vehicle until the introduction of the Bentley Continental GT. The Virage 6.3 featured low sills and air dams, side air vents and wide flared bumpers. Around 63 models were produced before the 2000 model was replaced with the Vanquish and the V8 Vantage name was again shown on a new entry-level model in 2005.

Eventually, a high-performance Vantage model of the Virage would appear, though the Virage nomenclature only lasted a few years, its final descendants would someday inherit the simple and very familiar V8 name.

by Jessican Donaldson