Introduced in 1988 at the Birmingham Motor Show, the Aston Martin Virage was clothed in hand-formed aluminum bodywork remarkably modern in its execution. Using 40 sheets of aluminum per chassis, nine Connolly hides, and 17 yards of Wilton carpet, each Virage took 14 weeks to build—and as Aston Martin noted with pride, each was different in detail.

The Virage was more than a luxury gentleman’s express. The 335-horsepower, 5.3-liter hand-built V-8 engine, now with four valves per cylinder and Weber-Marelli fuel injection, was engineered by Callaway in Connecticut, better known for their tire-shredding work on twin-turbocharged Corvettes. Both manual and automatic transmissions were available; the vehicle offered here is equipped with the extremely rare, ultra-desirable ZF “dogleg” five-speed manual.

Completed in June 1991, this Aston Martin Virage is one of 54 examples exported to the North American market and is believed to be one of 13 fitted with the dogleg five-speed manual for the United States. Delivered new via Aston Martin of Cincinnati to a gentleman in Ohio, who would cherish this bespoke car for over 27 years, this coupe sports a Cannock Black Exterior over Magnolia leather with black piping as detailed on the Aston Martin window sticker on file. Monumentally expensive in period, this hand-built Aston Martin left the factory with a suggested retail price of $226,450 (nearly $545,000 in current dollars). It is said to have acquired its second owner in 2019 and was purchased by its current caretaker in 2021. A desirable low-mileage example, just 6,847 miles show on the odometer at time of cataloguing.

After the most recent sale, the Virage was sent to Foreign Affairs Motorwerks in Florida in October 2021 for a service totaling $11,842. This included checking the air conditioning system for leaks, replacing the compressor, an oil service, fuel filter replacement, fitting of new belts, replacing the steering rack boots, repair to the odometer/trip computer display, and installing a new driver’s side door seal. The coupe is accompanied by owner’s manuals, safety triangle, car care kit, lambswool carpets, and an Aston Martin umbrella. Additionally, five new Avon Speed OEM tires have been installed on the vehicle.

A handsome low-mileage example of a hand-built manual-transmission grand tourer, this Aston Martin Virage coupe represents a bygone era of excellence through a perfect union of luxury and performance. Well cared-for over the years, both the interior and exterior show signs of limited use; the accompanying items further establish cherished ownership. An extraordinary representation of the Virage, this rare and documented automobile —finished in the handsome colors of Cannock Black Exterior over Magnolia leather—checks every box, making for a definitive collector’s item.