1996 Aston Martin Virage Volante Widebody

A 1996 Aston Martin Virage Volante in Widebody specification — one of the rarer factory-commissioned variants of the hand-built Newport Pagnell Virage line, distinguished by its flared arches, deeper sills and uprated stance derived from the Vantage programme. Finished in Buckinghamshire Green Metallic over Cream leather, it presents the kind of restrained, period-correct colour combination that suits the car's coachbuilt character far better than the louder schemes often seen on later cars.

The 5.3-litre V8 drives through the automatic transmission, which suits the Volante's role as a long-legged grand tourer rather than an outright sports car. At 39,000 miles from new and accompanied by a substantial history folder, this example has clearly been used sparingly and maintained to the standard a hand-assembled Aston of this era demands.

Widebody Volantes were produced in tiny numbers towards the end of Virage production, and surviving cars with documented history are increasingly difficult to find. As one of the last truly bespoke Astons from the pre-Ford-investment era, it sits at an interesting point in the marque's history.