Lotus Eclat or maybe even an Excel? Although I do remember you mentioning that you never ever saw an Excel in the US.
Of course there are also various Bristols that would probably qualify for having a debatable seat of four seats, as do Jensen Interceptors but those don't quite qualify as a modern classic either.
Tim you are warmer with those guesses than anyone else. It is sadly not the Bristol which is a car I have always wanted.
Hmmm....
Just how modern is it then? 70s? 80s? 90s?
I guess the 'warmer' bit refers to the fact that the manufacturer is probably a specialist manufacturer in the UK?
TR-8
90's
If it's not a four seater, I would guess Lotus Esprit S4 or Esprit V8 given your comment above.
If it's a four seater and still wears the Lotus badge and it's not an Excel, I would think Lotus Omega or Lotus Carlton, but I have no idea if those ever made it to the US.
viper 
Remember I said some people did not consider it a 4 seater. :)
Lotus is out though i was thinking Esprit for quite awhile.
Front, mid or rear engined?
Maserati or XK8?
Andy, you said it's a brand you've owned before - it wouldn't be the same brand as a certain British sports car that you've sold before you were "done" with it and prices have since moved out of reach?
Not a Maserati, not a XK8, front engined.
And Tim you may be on the right track.
Lotus Elan ?
Laurent N
A Delorean!!!! Bahahahahahah!!!
Wait... wait...
A Lamborghini?
NVM.... not enough seats unless its the LM002.
Aston Martin Virage or DB7?
And the winner is Boxhead Tim. The car is a 1997 Aston Martin DB7 Coupe. The car is stunning. We will have it in Monterey. It was a Craigslist find for a terrific price and I was the first person to answer the ad at a dealer no less. Lovejoy Car Company in Portland Oregon. They have been so easy to work with, are having the few issues I found with the car dealt with and are holding the car indoors until the first weekend of August.
We will let you know what owning a exotic coupe like the Aston is like as far as issues and running costs as well as the club opportunities and events we take it to.
What prompted me to buy it is a video I saw in this episode of Top Gear.
I wanted to own a car like this again before it was not any fun to do so anymore. Is a DB7 perfect? No but sadly we are moving away from what makes cars interesting and unique and moving towards a lot more generic ones. If you have not seen this, enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVrrP63Pzy0
Now that's a nice car, looking forward to see it at Monterey.
Wow! Very, very cool!
Three thumbs up! 
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