A lightly used example of the more desirable 6.75L Turbo L-Series engined Arnage
Have covered a shade under a mere 2,000 miles per year on average
Presenting beautifully in a sublime Verdant Green over Magnolia colourway
The Appeal
The Bentley Arnage and its Rolls Royce sibling, the Silver Seraph, were the first new models produced by the Group since 1980. The Arnage’s predecessor, the Turbo R, had done much to revive the Bentley brand and mark it out as the sporting subsidiary of the Vickers owned Rolls Royce Group. As such the Arnage needed to be something a bit special, but it suffered a bit of a false start. For the first time in Bentley’s history, an externally manufactured engine was selected, a twin turbo BMW V8. For a multitude of reasons, some customer displeasure mixed with corporate politics between BMW and Bentley’s new owner VW, the BMW unit was soon ditched and the long-serving L-Series 6.75L engine was fitted. These L-Series equipped cars were known as Red Label models and soon became the preferred choice of those in the know.
This example of the Red Label car presents in a fine overall condition and features all the key Arnage attributes and refinements. It has clearly been lightly used and well cared for over a number of stable periods of ownership. It now ready to use and enjoy by the next owner, who will be sure to appreciate its winning combination of immense power and sublime luxury that few other cars can match.
Complete with its original interior featuring a acres of leather and walnut veneer
The cabin is finished predominantly in Magnolia hides with quality, deeply chromed fittings
Not just a highly luxurious cabin but a very spacious and commodious one, too
Although Bentley had took up the mantle as the sports orientated brand of the Rolls Royce Group, its cars’ interiors were no less luxurious, in reality, than their Rolls Royce siblings. Only the best materials were used including hides from cows that had never encountered scar inducing barbed wire.
Our example is finished in Magnolia Connolly hides throughout. To help enhance the luxurious ambiance, generous use of burr walnut veneer, deep woollen carpets and quality chromed fixtures and fittings have also been used. The front seats’ centre panels are stitched into vertical box pleats and delineated from the smooth bolsters with deep green piping. There is just the appropriate level of age-related creasing to the front seats but no splits, tears or significant wear. A whole section of the centre console is allocated to the electrical control of these seats. This includes multi-way adjustment, two-stage heating and four setting memory function for each seat. The rear bench is identically trimmed and appears to be almost unused. A folding central armrest is fitted, together with air conditioning vents to keep rear passengers cool and collected.
The woollen carpets are finished in Spruce Green and are protected with Magnolia leather, edge bound carpet mats. The well-padded door cards are finished in matching leather, feature integrated arm rests and storage pockets and are luxuriously capped with deep walnut veneer panels. The dashboard is heavily dressed in walnut with stitched leather top and bottom rolls. Ahead of the driver are a pair of black on magnolia gauges. These sit behind the original, two tone, multi-functional, leather Bentley steering wheel. Four Bentley monogrammed ancillary gauges grace the centre of the dashboard, together with an analogue clock. The climate control panel is situated below these, together with a walnut veneered panel concealing the multi-media head unit.
The large boot is like a work of art in its own right. The spruce green carpets are edge trimmed in magnolia leather to match the cabin. Twin Bentley umbrellas are mounted to the rear bulkhead and this area is also home to the Alpine car navigation DVD drive unit.jlVtx6ckVoWMLCkTCy3QPTqk3GIe81c60pfF82kt.jpg737.85 KB
The Exterior
The exterior of this Arnage is finished in a very stately Verdant Green livery
The condition of paintwork and accompanying brightwork looks to be very good
Fitted with an original set of six-spoke Bentley alloy wheels and centre caps
Bentley’s always look good in green. It’s like a universal law implicitly linked to the illustrious racing heritage of the marque. This example is certainly no exception in its lovely Verdant Green livery. A very subtle, full length single gold coachline and generous chrome accents positively telegraph the quality and exclusivity of this car.
The front end of the Arnage tips a nod to those earlier racing Bentleys too, with its stainless-steel mesh radiator grill. The light lenses front, and rear appear clear, clean and undamaged as does the generous cabin glass. There are plenty of Bentley enamel badges adorning the exterior, too, with red background as an acknowledgement of this car’s Red Label status.
The original, six-spoke 18-inch light alloy wheels appear to be in a fine overall condition with no kerbing or dings noted or reported. These are centred with mock central spinner caps bearing big Bentley “Bs” with sporty red backgrounds. A matching set of quality Pirelli P-Zero tyres are fitted.
The Red Label is fitted with the venerable L-Series 6.75L V8 engine
In this application it is also fitted with a single turbo and accompanying intercooler
Power is fed to the rear wheels via a smooth shifting four speed automatic gearbox
The change of heart at Bentley to replace a more modern and considerably lighter BMW V8 with the time-served L-Series Rolls Royce V8 that had originated in the 1950’s really helped the Arnage. Early Arnage drivers felt the twin-turbo BMW unit lacked soul…..and torque. The L-Series had both in abundance, especially the huge 615Ib-ft of torque from a mere 2,000rpm. This was sufficient to make the 2.5 tonne car perform like a thoroughbred racehorse.
Judging by the paperwork, this has been a well-cared for example, too. The invoices pictured account for over £11,000 of expenditure from well respected specialist garages. Although these are from a number of years ago, it should be noted that less than 10,000 miles has been covered in the intervening period. Combine this with the car’s very low original mileage and its long, advisory free MOT and the new owner should be reassured over the mechanical condition of this example. The under-bonnet presentation is highly original, clean and fresh looking. The data plate detailing the engine number and the name of the artisan engine builder is present and correct.
Luckily for Bentley the Arnage turned out to be very well received by the motoring press and lucky buyers alike. Most were blown away by the car’s almost physics defying performance and quality of build, fit and finish. With the Arnage costing a minimum of £150,000 in 2000, most were equally taken aback by its cost, but that was considered to go with the turf for Bentleys at the time. The eye-watering original cost helps put some context to the amazing value for money that these amazing cars offer today.
This example is notable for its very low original mileage and consequent overall condition. It presents in a very “Bentley appropriate” livery and wears its twenty-three years very well indeed. Its design language remains surprisingly fresh and relevant and will continue to turn heads for many years to come. This is your opportunity to own a huge slice of power and luxury at a very attainable price. Be sure not to miss it.
Notice to bidders
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