2000 Bentley Arnage

With a mileage that’s only just slipped past the 40,000-mile mark, this 2000 Silver Pearl Bentley Arnage Red Label is fitted with chromed alloy wheels and a stunning Grey and Wildberry interior in addition to the wonderful 6.75-litre turbocharged V8 Rolls-Royce engine.

First registered in March 2000, ‘W272 SJF’ has been in the seller’s hands for a year now, a year he describes as “great fun”. 

He’s done a few small jobs on the Bentley since he bought it, jobs that have improved it a little - and have paid off for him, as you’ll read later.

While there’s no getting away from the fact that Bentley build very fine motorcars indeed, the fact this Arnage still looks so good after the passage of almost a quarter of a century is testament also to the curation it’s received.

Just look at it! The shutlines are still tight and accurate, the panel alignment is spot-on, and the absence of dents, ripples and scuffs speaks well of those who’ve driven it.

The paintwork is equally good, with a good gloss to it. The hue also imbues the Bentley with a hewn-from-solid look we love; if you were to carve one out of aluminium, this is what it would look like.

The chromework is good too, as are the badges, the window glass, the windscreen, and the lamp lenses. 

The 18-inch chromed alloy wheels might be a little scruffy but they are not so bad as to ruin the car’s presentation. You could have them re-polished but the seller looked into the matter and found a set of refurbished ones for sale at Flying Spares for £1,200. #justsaying

The tyres are matching Pirelli P-Zero tyres on all four corners. The front tyres are good, but while the rears are still legal, they won’t be that way for long so will need changing – and the MoT tester spotted a nail in the nearside rear, so that might up the urgency with which you replace them.

While we’re being picky the rear number plate needs replacing with one that fits, there are some chips on the edge of the driver’s door, and the coachwork is starting to develop the odd spot of corrosion such as the one on the nearside rear door.

The first owner had impeccable taste; if the coachwork is wonderfully discreet the interior gave them the chance to indulge their inner wild child and while Wildberry and two-tone grey might not sound like natural partners, as you can see, they actually work very well together, something the extensive chrome and walnut veneer contributes to in no small way. 

It’s also still in great shape; the heated leather front seats are still plump and comfortable with only the lightest creasing to the surfaces. They also still operate as they should and balance comfort and support as well as you’d expect in a car built by a company with Bentley’s sporting heritage.

The good news continues: The headlining is taut and clean; the door cards are excellent; and the carpets aren’t only good, they’re protected by sumptuous overmats whose pile is a drift of the softest and thickest lamb’s wool money can buy. 

Hell, the driver’s mat even has a quilted heel protector, which is not something you see every day.

The ivory-faced instruments convey all the information a driver could ever need and they do so clearly and elegantly. 

An Alpine headunit, CD multi-changer and matching pop-up screen provide the in-car entertainment, while an aftermarket Parrot Bluetooth system adds Bluetooth connectivity.

Rear legroom is, of course, on a palatial scale and those in the rear benefit from a pair of padded headrests on the C-pillars, allowing them to snooze in comfort as they glide through the country. 

Or countries; few cars would be better at dismissing an entire continent before lunch than this.

The boot is vast as it is clean. Well appointed too, with the factory tool kit, full-size spare wheel, and even the umbrella still in place.

Cosmetically, it’s very good. There are some light scratches to the base of the driver’s seat trim but otherwise the only patination is to the gear knob and steering wheel; we’ve said it before but Bentley does know how to build a long-lasting car.

As for actual faults, the sort of thing you’re probably want to get sorted, the driver’s window doesn’t rise and fall as it should and while the boot does open when you use the key in the lock, it doesn’t release when you use the button in the cabin; we can hear a motor though, so it probably isn’t that.

As you can see, the Bentley starts instantly and the 6.75-litre turbocharged engine immediately settles down to a steady idle. It revs as it should and 

there are no warning lights illuminated either, which is more good news. 

The seller reports that it “runs beautifully.”

The engine bay is very clean as is the underside. So much so, in fact, that no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural corrosion, which is good news.

As for the advisory points online, the seller had the anti-roll bar ball joints looked at and his local garage said because the covers are still intact and there’s no play in the joints themselves they advised him to leave them as they are for a while; given the few miles it covers in a year, it might be a few more before they really do need replacing.

The Bentley comes with the book pack, some expired MoT certificates and, to prove how much it’s been loved over the years, a thick wedge of bills.

The service history book has been stamped as follows:

• 03.04.2000 and 59 miles – customer assurance check by Michael Powles Ltd
• 26.04.2001 and 4,191 miles – service by Michael Powles Ltd
• 23.04.2002 and 8,778 miles – service by Broughtons of Cheltenham
• 17.04.2003 and 14,298 miles – service by Broughtons of Cheltenham
• 06.05.2004 and 19,871 miles – service by Bentley Birmingham
• 29.04.2005 and 25,821 miles – service by Bentley Birmingham
• 11.10.2006 and 30,157 miles – service by Bentley Newcastle
• 20.06.2017 and 37,466 miles – service and suspension work by Fearon, independent Bentley specialist
• 04.05.2022 and 39,717 miles – oil service and fluid check by A52 Tyre Barn Ltd

The Bentley’s MoT certificate is valid until May. The recent Vehicle History Check is clean and it also comes with two sets of keys.

The seller hasn’t only run this car for a year - he’s also improved it a bit. He's sorted out a few small jobs like replacing the driver’s door mirror, jobs which taken cumulatively have improved it a little.

We estimate that it will sell for £15,000-£20,000.

The fact that a turbocharged Bentley like this can be yours for the price of a not-terribly-well-equipped Ford Fiesta might be a tired old cliché, but it is true; and no motoring adventure is going to be downgraded by being undertaken in an Arnage, is it?

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.