2002 Bentley Arnage T

‘40 RAL’ is a Moroccan Blue Bentley Arnage that sits on a set of simple five-spoke alloy wheels, a combination that’s as elegant as it is timeless.

It arrived here from London under its own steam, leaving a wake of goodwill and admiration behind it; the Bentley Arnage is one of the very few luxury cars that seems to draw nothing but positive attention, something that makes everyday life with them a joy.

The seller gains great satisfaction from bringing the cars in his collection to a condition he’s happy with. He then enjoys them for a while – since December 2024 in this case – before moving them on to make space for the next one.

He is, therefore, exactly the sort of chap you want to buy a car like this from. 
 

The honeycomb grille, which adds so much to the Arnage’s sporting visage and is the feature most of us first notice, is in a very good condition with no damage or distortion.

The Moroccan Blue paintwork (colour code 9560084) around it is very good too, with far fewer stonechips and marks than seems possible give the Arnage’s somewhat bluff visage.

In fact, its overall presentation is excellent with no marks to the four corners or the door mirror caps, a remarkable feat given it has spent so much time on the Isle of Man with its narrow streets and roads.

The seller had the gigantic 19-inch split-rim alloy wheels refurbished, which wasn’t a cheap job, not least because he also fitted new centre caps and extended tyre valves.

He also had the wheels and suspension aligned in December 2024, which was a canny move as they’re fitted with a matching set of Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The flanks are free of ripples and car-park dinks too, and the shutlines are still factory-tight. All the parking sensors are present and correct too, and that’s not something that can be taken for granted.

All the external glass, both lamp lenses and glazing, is free of chips and cracks. The badges are nice and colourful still, and the heated door mirror glasses were replaced only this month.

The door and boot shuts are all clean, the puddle and red warning lights work, and all the apertures have good rubber seals. The seals for the windscreen and rear window also still look nice and supple.

We also love some of the smaller details like the knurled finish behind the door handles, which is echoed on the internal door latches and in the design of the door lock buttons.

The minimal chromework sparkles, and the effect against the Moroccan Blue in the soft autumnal light is stunning, as you can see for yourself; our photographer is a talented chap, but this one practically shot itself…

As for cosmetic flaws there are some chips to the trailing edge of the nearside front door, some minor scratches to the nearside rear of the roof, the aerial needs reseating, and there is a notable scratch on the bonnet.
 

As for the interior: “During the time I’ve owned it, we’ve spent a considerable amount of time and money bringing the car up to a very high, usable standard, and it comes fitted with blue sheepskin rugs and new carpets, two keys, a Bentley umbrella, and an Android/CarPlay headunit. (The original has been retained.)

“Other parts that have been replaced in the last twelve months include the airbag, clock spring, transmitter module, indicator switch stalk, and the missing internal lock trims.”

This is not a car that’s lived within a budget.

But then the owner had a good foundation to build on, not least the condition of the sumptuous blue quilted leather seats, all of which are electrically adjustable and have the Bentley emblem embroidered on their backrests.

The dashboard is finished with engine-turned metal, a design flourish that’s repeated along the top of the doors and for the surface of the two walnut veneer picnic tables that reside in the back of the front seats.

The tables sit below Alpine screens mounted in the headrests, which have their own remote controls.

While we’re on the subject of wood, veneer covers everything that isn’t swathed in leather, which is exactly as it should be.

In fact, everything is exactly as it should be: the leather is soft and supple and free of damage, including that on top of the dashboard where it is in the full glare of the sun.

The carpets and lamb’s wool overmats have been replaced, so they’re as good as you’d expect, and the lettering on the buttons and controls is still bright white.

Sure, the seats show some light creasing but that’s to be expected and lends the Bentley an Old Money ambience.

The woodwork is nicely varnished and free of chips and scratches, the steering wheel and gearknob are virtually unmarked, and the alloy pedals are good and grippy still.

Nor is it just the curation that impresses because the quality of manufacturing is evident wherever you look from the tight and consistent stitches through to the depth of shine on the heavy chrome controls. There are padded headrests in the C-pillars too, which is indicative of the thought that went into every aspect of the Arnage’s design.

The boot is both vast and luxuriously trimmed. It’s in good order too, and includes a partial tool kit plus an umbrella clipped to the rear bulkhead.

Faults are few. The rubber is lifting from the offside front sill plate, the driver’s door pocket has a bracket screwed inside it (to hold the remote for the original Alpine navigation system – though not present with the car), and the boot carpet has a stain in it.  
 

The seller hasn’t ignored the Bentley’s mechanical components either replacing the gas spheres on the rear suspension, the struts fitted to the bonnet and boot, the handbrake release, and both batteries (the concierge and the starter) in November last year.

You’ll need to pay close attention to the video because the twin-turbocharged engine is so quiet that the easiest way to confirm it has started is to note the movement of the oil pressure gauge and voltmeter as the V8 springs into life and builds revs.

If you turn the volume up you can hear a distant roar when you press the accelerator, but the cabin is surprisingly muted even then.

Of course, anyone choosing a Bentley over a Rolls-Royce won’t mind a bit of exhaust noise, which is handy because the twin tailpipes have an impressive note to them.

The engine itself is largely hidden but what we can see looks clean, as does the shrouding and inner wings.

As for the underside, no MoT tester has ever mentioned structural rust or corrosion, which isn’t a surprise because we can’t see anything either, just the odd rusty fastener and steel component.

In fact, the only fault the seller’s made us aware of is: “There is a slight knock from the front suspension, which has not yet been attended to but will probably require replacement bushes that are readily available.”

We also note the use of cable ties to hold some of the plastic panels in place. 
 

The Bentley was registered in the United Kingdom but appears to have spent most of its life in the Isle of Man.

It’s showing one MoT in  March 2007 at 16,720 miles, another in April 2015 and 37,107 miles, and the current one in December 2024 and 38,448 miles. This latter was issued with no advisories.

The seller tells us: “The MoT in 2015 coincides with a bill from Bowling-Ryan Prestige Specialists Limited, an independent Rolls/Bentley specialist, that shows they did quite a bit of work including replacing the head gaskets. I can’t guarantee the mileage but, judging from its overall condition and the fact that the Isle of Man is not that big, it could well be accurate.”

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the personalized numberplate is being retained, so the Bentley will be sold with an age-related number.

There’s a spare key too, plus a few invoices in the history file.
 

With a guide price of between £15,000 and £18,000, it’s hard to imagine another way of getting so much real estate for so little money; in fact, buying this is the automotive equivalent of selling your pokey London flat to move to  a stately pile in Northumbria.

Which means, like making your escape to the country, it won’t be for everyone.

But, if you’ve ever had a hankering to have an Arnage in the garage, this is the one to buy: beautifully finished in a vibrant colour, it’s been gone through by a man who understands the difference between what something costs and what it is worth.

And that’s priceless.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.