1999 Bentley Arnage

This Bentley Arnage is going to be sold in a No Reserve auction. Okay, so what does that mean for prospective buyers? Well, these big boys are something of a blooming bargain and this one is a case in point, and then some. Allow us to explain…

It isn’t currently running as it spent a number of years in a museum and will require mechanical re-commissioning, so that needs to be factored into any bid. As such, we think it’ll sell for somewhere between £11,000 and £16,000. Quite frankly that’s a ludicrous price range given this car’s original cost.

First registered on the 16th of April 1999, this UK specification vehicle has an impressive service history with most of its early life (until 2004 and 47,826 miles) under the care of supplying dealer, Harwoods of Sussex.

The service book documents seven services completed by that specialist:

• Harwoods - 12th May 1999 @ 50 miles

• Harwoods- 10th April 2000 @ 7755 miles

• Harwoods – 26th April 2001 @ 16817 miles

• Harwoods – 2nd January 2001 @ 27960 miles

• Harwoods – 25th September 2002 @ 38586 miles

• Harwoods – 16th July 2003 @ 44394 miles

• Harwoods – 15th December 2004 @ 47826 miles

Further work is evidenced by a stamp from Bentley Hampshire on 8th November 2007 @ 49,869 miles.

The second owner Mr Ronald Alan Waight of Heathfield, Sussex, acquired the car when just six months old on the 19th November 1999. He kept it for seven years before selling to the previous owner Mr Andreas Ugland, Uckfield, on the 10th March 2006.

Mr Ugland, a respected Norwegian businessman, merchant banker, shipping merchant, motor enthusiast and resident of George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, founded the famed Cayman Motor Museum, at which the Bentley was displayed.

The vehicle remained in that 80 car collection (alongside motorcycles, paintings, photographs and local artefacts) until Mr Ugland’s unfortunate passing in March 2020, at which time it was exported back to the UK and sold at public auction on 29th June 2021 for £12,274. The buyer spent a further £3250 paying UK Import duty (10%) and VAT (20%).

If it’s presence you want then you’ve come to the right place for the Arnage has it in spades: it’s a big, bolshy British bulldog. And yet, in Peacock Blue it retains an understated dignity, This car has the rare and desirable factory sunroof option, and that d-word is also applicable to the exterior/interior colour combination, which we here at The Market think is without doubt the model’s best.

Panel fit remains very good with excellent shut lines and those long imperious flanks in fine shape. Paintwork retains a fine lustre, although it’s not perfect and there are a few scrapes and scratches here and there – particularly on the lower rear valance around the nearside exhaust tailpipe and on the offside flank. There’s a slight dink on the offside rear door’s chrome moulding, but it’s done its job and protected the panel underneath. You’ll also find a small dent or two on the rear registration plate panel.

All of the above is us being hyper-critical though, as it’s offset by supremely clean sills, door jams and gutters, and no visual evidence of any corrosion whatsoever – its time in the car collection has ensured that it’s remained a very clean example.

The five-spoke alloy wheels present immaculately, although the next owner should check (and likely change) the tyres before road use.

Magnolia leather piped Peacock Blue ensures that this is a light and glorious cabin and one that provides a scintillating contrast to that Peacock Blue exterior. The leather (and there’s a helluva lot of it!) is relatively mark-free, supple and just on the cusp of developing a pleasing patina.

There are a few creases on the driver seat bolster and outer lateral support, and a couple of dark marks on the upper edge of the steering wheel, but these should clean up nicely with a bit of a clean and some specialist product.

The rear seats look barely used and up top the matching leather is in first class condition. Blue over mats are piped cream and in fine fettle, but the next owner may wish to invest in some thicker lambs wool items (you should, shouldn’t you?) for the ultimate in luxury.

All wood veneers to dash, doors and centre console are with the exception of the tops of the front door waist rails, crack-free. The Blue leather dashboard top is lovely to look at and in similar condition. The aluminium rimmed cream dials are clear and beautiful to look at.

It all looks to be absolutely correct for the mileage and the satisfaction factor is undoubtedly high.

Inspected by marque specialists Frank Dale and Stepsons immediately prior to its November 2021 auction sale, at that time the Arnage had two new batteries and a crankshaft angle sensor fitted at a cost in excess of £1000. In terms of performance, prospective bidders should be aware that the car is not currently running due to a suspected ECU/fuel-relates issue, which will require further investigation.

As you’d expect of a former display car, its under bonnet appearance is pretty much immaculate; you’re greeted by that huge, inviting V8 and a sea of unmarked black plastics. It’s a similar story on the car’s underside with a touch of very minor surface corrosion on one or two components, but more importantly a very solid looking demeanour indeed.

You’ll find a number of documents including a ‘Certificate of Vehicle Ownership Registration’ and a ‘Certificate of Roadworthiness’ from the Cayman Islands Government Department of Vehicle and Drivers Licensing in the Bentley’s history file.

Also included are all of its original book packs including the original service book, the previous V5c registration document and confirmation of all UK import duty and VAT payments. The invoice for the aforementioned work carried out by Frank Dale and Stepsons is also present.

The car comes with two sets of keys.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of the paperwork to support our claim that this car has a verified low mileage and has been displayed until recently in a museum, before being correctly imported back into the UK.

This lovely car is presented in one of the Arnage’s most attractive colour combinations. It also has a rare factory sunroof, verifiable low mileage and long term ownership and supporting main agent service history.

Of course having been displayed in the Cayman Motor Museum for many a year it hasn’t seen much action in recent years, and its current non-running status means there’s re-commissioning to be completed. The former however, can also be taken as confirmation of its low-mileage and very original condition.

As such we think it’ll sell for somewhere between £11,000 and £16,000. There’s no doubt that anywhere within that range will undoubtedly prove to be an absolute steal for such overt luxury and a Bentley Arnage with an excellent service history and just over 50k miles on its clock.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment 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, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.