2000 Bentley Arnage

The current owner bought the car on a whim two years ago at the NEC Classic Car Show - and then spent an absolute fortune remedying all those little niggly faults that everyone else would have ignored. It was exceedingly presentable when purchased, but now has the added benefit of being fully functional!

The Arnage is rarely found in black, here it is complemented by good black leather (with some subtle dark-red piping), black leather dashboard, deep black carpets and black Bentley badges. We know that some of you out there prize this spec... and I haven't yet mentioned the wheels...

Rest assured, this Arnage is in fine fettle and ready to be passed onto a new owner; after covering just 2,000 miles in the past two years it just isn’t getting the use it deserves and is taking up some of the owner's much-needed, and expensive, storage space.

The paintwork on this car is excellent; black can be an unforgiving colour but, as you can see, the flanks of this example are free of ripples and the shutlines are as impeccable as the day it left the showroom. There are no major chips or dents, the bumpers have been preserved without corner scrapes and there is no indication of respray or repair. As with many cars, a full machine polish, would result in a truly spectacular finish.

Dark colours can be particularly imposing, combine that with the body shape of a Bentley, and what is not to like?

The original Jack Barclay Ltd chrome sill treadplates are a wonderful touch, as are the ivory dials and plethora of proper chrome switches. All of the extensive leather and veneer trim is in great condition, and everything works as it should, including the electrically operated reclining rear seats. There is just the faintest of wear on the driver's seat bolster.

There is no sign of major wear'n'tear anywhere in the interior, just the feeling of piloting your country house on the road. The carpets, in the cabin and in the boot, are plush. Everywhere you go, there is a continuous feeling of owning something premium. 

Specification includes front/rear parking sensors, sunroof, alarm/immobiliser, period Alpine radio/cassette with 'period' satnav and hidden CD changer, heated elec memory seats, headlight wash...

Oh, and it’s got front AND rear car phones. How cool would it be to be able to put someone on hold because you’ve got another call coming in on the other phone? (C’mon, admit it: there’s a little bit of Alan B’Stard in us all.)

The 19-inch chromed wheels - thought to have been a £12-14,000 option from Bentley when new - have a coupe of scratches. If these things matter to you, then they could do with some work to bring them back up to the same condition as the rest of the vehicle.

Other than that, it’s all good news because everything is on-the-button and exactly as it should be thanks to a recent full service and related work that included new engine and gearbox oil, a change of brake fluid, a new oil pressure transducer, rebuilt front suspension and geometry set-up, two new Pirelli tyres, and new boot lid struts. The final bill came to almost £4,500, which should mean that the next owner is spared any big bills for some time.

Bury your foot into the carpet, the wall of torque generates the feeling of hyperspace, that is part stunning, part hilarious and certainly not what the 'National Trust' interior leads you to expect.

The history folder comes with all the old bills, plus old tax discs and the listing from a couple of years ago when the current owner bought the car.

Speaking of which, the service history shows that the car’s previous owners have spent a fortune keeping the old girl in the manner to which she is accustomed by using only the Bentley main dealer network for routine servicing through to 2010. Since then specialists have been used as shown in the invoices below.

The HPI check is clear and the online MOT history check shows no nasties at all, which should go a long way to reassuring you to bid given the complexity of these cars.

New, the Arnage was the world’s most luxurious car, which shouldn’t be a surprise given its £170,000 price tag.

This is an astonishing amount of car for the money and way, way cooler than a Bentley Continental. Of course, some Bentleys in this price bracket need to be thoroughly checked and avoided, but this one has had continuous care and attention which should give years of pride and amusement to its new owner. Whilst good examples of these cars sell for £20,000, the price on this is so far below this that it is embarrassing. What a great opportunity for somebody...

So, if you’ve ever wanted to splash out on a wildly profligate intercontinental ballistic missile, now’s your chance…

This car can be viewed with us in South Oxfordshire; 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 or view our frequently asked questions below.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transportation needs and Footman James for classic car insurance.