1998 Bentley Arnage Green Label

Having been Mr Clark's 'daily' car for the last few years, it is now ready for a new owner via the Hospital Trust. There is a small snag though, in that the Trust put the car through an MOT for sale and it promptly failed (please see the MOT failure text in question in the photo gallery). After taking it to a Bentley main dealer, it was somewhat taken aback when quoted around £4k to rectify the failures (which include some electrical faults, failed clamps and worn suspension components).

Having had look at the repairs necessary, we feel that there is nothing catastrophic in there (just normal bits and pieces) and they would cost considerably less if carried out by an independent specialist. And if the next owner were able to turn a spanner, then that amount would be lower still.

It must be noted that prior to this test the Bentley’s MOT history has been very good, and in total the included V5 document shows that it’s had three owners from new and has covered 115,000 miles during that time (the odometer currently says c60,000, but there is a documented speedo change around 53,000).

Having driven it we think the MOT tester may have made an error as the suspension clonking seems to be from the offside rear unit, rather than the indicated nearside unit. It purrs along like the big luxurious battle cruiser that it is, and when you need to unleash the big guns then its colossal reserves of torque are available immediately. The air-conditioning blew colder than St Moritz at winter’s height.

Oh, and HBC 2L is included in the sale.

The stately lines of this Arnage remain in decent fettle with the body still looking good. As the pictures show there are one or two thumbnail size bits of rust at the bottom of the front grill and nearside A-pillar. Pop all four doors and it shows their respective bottoms to be rust free.

The paint quality is good, possibly original and there’s no evidence of any paint overspray or colour mismatch, it’s generally ding-free and the panels still line up nicely, and close well. It’s a nice colour, Ascott Green, possibly special order too. The only exception are the bumpers, both of which have some mild scratching and the odd chip & repair here and there, so the next owner may wish to have both repaired properly. One of the headlights is also cracked.

Up close it’s clear that each five-spoke alloy wheel has varying degree of marking, from light tarnishing to heavier corrosion – although they look reasonably good from a distance. However, all sport decent tyres. Despite its current suspension woes, the Arnage sits nice and level.

Slot yourself in, crack out your finest Cuban cigar and relax – you’ve arrived. This is how the other half lived circa 1998; whether CEO, gangsta rapper or old-money gentleman, this was an interior built to impress.

Today, it still does. Yes, there are a few indicators of the car’s mileage. The driver’s mat is worn (although there are full lambswool overmats), as are some parts of the leather steering wheel and there’s wear on the outer bolster of driver’s seat. The driver’s seatbelt is also a bit grubby and in need of a clean, as is the top of the central storage unit.

Generally though it stands up to scrutiny very well. The leather dash top is flawless, the burr walnut panels and chrome rimmed instruments are glorious and the seemingly acres of crème leather, piped green, are in general rip-free and with nice patina. While up top, the headlining is excellent. It’s light, airy and a very pleasant place to be.

Pop open the boot and again it’s a very good story, with only a small split to the piping of the carpet spoiling matters. The his’n’hers umbrellas and boot top lining carpet still remain in place. Pull the carpet and the toolbox is present, with most of the tools still in place.

Interior electrics have been tested and we can confirm that the electric windows, seats, rear reclining seats, air-con and central locking all work well.

Popping the bonnet shows the struts to be a touch on the weak side, but the engine revealed still presents well – although it’s difficult to gauge much under all that black quality plastic.

There’s a fair bit of surface corrosion on suspension components and the exhaust system underneath, but all is solid. There’s no blowing from the latter, but the join between the centre pipe and nearside back box looks pretty crusty.

The MOT failure states that some of the dust covers have perished and other rubber gaiters, while still permissible, look of a similar age and disposition. 

Our brief test drive discovered no other issues with the big Bentley, the engine, gearbox, brakes and electrics all appeared to do as they were told.

There’s an invoice showing that the previous owner Mr Clarke paid the princely sum of £20,5000 for this Bentley Arnage in May, 2011. That’s still a fraction of the car’s original cost, and the next owner is likely to pay much less.

Also included are a variety of invoices and MOTs, as well as a stamped service book. Most of the work carried out (at Bentley main dealer and independent Bentley specialists) seems to have been for consumables, MOTs, servicing and the odd rectification of a minor fault. A suspension ram was replaced in June 2007 at a cost of circa £800, and a new speedo head fitted on 26/05/02 at 53,149 miles.

The original driver’s handbook is included and it comes with four keys and two security blippers.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and a few other bits of paperwork. However we believe that the condition pictures and owner testimony both support our claim that this car has been maintained to a very good standard.

Okay, put the MOT business to one side and this car still drives like a bloody good Bentley. Yes, there’s some work to be done – we can’t, and won’t, hide that fact, regulars will know this is what we do, and what you like. What is it worth? Well, good question, and one we’ll let you decide.

With a fresh MOT, we feel it is worth low to mid-teens. As stated, there’s no reserve. We think it’ll sell for between £6000 and £11,000. Factor in that the registration plate – surely worth four figures in itself – is coming with the car, and it’s an even better deal.

If you want a very nice example of this model that can be used as a daily driver or superlatively comfortable weekend cruiser then get bidding. And remember all proceeds do go to charity!

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us near Abingdon; 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’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.