2000 Bentley Arnage Red Label

Finished in Peacock Blue, ‘V32 JHB’ was supplied by Wyndham of Cardiff in January 2000. As you can see, it racked up plenty of stamps in the service history booklet over its four previous owners, which means the 130,000 miles that’re on the clock (which is an average of only 5,400 miles a year) shouldn’t be anything to worry about.

The seller might have only owned it for a very short time, but he didn’t mean to own it at all. You see, he was bidding online at a classic car auction and left his iPad unlocked near his grandchildren.

And they bid on it. And won.

It would be easy to be annoyed with them – and he probably was – but after the dust had settled, he realised they’d actually bought a decent car. The trouble is, he spends half his time in France and simply won’t ever find the time to use it.

But, his loss could be your gain, and if the photos and paperwork are anything to go by, his grandkids have a glittering future ahead of them in the classic car game.

Well, they certainly knew how to build ‘em, didn’t they? Still looking rock-solid and free of the usual dings and dents most older cars collect over the years, this Arnage still presents beautifully.

Of course, the vibrant Peacock Blue (colour code 9560007) hue helps but the panels the paint sits on are still very nicely aligned and sport excellent shutlines.

The lamp lenses are all good still too, though the headlamps could do with some polishing, which is a relief because we can’t imagine they’re cheap. Ditto the window glazing and badges, all of which are still good, but the rear off-side door rubber is coming adrift and has split. 

The Arnage’s chrome work might not be as extensive as the firm would have used on its older cars and though in generally good condition, the chrome is a bit dull to the bumper tops. 

As for the 18-inch alloy wheels, they’ve been well looked after both by the car’s previous owners and the chunky sidewalls of the 255/50R18 tyres. There is a little corrosion but only a little.

As for the tyres, they’re matching Pirelli P-Zero and all have good tread, even if the nearside front does have a cut in it and should really be replaced. 

That said, experience shows that matching high-quality tyres like this are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly, something the service history supports.

If you’re looking for a few small jobs to help you bond with your new Bentley then you could set about polishing the headlamps as they’ve gone slightly milky. It’s a common problem and easily resolved.

You could pick up from some new number plate screws while you’re at the motor factors buying the headlamp polishing kit, and you might like to order a full-size rear while you’re there.

As for jobs you might need to commission out, there’s also some paint loss and discolouration at the base of the windscreen surround, some alloy corrosion at the top of the nearside rear door, some lacquer loss and a scuff on the nearside corner of the rear bumper, some chips to the edge of the driver’s door, and some more peeling lacquer on the offside door mirror. 

More generally, as is typical for a car of this age from Crewe, the car has received quite a lot of remedial paintwork, particularly to the rear wheel arches, and rear bumper, with a repair to the near side, and we also noted some dull paint to the area below the fuel filler cap. 

That’s not a bad To Do list for a car that’s knocking on the door of a quarter of a century, is it?

As for the interior, it looks terrific, doesn’t it? Trimmed in Magnolia leather (trim code A3997) with Cobalt Blue piping (A4498) and lashing of walnut burr veneer, it’s vibrant and luxurious and still every inch the luxury sporting saloon it ever was. 

It’s still in good shape too, with seats that are still largely firm and comfortable – there is though some softening and creases to the outer edge of the driver’s seat – and coverings that are free of rips, tears, and other damage. 

The rear seats are in an even better condition, and those sitting in the back have access to a picnic table each too, which is rather lovely. The electric movement of the off-side one though, seems limited to forward motion only. 

The leather-trimmed dashboard is free of sun damage too, and the headlining is taut and clean. As for the carpets and door cards, they’re a credit to the Bentley’s four previous owners.

The boot is beautifully presented and still holds four umbrellas, which is rare as they usually get retained when the car changes hands, you know, like we all used to do with the Haynes manual…

Lifting the boot floor shows a spare wheel and warning triangle.

As for faults, we can see the new owner might like to engage the services of a car detailer to freshen up the driver’s seat. 

Electrics wise, the rear near side door does not seem to lock, with the "pull" knob being loose and also the window on that door, is also non-functioning. 

Otherwise, all we can spot is the non-locking radio cover, some peeling lacquer and cracks to a number of the door capping's, some light surface cracks to the surface of the picnic tables, wear to the left-hand edge of the driver’s mat, loose trim and worn pedal rubbers.

The Bentley’s service and maintenance record is recorded as follows:

• 01.02.2000 and 100 miles – service by Wyndham of Cardiff
• 10.05.2001 and 8,589 miles – service by Ryland Specialist Vehicles of Cardiff
• 16.09.2002 and 18,583 miles – service by Ryland Specialist Vehicles of Cardiff
• 21.05.2003 and 23,065 miles – service by Bentley Cardiff
• 12.05.2004 and 28,992 miles – service by Bentley Cardiff
• 07.03.2005 and 32,651 miles – service by Bentley Cardiff
• 07.03.2006 and 41,681 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 09.03.2007 and 48,236 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 26.02.2008 and 55,785 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 16.03.2009 and 64,242 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 18.03.2010 and 70,280 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 21.03.2011 and 77,615 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 14.03.2012 and 86,443 miles – service by Broughton’s of Cheltenham
• 22.04.2013 and 95,358 miles – service by Bentley Cheltenham
• 04.06.2014 and 103,386 miles – service by Bentley Cheltenham
• 18.08.2021 and 130,286 miles – oil service and an alternator by Stortford Prestige

Despite being due a service it fires into life readily and idles and revs nicely, with the dashboard instruments registering good oil pressure and a healthy charge to the battery.

We do, however, note warnings on the dashboard for airbag and gearbox.

The engine and underbonnet area aren’t bad but they certainly aren’t presented to the same high standard as everywhere else, so if you were to have it cleaned and detailed few would accuse you of being overly fussy. 

While no MoT tester has ever had cause to mention structural corrosion, we do note some surface corrosion that could do with being dealt with. The seller tells us that a Lanoguard treatment would have been on the cards if he’d kept it, something we’ve used previously to good effect.

There is also evidence of an oil leak. Don’t ask us, come and inspect it.

The Arnage’s MoT certificate is valid until March 2025, the recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and the Bentley comes with the book pack and wallet, the well-stamped service history booklets, and a couple of invoices for an alternator drive belt and four boot lid struts.

With a guide price of between £10,000 and £14,000, the Arnage offers a huge amount of performance and luxury for the money, especially when you factor in the full MoT and extensive service history.

And yet, it does need a little fettling to bring it back to full health, not least a service. With this in mind, the seller is happy to offer it with no reserve and let the market decide its true value.

You can’t say fairer than that, can you?

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’.