“Socially,” the owner says, “this car will change your life!” Who could deny that? It’s a Red Label 2000 Bentley Arnage Turbo, and you can buy it here on Craigslist in Santa Monica, California for a paltry $19,999—the price of a used Camry. For Bentleys and Rolls-Royces the purchase price is notoriously just the down payment, but the good news is that this one has been regularly maintained—and looks spectacular. Thanks to Tony Primo for the tip.
The Bentley was serviced regularly at a specialist in Santa Monica, and separately at Quality Motors in Canoga Park. The 25-year-old car is “not perfect,” but is pretty darn good.
The list of recent service is long, and includes: All drive belts and synthetic oil change done at 67,800 miles; brand-new full aluminum radiator, with full coolant flush; new rear suspension and gas tanks; two new batteries; upper and lower ram pipe seals (whatever they are, but it’s a “big job”); new o-rings, air pump belt, coolant thermostat gasket and thermostat; air pump belt; electrical relay replaced; coolant level sensor. There’s even a new radiator cap.
Cars of this era have tons of older and aging technology on them, and finding out what’s gone wrong can be a nightmare of replacing one part after another to find the problem. This one sounds like its been regularly looked after, which is crucial. There’s no check-engine light after 3,000 miles of driving with the current owner.
Things you should know—the tires are at around 60 percent, and the brakes the same. One wheel is missing a center cap, and the bumper is missing a reflector. None of this will prevent your squiring your new Bentley around town and being the envy of the neighborhood. This feels like a Santa Monica/Miami Beach car—very extroverted.
The photos are pretty good, although the engine is not fully shown. They reveal a very well-kept Bentley with no immediate needs. The leather-and-wood interior is incredibly sumptuous, which is why this car cost $209,000 in 2000 dollars ($405,319 today). And here it is, with 67,000 miles and a lot of maintenance money spent, for a tenth of that.
This model was around for a while, from 1998 to 2009. It’s the first cousin to the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. It was a clean-sheet-of-paper design for the separating Rolls and Bentley at the time. The Arnage was replaced by the Mulsanne in 2009.
The Silver Seraph used the M73 BMW V-12, but the sportier Arnage came in two versions, Red and Green Label. The Red Label, this car, had a stiffer chassis and used the British 6.75-liter turbo V-8 from the older Turbo R (400 horsepower and 616 pound-feet of torque). It could reach 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
The Green Label’s engine was a 4.4-liter twin-turbo BMW V-8 producing 344 horsepower. The Green Label with BMW power, proved the more reliable of the pair, and was less costly to service. But purists like the more British Red Label. The Green Label car is really rare—only seven were built, all in LHD configuration. In total, only 1,243 Arnages were built for 2000.
There’s probably room for some bargaining here. Classic.com puts the 2000 Arnage Red Label at only $18,443. But this is a better than average example. How much is arriving in style worth to you?
Good gracious! Like sx on whels! (add an ‘e’ where you wish).
Not sure where you got the horsepower figure, Jim — IIRC, the output was always described as “adequate” or “sufficient” — but having driven a Turbo R, I’d say you’re very much in the ballpark.
For such a large luxury yacht, these Bentleys can be pushed along back roads with some enthusiasm, but that never seemed to affect the ride quality or the silence of the interior. And of course the finishes are exquisite.
From all I’ve heard, Bentleys and their Rolls-Royce kin will last forever if maintained properly. I’d consider the cost of such work as insurance. And the price of the rather large amount of petrol they consume as simply what one pays for such a magnificent automotive experience. There’s nothing else like them. And, sadly, we will probably not see their like again.
Ron Wood from the Stones 🎸 apparently only drove Bentleys.
So did Mr. Wood, or “Wood” as you might refer to him, stop driving?
A missing bumper reflector AND a missing center cap?!?! Geez, I dunno. Took it right off my “gotta buy it NOW” list.
Seriously, a definite social magnet in some places-the Caesars New Republic at Lake Tahoe, or The Luxor on The Strip. Very well kept from all quick glances.
Interesting write-up Jim. I didn’t realize they were this expensive new. Your phrase “the price of a used Camry” got me thinking. Obviously this car has way more cachet than a Camry. Has had lots of work, but of course there are other things which could go wrong. If one lived where it could be nearby serviced with confidence, and said service was fairly priced (you know, not $1000 for an oil change), this might be an interesting and fun car to own.
I’ve been in a Rolls once in my life. I was the advertising director of a regional department store company in the late 80s, and our owner, who owned the Rolls, took me and a couple of other guys to lunch one day. Even in a large Texas city, that Rolls turned heads. And the feeling of riding in that tank was one I’ve never forgotten. Ever since, when I see a car like this at a price I could easily afford, that lil Devil hops on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, “Life is short, Dave, why not?”. So far, I’ve been able to resist. So far. . .
I drove a 1976 Rolls-Royce around the block once. The fellow was trading it in on a 1985 Lincoln Town Car Signature Series. That nine year old Rolls, drove every bit as good as the brand new Lincoln.