Bentley Arnage Red Label

This lot will be auctioned via Iconic Auctioneers, Online Auction 26th February on Thursday the 26th of February. , BackgroundIn the mid nineties, Bentleys owners Vickers knew they would soon need to replace the ageing Mulsanne. Subsequently, a new model was required to bring Bentley into the 21st century. The Arnage was the first allnew model introduced since 1991 and was launched in 1998, just months before the takeover struggle for Bentley between Volkswagen and BMW, which was eventually won by Volkswagen. They then set about reengineering the Arnage, which was originally equipped with a BMWderived M62 twinturbo V8.Introduced a year later, the Red Label saw the return of the trusty 6.75litre Bentleyderived pushrod V8, seen here in turbocharged form and producing 400bhp and a mighty 616lb/ft of torque when new. This helped restore the wave of torque and effortless acceleration sensation that had been somewhat missed by earlier BMWpowered cars.The CarThe 2001 example seen here is presented in a complementary combination of Amethyst Metallic over cream leather with blue piping and blue carpeting. At the time of cataloguing, the odometer shows 65,720 miles and the car is offered with an impressive history file indicating 17 service stamps from a mixture of main dealers and Bentley specialists, plus its predelivery inspection conducted at H.R. Owen in October 2000.The consigning owner acquired this Red Label nearly eight years ago, during which time they have lavished a considerable sum ensuring the Arnage remains in top mechanical and cosmetic condition. During their ownership, they advise that the Bentley was subject to a respray at a cost of circa £6,000. Substantial mechanical work also includes a new gearbox fitted at a cost of around £5,500, and we are advised that the history folder suggests a further £20,000 has been spent recently. We also believe the speedometer unit was changed in December 2006. Upgrades include a Panasonic navigation and stereo system at a cost of £1,500.Location: LondonSeller: PrivatePhotography: Professional