Bentley Arnage Red Label

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At its launch in 1998, the Bentley Arnage initially used a twin-turbo version of the BMW 4.4-litre V8 which produced 349bhp and 420lb/ft of torque, sufficient to launch the 2.5 tonne beast to 60mph in just 6.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 160mph.

However, when VW took over the Bentley brand in 1999, the BMW powerplant was replaced (much to the delight of enthusiasts) with the traditional Rolls-Royce 6.75-litre V8 with a single Garrett turbocharger which gave 400bhp and 616lb/ft – making the new Arnage Red Label the fastest and most powerful four-door production car in the world.

But it isn’t the colossal performance that makes the Arnage special; it is the fabulous interior that really impresses anyone lucky enough to get inside. In the words of the Daily Telegraph: “The cabin is the apotheosis of wood-and-leather luxury and it coddles the occupants like no other car. The rear seats are beyond comfortable, they are an occasion. Just sitting in front of the exquisite dashboard and seeing the tiny instrument needles creep past Eric Gill’s locomotive typeface – there isn’t a cheap way into this sort of hedonism, other cars simply don’t have these things.” Or, as Jeremy Clarkson put it: “It’s like Blenheim Palace – on speed.”

First registered in December 2001, this particular Arnage Red Label has covered only 30,200 miles from new and has been serviced 7 times to date, the last service being carried out only 100 miles ago. The vendor purchased the car from Rolls and Bentley specialists P&A Wood at a cost of £48,000 in May 2009 when it had 28,000 miles on the clock.

Finished in Wildberry purple with a Cotswold hide interior it is packed with all the luxuries that a Bentley owner would expect and is in excellent condition throughout. Retaining all its original handbooks in the original wallet, it also comes with a pair of Bentley umbrellas clipped inside the boot and a Bentley trickle charger to keep the twin batteries (both recently renewed) in peak condition.

Said to drive beautifully it is taxed until October, MOTd until July (with no advisories recorded) and is ready to drive away today. Motoring doesn’t get any more imperious than this and the lucky new owner will feel like a millionaire every time they slip behind the wheel.

Please note that the private plate shown is not included and will be replaced with an age-related plate prior to the sale.