Bentley Arnage Red Label | Spotted
If you're going to buy an old Bentley for Fiesta ST money, make sure you get the right engine...
Twenty grand. That's all that's required to have this Bentley Arnage sitting on your driveway. And no, it's not a Green Label, with a 4.4-litre BMW engine wheezing away under the bonnet. It's a Red Label, which means it has the engine you want: Crewe's 6.75-litre big-turbo masterpiece. That means 400hp from those eight, tub-thumping cylinders and, more to the point - and where BMW's V8 fell short with its mustering of 'just' 420lb ft - a whacking great 616lb ft of torque at 12rpm. Well, okay, not 12rpm, but a lot of it was available from just 1,000rpm and it was all flowing by 2,100rpm. That was enough to hitch up the skirt of this 2.4-tonne behemoth and carry it off to sixty in under six seconds.
Except it really was all about that torque rather than the Red Label's ultimate speed. This is a car that genuinely can claim to waft with nothing but a light touch on the throttle pedal. And okay, the L-Series was never a soundless thing, but its lazy V8 background rumble was all part of the Bentley experience. Moreover, I always found these earlier Red Labels quieter than the later twin-turbo models that came along later, including the Arnage R and T.
Of course, the Arnage was never meant to have the 6.75-litre because it had been put out to grass when the SZ saloons were retired in 1997. In the background, Vickers had been hunting around for a modern replacement for the long-lived V8, so that it could meet the present and upcoming emissions regulations that it felt the L Series would struggle with. After looking at Mercedes' engines, it was finally decided to develop a technical partnership with BMW, which would supply the M62 V8 engine for Arnage, with Cosworth-designed heads, and the (rather lovelier, it has to be said) M73 V12 for the Rolls-Royce Seraph. This tie-up would also see other BMW parts used, including the HVAC system and switchgear.
However, then something happened few at the time expected. The power struggle to end all power struggles, as BMW and Volkswagen locked horns for control of the two most famous marques in luxury motoring. BMW threatened to withdraw technical support (which it never followed through on) but by the time the dust had settled - and BMW had gained the rights to use the Rolls-Royce name, while Volkswagen assumed full control of Bentley - the idea of relying on BMW for its source of engines was politically unviable.
So that was when the L Series was pulled out the cupboard, so to speak, and much of the Arnage was reengineered in the process. This included answering criticisms about the lack of space in the back. But rather than add an expensive LWB version, the solution was to lower and push back the position of the rear seats. It did the job. At the same time the body shell was stiffened up and the brakes, which struggled to deal with the extra weight and performance of the L Series, were beefed up.
Now, some people will tell you that the BMW-engined cars are better. They are not. The later cars, which were badges Green Label and carried the same modifications as the Red Labels, were okay. But they still don't have the character that you get with the old 6.75-litre installed. If you must have BMW power, then I'd definitely go looking for the V12 Seraph instead. Otherwise, the Red Label is a fabulous Bentley, in terms of looks and drive. Sure, it'll be potentially expensive to run, but when it's just £19,995 to buy, you can keep the savings to cover the servicing. Enjoy.
Specification | Bentley Arnage Red Label
Engine: 6,750cc, V8, turbocharged
Transmission: 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 400hp @ 4,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 616 @ 2,100rpm
CO2: 456
MPG: 14.7
Recorded mileage: 80,000
Year registered: 2001
Price new: £140,000
Yours for: £19,995
If the Americans produced an engine with those specs all we'd be hearing is scoffing at the specific output because they're obviously morons who can't do any better.
Chip on shoulder established, lovely car and I'm sure would be a lot more fun to waft about in than a £50,000 Golf R, and you've got £30,000 to cover the inevitable repairs and fuel bills.
https://auctions.assetrealisationservices.com/lot-...
I was taken for a ride in one of these when they were new and my resounding memory is of the tacho and speedo seemingly changing roles. Where a normal cars revs quickly and accelerates slowly, this thing seemed to be piling on ridiculous speed whilst revving only slightly over tick over. An engine from another era, and Volkswagen should be celebrated for giving it another significant lease of life.All that said, maybe I'm a coward, but this feels more brave pill to me.
https://www.pistonheads.com/buy/listing/12045304
If the Americans produced an engine with those specs all we'd be hearing is scoffing at the specific output because they're obviously morons who can't do any better.
It was fast, but with a lot of turbo lag
It drank juice, obviously
It was fragile
The heater controls looked like they were out of some kind of 90s Rover, and were crap
Its tiny inside-im only 5'9 and even with the seat right back it felt cramped
It needs servicing roughly every 10 miles
I seem to remember it had some weird tyre size that was hard to get and expensive
£20k? Not a chance, I wouldn't pay £5k for one
It was fast, but with a lot of turbo lag
It drank juice, obviously
It was fragile
The heater controls looked like they were out of some kind of 90s Rover, and were crap
Its tiny inside-im only 5'9 and even with the seat right back it felt cramped
It needs servicing roughly every 10 miles
I seem to remember it had some weird tyre size that was hard to get and expensive
£20k? Not a chance, I wouldn't pay £5k for one
It was fast, but with a lot of turbo lag
It drank juice, obviously
It was fragile
The heater controls looked like they were out of some kind of 90s Rover, and were crap
Its tiny inside-im only 5'9 and even with the seat right back it felt cramped
It needs servicing roughly every 10 miles
I seem to remember it had some weird tyre size that was hard to get and expensive
£20k? Not a chance, I wouldn't pay £5k for one
If the Americans produced an engine with those specs all we'd be hearing is scoffing at the specific output because they're obviously morons who can't do any better.
Chip on shoulder established, lovely car and I'm sure would be a lot more fun to waft about in than a £50,000 Golf R, and you've got £30,000 to cover the inevitable repairs and fuel bills.
My car is 1968 and yes a slightly later engine (1970-71) but a 5.8 v8 and circa 350bhp and similar lb ft with no turbo in sight..
Jayemm has reviewed the Rolls Royce Silver Seraph and he said the interior was cramped: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbZUMaPJAy8
If the Americans produced an engine with those specs all we'd be hearing is scoffing at the specific output because they're obviously morons who can't do any better.
Chip on shoulder established, lovely car and I'm sure would be a lot more fun to waft about in than a £50,000 Golf R, and you've got £30,000 to cover the inevitable repairs and fuel bills.
Crown Vic Police cars made 260 ish bhp, that was what was deemed the requirement at the time, along with long service intervals, reliability, torque, ability to idle for hours etc. The could have made a 500 bhp version but it was a question Police forces werent asking by and large and would have compromised the other factors.
As an engineer, Police officer, Police Fleet Manager or whatever those were the requirements, not "It makes my willy tingle when I put my foot down, impresses my mates, can burn other cars off" which are more the PH kind of objectives.
These are 20 odd year old designs now, the power game has changed but these with 400 bhp and 600 odd lb ft are still of the adequate then plenty variety, the modern equivalent has 562 bhp, but less torque at 575.
Would be nice to have for a few days but not something you could really use that much, I always remember Quentin Wilson saying buy a Bentley Turbo R for the price of a Mondeo which is quite the daftest bit of advice I have ever heard.
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