Colours

[TheValk]

More modest questions- What are member's favourite Bentley colour? and would you buy a white one if everything else checked out ok? Cars in mind are late '80s/early '90s.

[BeenThereBefore]

BRG for a Bentley, too many are black. Magnolia, navy or blak for a Spur/Spirit.

[Bluebottle911]

Dark blue, dark green, black a long way third.

[graemel]

Dark Blue, then Black. Not a lover of green cars at all. White if I were going to do weddings which I never would.

[WelshBentleyBoy]

I have an Arnage T in Black Velvet. Its not a colour I would normally go for but to see it in the flesh is an eye opener, particularly in the sunlight when it is a very deep burgundy. I am aware that there is also a Black Emerald and Black Saphire which have similar qualities.
When Turbo R's were at their height in the 80s and 90s BRG was all the rage but nowadays green cars seem to be out of favour and dealers knock a couple of grand off for a green one.

[matt5791]

I think colour is really critical for RR & B cars - especially if you think you might want to sell it again one day.

With regard to older cars (ie. Before Phantom, Mulsanne, Conti GT as tastes are different for these cars) these are the "rules"!:

- Definitely not white, ever - unless you run a wedding hire car company. White cars are always worth less.
- Dark blues and greens are nice. Wildberry is one of my favourites.
- Never light grey leather
- Preferably not dark grey leather either
- Black leather is good. Magnolia and Parchment are good colours. Tan leather is nice. Never, ever, White leather!

I know a dealer who bought a Turbo RT - lovely car, but it had light grey leather. He simply couldn't sell it and ended up taking a loss and was convinced the interior colour was a big reason for this.

In a nutshell, if you don't care about re-selling the car one day, have whatever you like. Otherwise, choose carefully.

[keith9849]

Chaps

Obviously you are all too sophisticated to mention 'scrap-dealer red' (Quentin Wilson's phrase, not mine! To be avoided like the plague, even (or especially) if the seller has colour-coded the bumpers!

But seriously, I agree with you about white. I shudder to think of all those lovely Wraiths, Clouds and S Bentleys that were re-sprayed white to suit the wedding market.

For the SZ series I prefer Windsor blue. I don't particularly like Cobalt blue or Peacock blue. I agree that Black is not good. Black had its day in the 90s and early 2000s, I think.

Cheers
KEITH

[BeenThereBefore]

It's true that BRG or some variation of green in not in vogue with most car makers today, but I believe it to be the most proper Bentley color. I'm surprised that you note that dealers get less for a green car. Here in the US, a BRG Turbo R or Continental R will usually carry a premium over black, white or vermillion red. My only advice is to never go for a grey or silver car. They just look so drab, no real shine no matter how many polishings you may give the car. The Arnage Silver Tempest is a nice color though, its almost charcoal.

With regards to interiors, black is great because it shows very little wear, but without contrast piping on the carpet and hides, its just a little too boring. I have a Mulsanne S all black without contrast piping. Its a boring color and lacks that bespoke feeling of a Bentley. I fixed that by changing the veneers from straight grain Walnut to a light tiger's eye maple which gave the interior some pizazz and changed the tan exterior stripes to red which really livened up the exterior.

My other RR/B cars all have tan interiors piped in Spruce and Magnolia. They do look the best and wear a lot better than Parchment. Parchment shows cracks and dirt very easily.

In the southern US, Palm Beach, Miami and California, white and magnolia RRs are very desirable. I've seen Arctic White Corniche's with white leather piped St. James Red and Cherry Red Carpets. A very sharp and bespoke looking car.

[WelshBentleyBoy]

I think black leather is fine except when it is quilted. It just looks like a DFS settee!

[richard300]

I am currently looking daily at Silver spirit Adverts..... I like some of the 'period' pale golds and very light metallic blues - Such as these:

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C340278

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C275492

I have however seen a car that i think looks lovely, but would appear to go against the grain - Perhaps this might act as a good negotiating tool as i think the car is a little to expensive considering the type of dealer selling it.

http://www.lovecars.biz.razsor.autotrader.co.uk/us...

I think the silver with the grey looks great.

[vincegail]

keith9849 said:

Obviously you are all too sophisticated to mention 'scrap-dealer red' (Quentin Wilson's phrase, not mine! To be avoided like the plague, even (or especially) if the seller has colour-coded the bumpers!

3:35 and further
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozb60tFje3c

[RESSE]