AC – original vintage new old stock 1960s? keyring by Fattorini of Birmingham – collector’s item

NOW SOLD – sorry this keyring has now been sold but has been left on view as a very rare example of an original Fattorini AC keyring

An original AC keyring which will almost certainly have been produced with AC Cobra in mind .

We would think that this keyring will have been produced in the mid to late 1960s or possibly in the very early 1970s .

We have just this one example of this very significant keyring to offer – when it has been sold this listing will be cancelled .

This is only the 2nd example of one of these keyrings which we have ever listed – this one is in new old stock condition whilst the other one which was listed and sold in September 2024 was in used condition .

Completely original period AC keyrings are very scarce items ( as opposed to remounted original badges ) and we have listed very few over the years – particularly those produced for use with AC Cobra .

This keyring is in new old stock condition and has obviously never been used.

The nickel plated badge has jewellery quality cobalt blue vitreous enamelling .

The badge design is ‘stylised’ as became popular in the 1960s .

This badge design is most unlikely to have been produced for use with the outgoing AC Ace, Aceca, Aceca -Bristol or Greyhound which were ‘serious’ sports grand touring models .

It will almost certainly have been produced especially for the ‘new’ Cobra .

The badge was produced by the well respected badgemakers Fattorini of Regent Street Birmingham who still had a design office in Manchester at the time .

The badge is mounted onto a keyfob in genuine black leather .

Fattorini who made the badge were founded in 1827 and relocated to Regent Street Birmingham in 1927 . The present managing director is the 6th generation of the Fattorini family .

The AC Cobra was manufactured by AC Cars intermittently since 1962 in both UK and USA .

Those sold in USA were termed Shelby Cobra or AC Shelby Cobra .

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive and will be a very significant ‘ find’ for the fortunate owner of one of those early Cobras.

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