Aston Martin – original vintage 1960s CUD torpedo keyring with flaw – collector’s item

NOW SOLD – sorry this keyring has now been sold and can no longer be ordered

An original Aston Martin torpedo keyring which will have been produced in the 1960s .

This keyring has cosmetic flaws which are described in detail below and is the only original Aston Martin torpedo keyring which we are currently listing – when it has been sold this listing will be cancelled .

Despite the flaws described below this keyring is in a perfectly serviceable condition to use in a car or would be a good example to add to collection and is available at a price very considerably lower than would be the case if the keyring was in mint condition .

At first sight this keyring appears to be in excellent condition but when it is examined it can be seen that the surface of the leather around the badge is raised and ‘rumpled’ .

This has probably been caused by the keyring having been soaked with water at some stage and then having been dried out .

We have seen examples of keyrings which have become soaked with water many times before and if they have not been dried out gently then the leather can dry out unevenly as has probably happened in this case.

This will not affect the durability of the keyring which is still perfectly serviceable but will remain as a ‘ cosmetic’ flaw .

The listing photos have been taken to show the extent of the flaw .

Curiously the last original Aston Martin keyring which we listed and sold in early 2022 had a similar defect – not all original vintage keyrings are in pristine mint condition .

It is a shame that the leather keyfob itself is flawed as the vitreous enamel badge is perfect – with no missing enamel or cracking or crazing which is so often the case with a complicated design like the Aston Martin winged design .

Original Aston Martin torpedo keyrings like this one are much rarer than original Jaguar torpedo keyrings that are now so valuable & collectible that Bud Marston in USA has written a book entitled ‘Vintage Jaguar keyrings’ which is featured at the start of our Jaguar section here in this website shop.

This Aston Martin torpedo keyring was produced by Castles Unit Developments Ltd of Castle Gate, Leicester ( CUD ) and will have been produced in the 1960s .

CUD were the only manufacturers of torpedo keyrings at the time and were famous in the late 1950s and right through the 1960s for the quality of their products which were exported worldwide.

At that time almost all keyrings for the world’s motor cars were made in England – it was quite an industry.

The vitreous enamel winged badge is mounted onto a torpedo keyfob in genuine leather .

The pebbly grain of the leather suggests that this leather is goatskin – later keyrings produced by Craftsman ( CUD apparently became ‘Craftsman’ for a very short period in the very late 1960s & very early 1970s ) were embossed ‘MOROCCO LEATHER’ which is a term for goatskin.

This keyring will be original & correct for use with any Aston Martin motor car of the period .

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive. SMOSO   00/541    09/24