Austin Healey – original vintage late 1950s/ early 1960s CUD torpedo keyring in well worn condition – collector’s item

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

An original Austin Healey CUD torpedo keyring which will have been produced in the late 1950s or early 1960s .

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

What an intriguing little item – and all the better for the ‘honest’ wear that has taken place over the passage of time and covering many thousands of miles dangling from the ignition of an Austin Healey car .

This is only the 2nd original example of one of these Austin Healey torpedo keyrings which we have ever listed over the years .

The nickel plated vitreous enamel badge has lost much of the original translucent red enamel revealing the underlying copper base metal beneath .

The nickel plating is all in good condition .

The badge is mounted onto a torpedo keyfob which is in very well worn condition – but still intact and still serviceable .

The leather and the stitching is still good and tight .

The brass eyelet at the top of the keyfob is still securely mounted despite the leather having become worn around it .

Attitudes to keyrings like this one in worn condition have changed dramatically over the last few years .

Many of our customers now prefer a keyring which has ‘ had a life ‘ as this one obviously has done – if only keyrings could talk…………………….

Importantly this keyring is still in a perfectly serviceable condition – it can still be used as intended although obviously unsuitable for extended daily use .

The keyring was produced by the famous CUD Company ( Castles Unit Development Co. of Leicester ) and would be one of the earliest keyrings ever produced for use with Austin Healeys .

Car keyrings only came into general use in the late 1950s which is around the time when this keyring was produced .

These keyrings were produced for use with Austin Healey 100/6, 3000 Mk I and Mk I Sprite .

Owners of earlier Austin Healey 100s bought keyrings to use with their cars when keyrings became available – so this keyring would be considered original & correct for use with those cars as well .

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive . SMOSO  00/571   11/24