NOW SOLD -Austin - original vintage 1950s 'Flying A' CUD torpedo keyring - collector's item

24th Jan 2019 -On hold for Chanaka Jinasena in Sri Lanka £ 59.95

Without a doubt – the most important and the earliest keyring which we have ever listed for Austin.

The price of this keyring may seem expensive – but this keyring came to us in a small collection of exclusive keyrings which were not cheap ! You are buying a piece of history.

In order to have these items to list we sometimes necessarily have to pay rather more than we would choose to pay !

The very earliest keyring ever produced for Austin would be this one which dates from the 1950s – this is the only example which we have ever seen and could well be the only survivor of a very small production batch.

No earlier keyrings will have been made – and very few of these will have been made at the time- this is a very rare item.

The keyring is in excellent condition and is probably new old stock.

The chrome plated badge has vitreous enamel detail and is mounted onto a genuine leather torpedo keyfob.

Made by Castles Unit Development Co. of Castle Gate, Leicester ( CUD ) – they were the only manufacturers who made torpedo keyrings in this most distinctive torpedo shape.

Castle’s automotive keyring products were exported all over the world – it was quite an industry at the time.

The details gold embossed on the back of the keyfob are for Heathway Motor Spares of Lees Parade, Uxbridge.

Heathways may have commissioned this keyring from Castles to be sold through their motor spares outlet at the time- in which case their details were embossed onto the back of the keyfob.

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive- this has to be the ultimate keyring for the early Austin enthusiast.

When it has been sold this listing will cancel.