Bristol 2 litre – original pre-1961 vitreous enamel badge in worn condition remounted onto a new leather keyfob

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

An original Bristol keyfob badge in worn condition which will have been produced in the 1950s which we have remounted onto a new leather keyfob as can be seen in the photos .

When this keyring with this badge has been sold this listing will be cancelled.

This original vitreous enamel Bristol 2 litre keyfob badge is in well worn condition as can be seen in the photos.

The translucent red vitreous enamel surrounding the Bristol shield has a multitude of chips and the solid black enamel border has large areas of enamel missing altogether – all of which can be seen in the enlarged high resolution listing photos .

The nickel plating is still in fair condition .

The badge will almost certainly have been made by the CUD Company ( Castles Unit Development Co. of Leicester )

A few years ago badges in this condition would not have been considered saleable but the market has changed very dramatically .

Nowadays many customers do much prefer a badge or keyring which has ‘had a life ‘ rather than one in new old stock perfection – and the value of original keyrings has risen to the extent that original keyfob badges and keyrings in patinated condition like this one are now valuable items if they were produced for prestige marques such as Bristol .

This keyfob badge is original & correct for use with any pre-1961 Bristol 2 litre motor car using the Bristol built derivative of the BMW M328 2 litre 6 cylinder engine.

In 1961 use of this 2 litre engine was discontinued in favour of the Chrysler 407 V8 engine which became fitted to the Bristol 407.

Venerable old badges like this one began life over 60 years ago as a pristine new keyring dangling from the ignition of a similarly pristine condition new Bristol car as the ignition was turned on for the very first time .

Fast forward a lifetime and that same badge still dangles from the ignition as that switch is turned off for the very last time.

During that lifetime the badge has travelled over countless thousands of miles often with the same driver .

It has only been as a result of repairing many hundreds of keyrings for customers over the years that we have begun to realise the significance of these aged jewels and the sentimental importance that they are held in by their owners irrespective of condition .

Badges like this one have often become talismans which have accompanied their owner on all their journeys through their lives and can now continue the journey for many years to come.

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive. SMOSO   00/59   12/23