Lagonda - original vintage late 1950s CUD torpedo keyring - collector's item

An original Lagonda torpedo keyring which will have been issued by the dealership whose details are gold embossed onto the reverse of the keyfob  in the late 1950s or possibly in the early 1960s .

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

This keyring does have flaws which are described in detail below ………….but these have to be accepted in the case of a keyring of this rarity .

This has to be one of the very few chances to buy one of these keyrings over the last few years and in certain hands this keyring could be priceless .

We can only remember having ever listed just one original Lagonda torpedo keyring like this one over the years – and that was a very long while ago.

These Lagonda torpedo keyrings are exceptionally rare .

Original Lagonda 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 Lagonda torpedo keyring was made by – Castles Unit Developments Ltd of Castle Gate, Leicester ( CUD ) and will have been made in the late 1950s or possibly the very early 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.

Lagonda motor cars were rare on British roads in the 1950s & 1960s and consequently British keyring manufacturers did not make many keyrings for use with Lagondas .

The nickel plated badge has translucent red vitreous enamel detail and is mounted onto a torpedo keyfob in genuine hide .

The nickel plating on the badge is in excellent condition whilst a section of the red enamel has been lost around the letter ‘L’ of Lagonda as can be seen in the enlarged high resolution photos .

Amusingly we understand that this exact badge ( probably exactly the same as this keyfob badge and also made by CUD ) was used on the fronts of the ashtrays of some Lagonda cars !

The splitring eyelet is still strongly mounted and the stitching is all good & tight .

The leather keyfob is in good physical condition but has become somewhat ‘warped ‘ – meaning that it is no longer absolutely flat as it would have been when new.

In fairness this does not show up in the listing photos – so the buyer of this keyring should be aware of this .

It has become rather ‘wavy’ – which afflicts quite a few torpedo keyrings of this age . This has to be regarded as a ‘cosmetic defect’ and will not affect the durability of the keyfob in the slightest .

As with all CUD torpedo keyrings which have the the badge physically attached to the keyfob ( like this example ) – the badge stands slightly proud of the keyfob surface and can ‘wobble’ about .

Some CUD torpedo badges ‘wobble ‘ around to an alarming degree – but have been doing that without fail for 60 years !

The reverse of the keyfob is gold embossed with the supplying dealerships’s details .

The pebbly grain of the leather suggests that this leather is actually 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 Lagonda motor car of the period .

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive.