Les Leston Dunlop SP Sport - early 1970s badge remounted onto a new leather keyfob

An original Les Leston Accessories Dunlop SP Sport keyfob badge which will have been produced in the early 1970s which we have remounted onto a new leather keyfob as can be seen in the photos .

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

This is the only the 2nd example of one of these badges which we have ever seen and listed and promotes the Dunlop SP Sport tyre which was fitted to many Jaguar cars .

Dunlop SP Sport tyres were original equipment for Series 3 E-type and also Series 1 and 2 XJS/12 .

The other example which was sold some time ago was actually a complete keyring still with the original leather keyfob which sold at a rather higher price than this remounted badge .

The badge in this listing came to us without it’s original leather keyfob and we have remounted it onto a new keyfob in full grain black leather .

The new splitring has been matched to the same gilt finish as the badge .

The gilt plated badge is in excellent condition with solid black & translucent red vitreous enamel .

The gilt plating has mellowed over the years as this plating always does to give an ‘ antique gold ‘ appearance .

The badge is marked ‘LES LESTON’ on the reverse and will have originally been distributed as a keyring as part of his range of Les Leston Accessories.

Les Leston was a larger than life character who served in WWII as a mid-upper gunner in an Avro Lancaster bomber – unlike many of his colleagues he survived and then went on to embark on a career as a racing driver.

Originally racing a Jaguar SS100 he then went onto drive for Lotus and Aston Martin .

After escaping from a serious crash during a race at Caen in 1958 he went on to concentrate on developing his motorcar accessories business – Les Leston Accessories – which became very well known for marketing high quality motoring accessories in the 1960s and 1970s.

The range of accessories included keyrings, steering wheels, gear lever knobs, mirrors, etc and also gloves and flame proof clothing .

Many of the accessories were aimed at Jaguar cars and owners and Bud Marston has devoted a couple of pages of his ‘Vintage Jaguar Keyrings’ book to describing the life & times of Les Leston together with descriptions of the products .

Additionally Bud does feature a Dunlop SP Sport keyfob badge just the same as the one in this listing ( but probably not marked Les Leston ) in his book .

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