MG RV8 – original vintage 1990s keyring with replaced split ring

 An original MG RV8 keyring which will have been produced in the 1990s for issue with a new MG RV8 motor car .

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

We are aware that there has been considerable correspondence about these MG RV8 keyrings within MG circles – particularly as regards provenance and value.

Our subject is classic & vintage keyrings for classic cars and we have been well known for our honest appraisal of keyrings and fair trading for many years .

This is only the 3rd original example of one of these keyrings which we have ever listed .

The first example which we sold some years ago came to us from Japan and this keyring and the last one which we listed and sold were identical to that keyring apart from this particular keyring in this listing no longer having it’s original bronze ‘D’ shackle for attachment of the car keys .

The original shackle has been replaced by a large 35mm gold plated splitring – probably the original owner was not too keen on the heavy ‘D’ shackle and replaced it with this conventional splitring .

It would be easy to revert back to a bronze ‘D’ shackle as many traditional boat chandlery stores stock them or they can be found on the internet .

However we will leave things as we found them and it is up to the new owner to change the splitring if they so desire .

This keyring is in excellent condition and has obviously received very little use.

Nothing other than the splitring to report apart from a small imprint in the soft green leather on the reverse of the keyring which has probably arisen with the keyring being stored in a drawer on top of the key . This imprint is so minor that it cannot be seen in the enlarged high resolution photos and will probably plump out again as the keyring is used .

The octagonal  badge is mounted onto a large keyfob ( 2.25″ or 58mm in diameter ) which is in relatively soft green & tan ( upholstery hide ) leather .

Some sources reveal that the first cars delivered to new UK owners had one of these keyrings in the delivery pack .

Other sources claim that keyrings were only issued with cars exported to Japan ( certainly the original one that we had a few years ago did come to us from Japan )

We understand that reproductions of this keyring were made for the owner’s club some time ago and were marked so that they would not be confused with original keyrings .

It would be very difficult to replicate an original keyring exactly as a particular grade of leather was used at the time and in particular shades of green & tan leather .

The badge would probably have been made in Taiwan at the time – once again rather difficult to replicate exactly unless the same Taiwanese factory was involved.

We are informed that a couple of examples of these keyrings have changed hands recently for considerably more than our asking price for this keyring and do recollect that the one which we listed some years ago did sell at a considerably higher price.

The last example which we listed and sold more recently had been used and had some wear .

The price for this keyring reflects the fact that it is not completely original as the ‘D’ shackle has been replaced by the splitring .

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