Page 6 - The Origin of the Species

THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES
6
seven speeds – first, second, overdrive second, third, overdrive third, top and
overdrive top. In practice, overdrive second proved too much for the overdrive
and was not used. The poor shift qualities of the gearbox were more than
compensated for by the excellent ratios and reliability.”
The Origin of the Species
As work was nearing completion on the conversion of the four Special Test
Cars, Geoffrey Healey recalled that “Austin asked us if we could finish one car in
time to use it for demonstration purposes at the Geneva (Auto) Show in March
(1953). We agreed to do this gladly: it would mean working long hours, but the
chance to test the car on the Continent prior to the Mille Miglia, and at someone
else’s expense, was too good to miss.”
The example chosen to send to Switzerland was the first chassis selected for
conversion to Special Test Car specification and was the fifth of the original 19
pre-production vehicles. “The first car, SPL 224B, registered NOJ 391, really
was something,” Geoffrey Healey wrote in Healey: The Specials. “With taut,
firm suspension, it projected a feeling of responsive performance waiting to be
unleashed. It was difficult to describe the exhilaration you feel with the first run
of a new car which you have seen right through from a few bits of paper to a
living machine.
“I arrived at Geneva with a very short list of work that would need to be carried
out. This I sent back to Warwick so that Roger (Menadue) would have everything
ready for my return and would be able to modify the remaining Special Test Cars.
The car attracted tremendous attention as it was the first Austin-Healey ever seen
on the road in Europe. Austin had a queue of journalists and Swiss distributors
lined up to try the car over the rest of the week. Robert Braunsweig, editor of
Europe’s top motoring publication, Automobile Review, had Switzerland’s top
racing driver, Willy Daetwyler, on hand. Willy gave the car a short work-out and
spoke highly of its performance, although he expressed some reservation about
the degree of damping provided by the shock absorbers.
SPL 224B (NOJ 391) pictured
during high speed testing at
the RAF Gaydon Aerodrome
in early 1953. (The Donald
Healey Collection)