Haynes Manual mastermind John Haynes OBE has died
Over 200m Haynes Manuals have borne his name to date
JOHN HAYNES OBE, the creator of the iconic Haynes Owners’ Workshop Manual car maintenance guides, has died at the age of 80.
Haynes, who was presented an OBE for services to publishing in 2008, passed away peacefully on February 8 this year after a short illness, according to a statement from his company Haynes Publishing.
His first maintenance manual was created while helping a Royal Air Force colleague to restore an Austin-Healey Sprite Mk 1. From those humble origins, Haynes built his business into a vast portfolio of workshop guides that are sold around the world.
The Haynes Publishing business now includes motorcycle manuals and fun-themed “lifestyle manuals” vehicles such as the supersonic airliner Concorde, the Flying Scotsman steam locomotive and even the Starship Enterprise from TV series Star Trek.
The success of the books allowed Haynes to turbocharge his passion for all things automotive. This culminated with the founding of the Haynes International Motor Museum in 1985, which began exhibiting his personal collection of 30 vehicles (including the Elva Courier he raced during his national service at the Royal Air Force) and now comprises over 400 cars and motorcycles.
In its obituary, Haynes Publishing said: “A true gentleman, and a kind and considerate man, John will be greatly missed not only by his family, friends and colleagues but also the many people that use his manuals, and benefit from the reassuring guiding hand as they repair and maintain their cars and motorbikes.”
