Haynes Manual creator dies aged 80

The creator of the Haynes Manual maintenance guide series, which has sold 200 million books worldwide, has died aged 80.

John Haynes OBE, founder of Haynes Publishing Group and Haynes International Motor Museum, died peacefully surrounded by family on February 8 after a short illness.

Growing up in what is now Sri Lanka, Mr Haynes had a passion for cars from an early age.

While at boarding school in the UK he converted an Austin 7 into a lightweight sporty Austin 7 Special.

Due to interest in the car when he put it up for sale, he published a booklet entitled, Building A 750 Special. The first print run of 250 copies sold out in 10 days.

After leaving school he joined the RAF to complete his national service and, while posted to Aden in 1965, he created the first Haynes Manual.

An RAF colleague had bought an Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite in poor condition, and asked Mr Haynes to help him rebuild it.

Mr Haynes quickly realised the official factory manual was not designed to help the average car owner.

He bought a camera and captured the process of dismantling and rebuilding the engine.

The use of step-by-step photo sequences linked to exploded diagrams became the trusted hallmark of Haynes Manuals.

The first Haynes Manual, for the Austin Healey Sprite, was published in 1966, and the first print run of 3,000 sold out in less than three months.

More than 200 million Haynes Manuals have been sold around the world.

In 1985 Mr Haynes founded the Haynes International Motor Museum in Sparkford, Somerset, bequeathing his collection of 30 cars. The museum now has more than 400 vehicles on display.

In a statement, the museum said: “John was a kind, generous, loving and devoted husband, brother, father and grandfather, who will be missed enormously.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Annette, his brother David and sister Mary, his sons J and Chris and their families.

“A true gentleman, and a kind and considerate man, John will be greatly missed not only by his family, friends and colleagues but also by the many people that use his manuals, and benefit from his reassuring guiding hand as they repair and maintain their cars and motorbikes.”