Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[52classic]

Just a bit of fireside musing here.

Everybody loves a Haynes manual and I suppose the Haynes organisation has become something of a national trasure.

Every manual says 'based on a complete strip down' so I was wondering what happens to the actual cars which were the subject of the manual.

Somehow it would be a nice bit of provenance to be the owner of the actual car. Classifieds often say 'Motor road test car' or 'Earls Court show car' but I've never seen 'Actual Haynes manual car'

The reg number is rarely seen in the manual but are there any records? Where did they come from - free loans or does Mr Haynes go out and buy a new or secondhand car?

Do we have a Haynes annorak in the house?

[Peter_L]

Part of the answer.

http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/HaynesAboutView?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001

How do they advertise them,

Low Mileage, complete rebuild since new

[Jim.Walker]

[peter scott]

I agree with you Jim. They make a meal of some descriptions but fail to tell you how to do the less obvious jobs. I couldn't figure out how you remove and refit the bumpers on a Mondeo. If your wife's parking is like mine then this is important. Well my Haynes manual doesn't tell me how.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Dirty Habit]

At best I would say they are "better than nothing". So many times, they say remove the "grooplefrungle" but don't tell you how the thing comes apart or that you will need ??mm socket, which of course I don't have.
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1964 International Harvester

[RotaryBri]

I can confirm that they do actually strip them down as I watched a couple of guys doing just that on a Yamaha motorcycle when I was in their workshop having the photographs taken for my manual. I did the Trailer Manual for them and I instructed their photographer what pictures to take and from what angle, when I stripped the brakes on a Ifor Williams trailer. You can see my thumb in some of them! It is really up to the person doing the work to ensure that the best photographs are taken to allow the purchaser of the manual to carry out any work succesfully.

I hope that I achieved this and can say that I have not had any complaints.

As Dirty Habit says they are certainly better than nothing.
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Keep Torqueing,

RotaryBri

1976 NSU Ro80

[victor 101]

[Jim.Walker]

[gresham flyer]

I needed a replacement automatic gearbox for a Jaguar XJ6 series 3.

A magazine had run a series of features on a restoration of said vehicle.

The body had been completely restored to as new condition.

The gearbox had been rebuilt by a transmission specialist.

The engine was the subject of a complete overhaul.

Many other items from the car were stripped and repaired.

All of the work was either carried out by the sponsoring companies or parts had been donated free of charge to carry out the work.

At the end of the excercise the vehicle could not be put together and sold complete, due to certain regulations.

But all of the parts were sold individually,I purchased the gearbox and torque converter for my car, and seven years later it is still going strong.

I also purchased a complete power steering rack ,with a rebuilt pump.

The body would have made a good project for someone with a rotted out XJ6,whose mechanicals were in good order.

The whole project was photographed from start to finish,I even know what the inside of my gearbox is made up of .

[52classic]

Would I want an ex-Haynes car?

If it had been put back together last week then probably not but say 25 years on I think it would make a nice curiosity.

As for the accuracy of the manuals I must say I've never encountered any serious problems but I have often used the manuals to find some inspiration to tackle a job that's outside of my usual comfort zone.

The idea of a firm like that being started by Mr Haynes stripping (i think) an Austin 7 is quite appealing so that's why I still rate them a national treasure.

[Jim.Walker]

At one time Haynes used to publish a list of models, at the back of each manual, which the series covered.
I seem to remember that the oldest car covered was a 1908 de Dion Bouton. I wonder if they really took that apart?!
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Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!

[Dirty Habit]

Years ago if I was thinking of buying a particular car, I would try and get hold of a Haynes manual for it first. Then after I had gone through it, I would decide if I wanted the car. I would do this if the car had an unusual or unconventional layout. I still have some of those manuals. Most for cars I never bought.
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1964 International Harvester

[Keith D]

The Haynes Organisation may be bigger than you think.

We can get Haynes manuals here in Australia for cars that as far as I know, were only sold over here. eg 1996 thru 2000 Mitsubishi Magna. I have one in front of me. (It seems very thorough!)

Our best workshop manuals were Gregory's Scientific Publication series. I don't know if these are still published, but they were brilliant.

Anyway, even if you don't like Haynes manuals, they'd have one of the best old car collections in Britain (at Yeovil)!

Keith

[Rick]

I'm sure there was no shortage of volunteers to research this particular book in their range...



http://www.haynes.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=24651&langId=-1

RJ
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[Jim.Walker]

Are the photo's from recognisable viewpoints Rick?
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!