Haynes repair manuals going digital, back catalogs remain in print
Haynes, the company that has delivered in-depth repair manuals for cars and trucks for more than 50 years, recently announced that it would no longer be developing new print manuals. All of its back catalog of manuals will still be available, but all future projects seem destined for digital consumption only.
One of the most valuable tools to have at your side when tackling a car project is knowledge. There are few feelings worse than getting blindsided in the middle of a project by an unexpected complication, and Haynes manuals have been helping do-it-yourself mechanics prepare for and complete the job since 1966. The company announced its move to the digital medium on December 3 with the following statement:
Embracing John Haynes’ philosophy, we are currently in the process of creating a new automotive maintenance and repair product that covers around 95% of car makes and models – an increase of around 40% over our current Workshop Manual coverage. [2/3]
— Haynes Manuals (@HaynesManuals) December 3, 2020
This will provide you, our loyal enthusiasts, with a greater choice than ever before and we will reveal more in due course. Far from being the end of the road, we are ensuring that Haynes will continue well into the 21st century. [3/3]
— Haynes Manuals (@HaynesManuals) December 3, 2020
Haynes was founded by the late John Haynes, who was a prolific car collector. His first manual, the one first published in 1966, was based on a complete teardown and rebuild of an Austin Healey Sprite. Each subsequent Haynes manual has been based on the same method: the Haynes team buys a vehicle, documents its disassembly and reassembly, and then condenses the lessons learned into a repair manual. If you’re a frequent reader of our website, odds are you’ve got at least one Haynes manual in your garage or on your bookshelf. Some of our media staff even have manuals for cars we don’t own anymore.
We’re not sure what exactly sort of digital model Haynes plans to adopt for future repair manuals, but we’re hoping that the new medium will be as useful as before. Perhaps the company will expand its resources to include videos of some of the more difficult procedures.
Got any tales of a Haynes repair manual saving your bacon? Please share them in the comments below.
