New Haynes Book

Chris Matthew-Powell · Joined: 09 Feb 2017 Posts: 26 Location: Midlands

I don't know if anybody else is aware, but I just found out that Haynes are soon releasing an "Owners Workshop Manual" for the 4.5 litre...in a similar vein to their books on the Spitfire, Lancaster etc.
ISBN 9781785210709, author Ian Wagstaff.

Suitable for overgrown school boys, ageing juveniles, those that have never really grown up...I can't imagine there is anyone on this forum who matches the profile.

Paul Spencer · Posted: Thu Jun 15, 2017 9:16 pm Post subject:

I have an original Vintage Bentley Haynes Manual. It is little more than a typewritten copy of the various owners manuals.

John Murch · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 4:38 am Post subject:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bentley-Litre-Owners-Workshop-Manual/dp/178521070X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497587828&sr=1-1&keywords=9781785210709

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:22 am Post subject:

The front cover picture came from the original work by the master illustrator,Tony Matthews,first published in "The Car", a part work from 1984/5, and later "Inside 100 Great Cars",1988.

If you link with the Amazon ad,there is an extended book preview with interesting photographs.

Robert Craven · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:48 am Post subject:

It looks rather good and there's an impressive list of well-known Bentley people consulted by the author.

Paul Spencer · Posted: Fri Jun 16, 2017 10:52 am Post subject:

I've ordered a copy, and I don't have (or aspire to) a 4.5.

Chris Matthew-Powell · Joined: 09 Feb 2017 Posts: 26 Location: Midlands

Paul-I have my Dad's copy of the early Haynes manual, purchased heavens knows when. Page 50 didn't print and is blank, which is unfortunate as the last paragraph of the preceding page directs that to test your mags, " motor uphill at a steady 30 mph, then switch both magnetos off"

The important word "alternately" is missing due to the blank page!

Just as well I didn't have a car to play with when I was 17 as I would have been daft enough to have tried this...

John Murch · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 10:33 am Post subject:

I have no doubt that you would not have been surprised when the car stopped!

Dan Suskin · Joined: 22 Feb 2011 Posts: 298 Location: Georgia, USA

John Murch · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 1:44 pm Post subject:

I owned a 4.5 for many years, selling it was a terrible mistake, however getting a 3ltr a few years later made me realise what a joy the 9ft 9in chassis is, and now with a 4.5 block (not really necessary, but with increasing years I thought it might be fun), it is a fabulous car, fast nimble, only the length of a VW golf and not so wide.
So a 3/4.5 is definitely my recommendation and it will save you a lot of capital over a pure 4.5😄
Rear seat passengers may disagree 😉
ps. and dare I say better looking, but I am wildly biased

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 3:49 pm Post subject:

(Aside, "Never knew that Dr Dan had a sense of humo(u)r").

Paul Spencer · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2017 4:47 pm Post subject:

Chris Matthew-Powell · Joined: 09 Feb 2017 Posts: 26 Location: Midlands

Paul Spencer · Posted: Thu Jul 13, 2017 8:15 pm Post subject:

My copy arrived today. Opened it at random and saw a picture of Julian Grimwade's car. That's as far as I have got - it's a busy time of year in the Spencer household.

John Murch · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 4:55 pm Post subject:

I received my copy today, A Workshop Manual it is not!
It is a nice publication with lots of photographs, some history and descriptions of prominent owners and their cars.
However if you were to buy it instead of 'Technical Facts' you would be very disappointed.

Robert Clifford-Wing · Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 9:30 pm Post subject:

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:06 am Post subject:

It was only ever intended to be a "coffee table book", for the mildly interested public who can't face technical details of any kind.

"You know, morons", into Game Boy or Playstation or any of the chat rooms,(excluding this august site of course). Embarassed

Has anybody read the August 2017 Automobile article on the sand printed moulds for the new 1914 Delage cylinder block? The most fascinating piece that I have read since the 59 verses of Eskimo Nell Laughing

John Murch · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:20 am Post subject:

I think calling it a 'workshop manual' is misleading.
The last time I bought a Haynes workshop manual was circa 1968 for a mini, are all their manuals now just coffee table books?

Yes, the Automobile mag article was fascinating, it would be nice to see more technical articles like that in the Review. (I do appreciate that the editor can only include articles that he is supplied with, I'm certainly not capable of writing anything suitable)

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 11:45 am Post subject:

John,

Do you recall the Piet Olyslager mini-manuals,not necessarily the Morris
Mini- Minor, or the Austin 7?