Harley & Sheila Timbers

Back in 1950 when Harley bought his first Studebaker Pickup (1950 2R5) for the family farm near Cookstown, Ontario, little did he and Sheila know that Studebakers would continue to play a big part of their family life over 70+ yrs later. Harley picked the Studebaker 2R5 because it could do more than the competition for the right price. Also his Dad owned many Studebakers over the years and found them to very sturdy.

Over the years he continued to buy Studebakers as they continued to be reliable and while his last new Studebaker was purchased in 1964, over the years he continued to buy used Studebakers to resurrect them in various shapes and forms. His most visible Studebaker Project is their 1964 Champ Pickup. The original Drive Train and frame was long in tooth but when the opportunity to buy a 1980s Dodge truck Chassis with a Cummins Diesel motor. He decided to build a custom Stude Pickup with help from their son, Mike who is a licensed Mechanic and Classic car Restorer.

This truck has enabled them to tow their Fifth Wheel Travel Trailer to Florida and across Canada while being an award-winning, one of a kind truck which has been admired for many years at local car shows and Ontario Chapter SDC events.

Harley & Sheila next to their 1949 2R5 during a Ontario Chapter Tour

Harley and Sheila have been married since 1948 and have 3 children – Peggy, Frances and Harley Jr (Mike) along with their six grandchildren and 6 Great-grandchildren who have all been a part of their Studebaker Odyssey and continue to embrace the family Studebaker tradition. There are presently over 14 Studebakers in the Timbers Family and they continue to look for potential projects to resurrect to their former glory. They rebuild them with the parts they have accumulated over the years and if they don’t have Studebaker parts they track down other Car or Truck parts that will do the job and get them back on the road for all to see and admire.

Over the years Harley and Sheila were active with the Ontario Chapter SDC going for a drive in their 1964 Champ or 1949 2R5 on Chapter Events.

When he wasn’t working on his Studebakers or helping out the family, you would find him hooking up his fifth wheel to the 1964 Champ and going to a local plowing match, Florida or across Canada with Sheila always willing and able to join him on another adventure.

Harley with their 1964 Champ Pickup and Fifth wheel Trailer at 2009 Quinte Flywheel show

Harley spent a fair bit of time in the Family Garage helping Mike work on their latest project.

He has always been a “hands on” type of guy who takes “the plow by the handles” and

gets the job done himself, whatever needs to be done.

Some of the Studebaker cars & trucks the Timbers Family have had over the years:

• 1927 Studebaker Big Six
• 1940 Studebaker Commander Coupe – Rat Rod – Walter
• 1947 M-Series Flatbed Truck
• 1949 Studebaker 2R5- Beautiful
• 1949 Studebaker Convertible – Project
• 1954 Studebaker Commander – SBC - Peggy
• 1962 Champ Pickup Custom – Mike
• 1964 Commander 2 Dr Hardtop – Mike
• 1964 Commander 4 Dr Custom – El Camino Style
• 1964 Avanti – Totally rebuild& Turnkey
• 1964 Champ - Dodge Chassis with Cummins Diesel engine plus 4 more Studebakers awaiting resurrection

Harley and Sheila had always lived on the family farms since they were married but later on they decided to move to Boycageon to end the demands of running a farm in their retirement years. Harley was involved with Farm Plowing since he was 12 yrs old and over the past 60+ years has been involved with Plowing Matches across Canada. In 1970 he was the World Champion Plowman at a Plowing Match held in Peterborough, Ontario where he used their Belgian Horses to become the world’s best.

Harley with their large, strong Belgians plowing the fields on their family farm

Harley in his 1927 Studebaker Big Six during a Chapter visit to their farm in Sunderland

In 2016 for their unswerving loyalty and devotion towards the Studebaker Brand by having a Studebaker in their driveway, working on the farm or during drives and long trips for over 65+ years, Harley & Sheila were honoured by been added to the Studebaker of Canada Plaque held in the Studebaker National Museum in South Bend.

Sadly on the January 1st, 2025 Harley pasted away at the age of 97 while Sheila passed away on 27th of April, 2025.

They will be dearly missed by all who knew them and will be remembered for their kind-hearted, honest approach to life