The family that established what’s now Ohio’s oldest Ford dealership has sold the store after four generations of business.

The Columbus-area Bob Chapman Ford opened in Marysville in 1913, the year Henry Ford introduced the integrated moving assembly line and made the Model T accessible to a much wider segment of consumers.

Three generations have followed the founding father, George Butler Chapman, who was succeeded by two generations of Robert Chapmans, thus the most recent store name. The last of the family dealers, Joe Chapman, handed the keys to buyer Coughlin Automotive, a growing auto group in central Ohio that has 16 other dealerships among about a dozen brands.

Letting the business go proved a hard decision for the last Chapman, who decided to retire and focus on other business interests, said deal broker Tim Lamb Group.

“After 112 years and four generations of family ownership, selling our Ford dealership was one of the most emotional and important decisions of my life,” he said in a press release on the sale. “This wasn't just a business. It was a legacy built on over a century of hard work, community relationships and family pride.”

Coughlin Automotive changed the name of the store to Coughlin Ford of Marysville and plans to retain all of its employees.

Group President Al Couglin said, “This dealership represents more than just a business – it’s a symbol of resilience, trust, and hometown pride. We’re joining a tradition that has meant so much to this community and will invest in its future with the same passion our clients have come to expect from all of our stores.”

The store spans 28,000 square feet on six acres, including 24 service bays and a Ford Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center.

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