MENU
SEARCHFourth-generation family business transitions to growing auto group.
Marking the store sale are, left to right, Bob, Lynda and Joe Chapman and Al, Mike and Christina Coughlin.
Coughlin Automotive
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.
LEARN MORE: 4 Keys to Reinsurance in a Buy-Sell Transaction
At nearly 14%, California had the lowest zero-emission vehicle market share in the first quarter since the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the California New Car Dealers Association.
Read More →
The new chief revenue officer joins the company from one of its partner firms and is an industry thought leader in participation programs.
Read More →
Technology leaders from Hyundai Motor Group will have open discussions at the inaugural HMG Tech Talent Forum on topics ranging from autonomous driving to 'smart' manufacturing.
Read More →
Stellantis is adding a third end-of-life vehicle dismantling facility to feed its growing reuse business sparked in large part by autos’ growing lifespans.
Read More →
U.S. consumer interest in electric vehicles lags behind other countries despite the rising gas prices caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East.
Read More →
Research reveals the brands and models most likely to have higher recall rates over their lifetimes. While some brands rank high, addressing safety issues can be a selling point.
Read More →
Dealers are facing growing frustrations with current generic artificial intelligence tools, according to a survey by Lotlinx, which found they want a solution that understands their inventories.
Read More →
Scott Cooke has served in various roles with Toyota Financial Services for over 20 years, including president and CEO, which he retires from on June 30.
Read More →
The sale of two Minnesota franchises ends a rare multigenerational business while adding to one of the Midwest’s biggest auto groups.
Read More →
2026 NADA Chairman Rob Cochran knows a thing or two about leadership after decades in the business. He brings an emphasis on stewardship to his new role at the head of the country’s major auto retail trade group.
Read More →